Psychedelic Professionals Meet: DENVER

Psychedelic Professionals Meetup Groups are happening!  Let's keep Colorado on the leading edge of psychedelic medicine work by coming together in community to learn, share, and grow. Each Psychedelic Professionals Meetup Group starts with an informative topic relevant to research, practice, policy, or activism around psychedelic medicines, followed by open discussion and an opportunity to connect with like-minded others. 

For our May meetup in Denver, we are excited to explore, examine, and dissect the two ballot initiatives currently gathering signatures for the statewide Colorado ballot in November. We welcome attorney Courtney Barnes to help us take a fine toothed comb to the nuanced implications of each of these initiatives. What does the "Natural Medicines Health Act" really do? What does the "Legal Possession and Use of Entheogenic Plants and Fungi Act" do? Who benefits from each of these initiatives, and who is left out? What values does each Act stand on? What does it all mean for you as a therapist, doctor, psychedelic practitioner, or other engaged professional or community member?  

We will also be joined by a panel of discussants to help us unpack some of the layers of these initiatives. Panelists include:

Courtney Barnes is a devoted social justice attorney and leading trailblazer in drug policy reform. In addition to her work as founding partner of Barnes Caplan LLP, a boutique business and policy law firm based in Denver, Colorado, Ms. Barnes serves as Policy Advisor for Decriminalize Nature, General Counsel for the Society for Psychedelic Outreach, Reform, and Education (SPORE), and Advisory Board Member of Heroic Hearts Project, Inc. She was a lead drafter of the nation’s first voter-initiated psilocybin policy reform ordinance, Denver’s Psilocybin Decriminalization Initiative (I-301) in 2018, and has unparalleled experience drafting and helping to implement state and local policy reform measures relating to the decriminalization of psychedelics and the establishment of cannabis regulatory regimes (inclusive of hemp and marijuana).

Kuthoomi Castro (They/Elle) is a Queer/Transgender Indigenous Latinex born and raised in Ecuador, living in Boulder, CO. They are a clinical metal health counselor, wellness professional, and Curandero (sacred medicine carrier) with expertise in transpersonal and social justice counseling, relationship dynamics, personal and spiritual growth, and sacred practices from their indigenous South American tradition (Andean Cosmovision). Their therapy work is rooted in a client-centered approach from an Indigenous lens, and they hold acceptance, compassion, and presence through a pluricultural and inclusive lens. Their approach is strongly informed by the mindfulness and contemplative education of Naropa University, The Learning Love Institute education on interpersonal relationships, their native Mestizo-Kichwa roots from South America, and a social justice and inclusive framework acquired throughout their life experience as an Indigenous activist and lately, working at Safe House Progressive Alliance for nonviolence since 2019.

Case Newsom, DO (he/him) is a practicing Denver emergency physician and prehospital emergency medical services medical director.  He has practiced medicine for 10 years in Pennsylvania, Kansas and Colorado.  He has been pursuing greater awareness and healing for himself and his patients via plant medicine since well before initiative 301.  Presently he is responsible for providing medical direction and paramedic education for mass gatherings and large scale events throughout the Denver area and is expanding throughout the state.  He has lectured extensively on harm reduction modalities, informed and humane management of mind-altered patients, and targets the interface between patients who use psychoactive substances and the healthcare establishment.

Join us for this very important Psychedelic Professionals Meet!

If you have ideas for topics or presentations for these meetup groups or would like to be more involved, please contact us! Please support the Mercury Cafe by purchasing food or drink during our event.