Denver residents approved initiative by small margin.

By the narrowest of margins, Denver has become the first city in the United States to decriminalize psilocybin, a psychedelic substance commonly referred to as "magic mushrooms."

The initiative in Denver effectively decriminalizes use or possession of psilocybin by people 21 and older, making it the lowest enforcement priority for local police and prosecutors, according to an Associated Press news report. It also prevents city funds from being used for criminal penalties on possession or use and creates a panel of officials to study the effects of the change.

What the initiative does not do, though, is legalize psilocybin or permit its sale.

A small majority of Denver voters backed the initiative: 50.56 percent.

There has been talk that the decriminalization of the substance in Denver could lead to a wider movement, and with Pueblo being just 100 miles south of Denver it's natural to wonder if a similar ordinance could pass here at some point.

Count 10th Judicial District Attorney Jeff Chostner as being against the idea of decriminalizing magic mushrooms in Pueblo County.

“I believe the trend toward loosening or lessening penalties on serious drugs is moving in the wrong direction. We’ve been able to reduce crime in Pueblo County by 10 percent over the last couple of years. We want to continue that trend," Chostner said.

"Making penalties for serious drug usage less restrictive is moving in the wrong direction. There have been a number of criminal justice bills in the Legislature that causes Pueblo law enforcement officials concern, and to which we’ve objected. We’ll continue to do that as these efforts in Denver hurt our community in Pueblo. This is just another example of misguided initiatives.”

Federally illegal since 1968 and classified as a Schedule I drug defined as having no medical purpose and a high potential for abuse, individuals who use psilocybin recreationally have reported seeing vivid colors and geometric patterns and experiencing powerful spiritual connections and emotions, according to an AP report.

There could be some practical uses for mushrooms, said Dr. Michael Nerenberg, a former emergency room doctor who now is a co-operator of the Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association.

"With mushrooms, there's been some evidence of helping treat alcoholics, depression, and there's possibly some medical uses for it," he said. "No one has overdosed on them. Some people have gotten nauseated and vomited."

Nerenberg said he would be in favor of following Denver's step and decriminalizing mushrooms in Pueblo County.

Based on his professional observations, he thinks all drugs should be decriminalized.

"I think the only way we're ever going to get a handle on the drug problem is to decriminalize all of it," Nerenberg said. "No. 1: Arresting people clearly has not been effective in curbing the problem. They've been enforcing that law for over 100 years and where are we? No. 2: It's been increasingly recognized and felt that this is an illness, and it's the only illness we treat with jail. It's not getting us anywhere."

rseverance@chieftain.com

Twitter: @RyanS_Chieftain