Governor Polis Announces Pardons For Prior Psilocybin Convictions Onstage at MAPS 2025!

Here’s a sneak peek of one of our images from yesterday’s speech at MAP's Psychedelic Science Conference, where Governor Jared Polis announced statewide pardons for all prior convictions related to psilocin and psilocybin (provided that the “crimes” committed at the time would now be considered legal).  Excellent news, Colorado!

Governor Jared Polis at the Colorado Convention Center announcing pardons for those convicted of psilocybin offenses. © Cannabis Camera 2025

Cannabis Camera lead photographer, Kim Sidwell will be documenting the conference all week long... if you see her wondering around with her camera, make sure to say hi and don't forget to sign up here to be notified when more images are posted!

DENVER - Today, at the Psychedelic Science 2025 Conference, Governor Polis announced new pardons for those convicted at the state level of possessing psilocybin or psilocin. This action comes after Governor Polis signed SB25-297- Implementation of Colorado Natural Medicine Initiative earlier this year, which gives the Governor the authority to grant a class of defendants these pardons, and after Coloradans voted in 2022 to decriminalize natural medicine and direct the state to build a regulatory framework for it.

“Colorado has been a national leader in breaking through outdated laws around cannabis, and now we are doing the same for natural medicine. This action eliminates past state-level convictions for psilocybin and psilocin possession that would be legal today. With these pardons, we are fulfilling the will of Colorado voters and moving away from ineffective drug policy and encouraging local municipalities to follow suit,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

This Executive Order applies to all state level possession convictions for psilocybin or psilocin. The individuals who have these convictions did not need to apply for pardons, and the Governor’s Office has not conducted individual assessments of the people who have been pardoned through this process. If any Coloradan believes they have a conviction for psilocybin or psilocin possession that qualifies, and were not pardoned through the process in this Executive Order, they can contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and they may apply for clemency. The State has identified four convictions for psilocybin and psilocin possession that will be pardoned by this Executive Order. 

In 2020, Governor Polis issued an Executive Order pardoning Coloradans with marijuana possession convictions of one ounce or less, pardoning 2,732 total convictions. In 2021, following increases to the legal amount of marijuana a person could possess, Governor Polis pardoned another 1,351 possession convictions. This action removed barriers for Coloradans whose past convictions were no longer illegal under current laws.