Psychedelic Church Opens In Colorado Springs, CO Making History
In a dimly lit basement painted in deep forest green, Benji “Dez” Dezaval leads a small group in a discussion about community and pride. At first glance, it could be mistaken for a typical group therapy session. But as the clock nears 6 p.m., the unique nature of this gathering becomes clear. Attendees prepare to receive a “communal gift” – a choice of 2 grams of dried psilocybin mushrooms, a set of seven microdoses or a 10mg dose of DMT.
This is “Colorado’s Psychedelic Church,” a place where spirituality, community and psychedelics intersect. As The Colorado Sun reported, Dezaval, who goes by Teopixqui Dez, meaning “guard of God” in Aztec, founded the church after a transformative experience with psilocybin mushrooms led him to believe that he was called to help others heal through these substances.
The church operates under the provisions of Colorado’s Proposition 122, passed in 2022, which decriminalized the use of psilocybin for adults over 21. While the state’s laws allow for the sharing of psychedelics in contexts of counseling, spiritual guidance and community-based use, the concept of a “psychedelic church” is still a novel idea, pushing the boundaries of what these laws can accommodate.
Among other natural wonders, Colorado Springs – population 491,441- is known for being the base of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command.