Psychedelic Church expands in Colorado Springs
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - The Community of PACK Life already made a name for itself as the "first psychedelic church" in the state. Now it is expanding to the heart of Colorado Springs.
The church says it provides a space for Coloradans eager to find community and safe access to entheogens and sacred compounds. Now the space is moving into a brick-and-mortar store at the intersection of Union Blvd and Academy Boulevard.
The building located at 5028 N. Academy Blvd. is 3,500 square feet of hope and possibility, according to the church's founder.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Colorado’s first “psychedelic church” run by Colorado Springs man
Now the church plans to hold a grand opening on June 1st. Community members who are interested can take a sneak peek at the church during a preview weekend on May 29 and May 30.
KRDO13 got a first-hand look at the new space with the church's founder, Teopixqui Dez.
The new institution, which plans to use psilocybin mushrooms and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) as sacraments, is facing some scrutiny and concern from some community groups regarding its potential impact.
The church reports a significant increase in its congregation, growing from approximately 200 to 2,000 members.
Colorado law allows for the unlicensed practice of natural medicine facilitation services during bona fide religious ceremonies, provided the facilitator informs all participants they are not licensed and that the ceremony is not associated with commercial or for-profit activity, according to the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).
The Department of Revenue’s (DOR) Natural Medicine Division’s jurisdiction is limited to the regulated space. This includes the licensing and regulatory oversight of Healing Centers, Manufacturing licenses, Cultivation licenses, and Testing Facilities, as well as their owners and handlers.
The DOR cannot speak to the legality of an unlicensed organization and does not have jurisdiction over personal use activities related to natural medicine. However, it is worth noting that the state law that established a regulated program for natural medicine also established personal use and sharing allowances for adults. Personal use allowances include reference to religious, cultural, and spiritual uses. For example, current state law provides: "Nothing in this section prohibits an individual from performing a bona fide religious, culturally traditional, or spiritual ceremony, if the individual informs an individual engaging in the ceremony that the individual is not a licensed facilitator, and that the ceremony is not associated with commercial, business, or for-profit activity."
The law also includes restrictions related to personal use and sharing of natural medicine. For example, if an individual is sharing under the personal use provisions with other adults, they are prohibited from accepting remuneration for the natural medicine (e.g. engaging in sales transactions for the medicine) and they are prohibited from holding themselves out as a licensed facilitator. The Division provides public education and other resources on its website, including “know the law” resources, accessible here.
- A spokesperson for the Colorado Natural Medicine Division
Dez expressed a clear vision for the new location.
"I see something that this city needs that doesn't exist. I see something that will speak to people in a way that they didn't even know could resonate with them. To create truly the only place in Colorado Springs to find community and safe access to antigens and sacred compounds." Dez said.
Dez tells KRDO13 that he aims to create a welcoming and family-friendly environment that feels like a second home, complete with a foyer, sanctuary and private retreat spaces.
"The city wants to see a better and brighter tomorrow. Regardless, the fires that are happening across our nation, regardless the rising fascism, the rising hate. It's not numerous. It's just loud, and love is louder. And here we will create that," said Dez.
Sara Snapp, thread keeper at the Colorado Psychedelic Church, shared her personal journey, highlighting the church's focus on community and healing.
"I had treatment-resistant depression for about ten years. I was diagnosed following the birth of my first child, and I thought that I was just meant to be sad," Snapp said.
She describes her role as weaving new members into the community and helping them recognize their vibrance.
"I'm not the only one whose life has been transformed and enriched by being part of a community. And that's...what it is," said Snapp.
Dez added that this is about coming together, not just the psilocybin and dimethyltryptamine (DMT).
"It's bringing people together. It's not just like the sacrament. It's not just access. It's meaningful access. It's not just community. It's a meaningful community to be able to find a place where, you know, you're surrounded by people who will lift you up to create a divine us, that presence, when you get together with the people you love and who love you, and you can feel it, you feel that resonate and that divine us that has been created," shared Dez.
From a neighboring business perspective, John Vinson, assistant manager at a nearby camera store, welcomed the new occupancy.
"I'm glad it's been filled in, you know? I mean, you see so many places, as I said, along the Academy corridor, you have been closing like the Red Lobster down here," Vinson said, noting a trend of business closures in the area.
Vinson and other business owners in the shopping center said that hopefully, this church's opening would bring more foot traffic to the area.
Conversely, Luke Niforatos, executive vice president at Smart Approaches to Marijuana, voiced strong opposition, particularly regarding the use of psychedelics.
"Using psychedelics like DMT, like psilocybin or magic mushrooms, this is like dropping a nuclear bomb on your brain. You're spending four to five, even six hours tripping," Niforatos warned.
He emphasized that the substances are powerful, mind-altering and said they should not be more accessible in communities, especially near neighborhoods. Niforatos also questioned the legitimacy of calling psychedelic use a religious practice, suggesting skepticism toward new religions whose sole sacrament appears to be drug use. Niforatos further criticized the lack of medical and scientific backing for the widespread use of psychedelics.
"It is not doctors. It is not scientists. It is not people at the American Medical Association or the American Psychiatric Association. By the way, those are the experts who should be telling us what medicine is," Niforatos stated.
The use of pscylocibin mushrooms has not been FDA approved. However, it has been designated a Breakthrough Therapy for treating depression, but is undergoing additional research.
He also raised concerns about the financial interests driving the normalization of these drugs, citing entrepreneurs and investors rather than medical professionals.
Regarding the church's location, a spokesperson for the City of Colorado Springs clarified that while religious institutions are a permitted use in the MX-M zone district where the property is located, a change of use from retail to a religious institution may require a land-use application or a building permit for conversion. The city says it has not yet received inquiries regarding the proposed use and changes to the property.
"The City of Colorado Springs does not have use specific regulations for "psychedelic" churches. While religious institutions are a permitted use on the MX-M zone district, which is the current zoning for the property in question, the change of use from retail to a religious institution may trigger a land use application and/or building permit for the use and occupancy conversion. The City encourages all businesses to check with the City’s Land Use / Development Review Enterprise before selecting a site or beginning operations to confirm zoning, allowed uses, permit requirements, and Certificate of Occupancy status."
- A City of Colorado Springs spokesperson
Alton Dillard, with One Chance to Grow Up, highlighted concerns about youth.
"We can't speak to the specifics of this particular church, but we know that these drugs are always inappropriate for youth and their still-developing brains. Anything that normalizes their use can influence teen behavior,” Dillard said.
Dez outlined the church's diverse schedule, including sermons on Tuesdays at 6:15 p.m. and lounge nights on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The church also hosts monthly sisterhood and brotherhood groups, events for queer folk, and an older-than-50 group called Golden Teachers, an anime night and a painting with a trip day.
Dez explained that access to the sacrament is carefully managed, with only those 21 and older receiving it, after an ID check and consultation with clergy. Dez emphasized the spiritual aspect of their practice.
"Community is an act of resistance, and we're here to fight that good fight," Dez said.
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