How to Get Licensed for Natural Medicine in Colorado: Facilitators, Handlers, and Cultivators

Colorado’s natural medicine law came out of Proposition 122 (2022). It created a regulated framework for certain plant‐, fungi‐, or mushroom‐based therapies (e.g. psilocybin), defining what’s allowed, who can provide services, and how. A number of license types are now required under the law. DPO Colorado+2Psychedelic Alpha+2

The Main Licenses & Credentials

Here are the major kinds of licenses / registrations you’ll encounter under Colorado’s natural medicine regulations, and what each one involves:

License / Role	What It Allows You to Do	Requirements / Qualifications
Facilitator	A “Facilitator” provides natural medicine services such as preparation sessions, administration sessions, and integration sessions. They are non-clinical providers under the Natural Medicine rules. Colorado Secretary of State+2Vicente LLP+2	Must be ≥ 21 years old; basic life support (or equivalent) certification; complete an approved facilitator training program; do a supervised practicum (≈ 40 hours); do consultation hours (≈ 50 hours) with an approved mentor or supervisor. Application, fees, and background checks are required. Colorado Secretary of State+2Psychedelic Alpha+2
Clinical Facilitator	A Clinical Facilitator has a broader or more medical/clinical scope; the rules indicate more rigorous training or existing license in a health profession, possibly able to work with higher risk patients. Vicente LLP+2Colorado Secretary of State+2	Same base adult age, BLS, etc. + must hold or be licensed in a relevant health profession (e.g. certain medical credentials) or additional training. More restrictions / oversight. Colorado Secretary of State+1
Handler License	For individuals who “handle” regulated natural medicine or regulated natural medicine products—this includes people involved in cultivation, manufacturing, testing, packaging, storage, or transport. Everyone who has unrestricted access or handles the product in business settings needs a Handler License. Colorado Secretary of State+2Colorado Secretary of State+2	Must be 21; pass a criminal history background check; pay fees; meet any requirements around identifying who handles what. Some licensees (owners, facility staff) will also need to hold a natural medicine handler license. Colorado Secretary of State
Owner License	If you own (or have financial interest in) a natural medicine business (healing center, cultivation facility, manufacturing, testing facility), you’ll need an Owner License. This allows you many of the same privileges as a handler, because owners must also handle regulated natural medicine in many cases. Colorado Secretary of State+1	Similar base requirements: ≥ 21, background check, tax / financial disclosures (since ownership implies financial liability), fees, etc. Colorado Secretary of State
Natural Medicine Business Licenses (Healing Center, Cultivation Facility, Manufacturer, Testing Facility)	These are for entities (business premises) that operate cultivation, manufacturing, testing, healing centers, etc. They must be licensed by the state. Heal­ing centers are where participants go to receive natural medicine services under supervision. Cultivation/manufacturing and testing have operational / facility / inventory / safety / labeling / tracking requirements. Colorado Secretary of State+3dnm.colorado.gov+3Psychedelic Alpha+3	Must meet facility standards; owners must have owner licenses; handler licenses for employees; security, inventory tracking, safety, testing; may be categorized by “tiers” (like micro vs standard) depending on scale (e.g. how much dried fruiting bodies can be stored) Colorado Secretary of State+2dnm.colorado.gov+2

Some Key Shared Requirements

Across almost all of the license types, there are a number of common requirements:

• Must be 21+ years old. Colorado Secretary of State+1

• Basic Life Support (BLS) or equivalent certification. Colorado Secretary of State+1

• Criminal history / background check. Colorado Secretary of State+1

• Application, fees, and compliance with the rules about handling, storage, labeling, safety, record-keeping. Colorado Secretary of State+2Colorado Secretary of State+2

“Tiers”, Business Types & Other Factors

• Tiers: Some licenses (especially cultivation facilities) have tiers (e.g. micro-cultivation vs standard) depending on the scale (how much medicine they handle/store). The scale affects how much inventory in dried fruiting bodies you are allowed, what security / location / storage / record keeping is needed. Colorado Secretary of State+1

• Business vs Individual: License categories include both individual licenses (facilitators, handlers, owners) and business entity licenses (healing centers, manufacturing, cultivation, testing). Colorado Secretary of State+1

• Local vs State: In addition to state licenses, many municipalities require local business licenses or permits (e.g. Denver, Boulder, Sheridan) for natural medicine businesses. Zoning, distance from schools, business permits, local ordinances will matter. Denvergov+1

Timeline & Recent Changes

• The Natural Medicine Advisory Board was appointed in 2023. DPO Colorado

• Licensing for facilitators opens in December 2024. DPO Colorado

• Rules went into effect October 1, 2024. dnm.colorado.gov+1

What To Know Before You Apply

If you’re considering getting licensed under Colorado’s natural medicine law, here are a few things to check:

1. What role are you seeking? Facilitator? Clinical facilitator? Owner? Handler? Business entity? Each has different training and legal obligations.

2. Do you meet the prerequisites? Age, certification (BLS), background, may need to hold other licenses or have clinical credentials for certain roles.

3. Training program: Find an approved facilitator training program (for Facilitators/Clinical Facilitators). You’ll need to complete supervised practicum, consultation hours.

4. Facility & business setup (if doing business): Comply with facility licensing rules, security, inventory, local zoning, permits.

5. Ongoing compliance: Renewal of license, maintaining training, keeping records, safety screening, reporting, etc.

Other Related Licenses

Besides the new natural medicine licenses, Colorado also regulates or registers other “natural” or complementary health practitioners, such as:

• Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) – they earn a doctorate from accredited naturopathic medical programs, are registered/licensed in Colorado, must pass board exams, and fulfill continuing education requirements. coloradond.org

• Herbalists, wellness coaches, etc. These may not yet have specific state licenses (unless under the Natural Medicine rules or other health board rules), so their regulation may vary and might not be formal licensing but could involve business permits, scope limitations, ethics, etc.