Natural Medicine Pardons
Pardon Information
Pursuant to Proposition 122 and Senate Bill 23-290, the possession of Natural Medicine (Psilocybin, Psilocin, Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), Mescaline, and Ibogaine) is no longer a criminal offense. Under Senate Bill 25-297, the Governor was granted the authority to issue pardons for a class of defendants convicted of possession of Natural Medicine, as defined in C.R.S. § 44-50-103(13). The requirements in C.R.S. §16-17-201(1) regarding commutation of sentence or pardon for crimes committed do not apply to defendants who were convicted of possession of Natural Medicine, which currently includes Psylocybin and Psylocin, but the Governor may make any inquiry as deemed appropriate to seek any relevant information necessary from any person or agency to reach an informed decision.
Pursuant to Senate Bill 25-297, the Governor has signed an Executive Order issuing a pardon for convictions of possession of Natural Medicine. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has located convictions meeting the criteria and have applied pardons to those convictions. However, the age and availability of data creates a possibility that some pardoned convictions may not show as such because of missing information at CBI. If you believe your record may be subject of the issued pardon, please contact CBI to verify.
If you believe you qualify, and your pardon was not granted through Executive Order, the Governor invites you to apply for a pardon for your conviction. If you believe your record may qualify for a pardon and you are interested in obtaining a pardon, please complete the form below.
Please Note: This form requires information regarding a Natural Medicine conviction. Documents in your possession related to your criminal history and/or court case may be required to complete the form.
Pardon Questions and Answers
- What is a pardon?
A pardon can be thought of as a public forgiveness for a crime.
- Who should fill out this form?
Individuals with state-level convictions of possession of Natural Medicine in Colorado who would like a pardon for those convictions are invited to apply through this process.
- How will this pardon process work?
After you submit this form, CBI will review the information and contact you to discuss further. If you have a state-level conviction for possession of Natural Medicine, CBI will direct you to fill out the standard pardon application and submit it to the Office of Executive Clemency. The Governor’s Office will be in contact with you to either request additional information or notify you that your application has been granted or denied.
- How and when will my Natural Medicine possession conviction be pardoned?
The Governor’s decision to grant a pardon is discretionary. Pardons will be considered on a rolling basis. The Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel will notify you when a decision regarding your pardon is made or if additional information is needed.
- What will a pardoned conviction look like on my criminal history?
A pardoned conviction will no longer appear on a public background check conducted on cbirecordscheck.com. Convictions will still be visible on background checks conducted by licensing officials and law enforcement, but the background check will include a notation that the conviction was pardoned by the Governor.
- How do I confirm my conviction has been pardoned? How long will this take?
If you are notified that the Governor has granted you a pardon, for $6.00, you may instantly check if a pardon was applied to your State criminal history by visiting cbirecordscheck.com. If a background check is cost prohibitive, you may complete this form to check if your conviction has been pardoned for free; however, it may take up to thirty (30) days for CBI to verify your pardon status.
- What will a pardoned conviction look like on my criminal history?
A pardoned conviction will no longer appear on a public background check conducted on cbirecordscheck.com. Convictions will still be visible on background checks conducted by licensing officials and law enforcement, but the back ground check will include a notation that the conviction was pardoned by the Governor.
- Why does the Governor’s Possession of Natural Medicine pardon only apply to State-level convictions?
Governor Polis only has authority to pardon Colorado state convictions. Municipal convictions, juvenile adjudications, and convictions from Denver County Court (General Sessions) are not under the Governor’s authority.
- Does a pardon by the Governor for possession of Natural Medicine apply to convictions in another state if the individual now lives in Colorado?
No. Governor Polis only has authority to pardon Colorado state convictions. Governor Polis strongly encourages other states that have legalized Natural Medicine possession as well as Colorado local jurisdictions and municipalities to consider adopting similar pardon processes.
- Should I fill out this form if I have a conviction for selling or distributing Natural Medicine, or a conviction for something else?
No. You should only fill out this form if you have a State-level conviction for possession of Natural Medicine and would like to seek a pardon for that conviction.
If you have other criminal convictions and would like to apply for a pardon, please visit cdoc.colorado.gov/resources/clemency.
- Will any pardons result in anyone being freed from incarceration?
No. A pardon can be thought of as a public forgiveness for a crime, once someone has completed a criminal sentence. In addition, no one is currently incarcerated in the state of Colorado solely for the possession of any amount of Natural Medicine.
