{"id":9568,"date":"2022-12-08T18:23:36","date_gmt":"2022-12-08T18:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/?p=5479426"},"modified":"2022-12-08T18:23:36","modified_gmt":"2022-12-08T18:23:36","slug":"da-drops-felony-drug-charge-against-denvers-mushroom-rabbi-citing-voter-legalization-of-psilocybin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/da-drops-felony-drug-charge-against-denvers-mushroom-rabbi-citing-voter-legalization-of-psilocybin\/","title":{"rendered":"DA drops felony drug charge against Denver\u2019s mushroom rabbi, citing voter legalization of psilocybin"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/da-drops-felony-drug-charge-against-denvers-mushroom-rabbi-citing-voter-legalization-of-psilocybin\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><div class=\"media_block\"><\/div>\n<p>The Denver District Attorney\u2019s Office on Thursday dismissed a felony drug case against a rabbi charged with manufacturing psilocybin, citing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2022\/11\/08\/colorado-results-prop-122-legalizing-psilocybin-psilocin-mushrooms\/\">voter-approved Proposition 122<\/a>, which legalized psychedelics, including psilocybin, for medicinal use.<\/p>\n<p>At an arraignment hearing, a representative of the Denver District Attorney\u2019s Office said the case was being dismissed against Ben Gorelick \u201cin the interest of justice.\u201d Carolyn Tyler, a spokesperson for the DA\u2019s office, said the dismissal came about \u201cin light of the voters\u2019 decision\u201d on Proposition 122.<\/p>\n<p>Gorelick was arrested in February after police raided a warehouse in north Denver where he was growing more than 30 different types of psychedelic mushrooms. He had been charged with possession with intent to manufacture or distribute a controlled substance, a first-degree felony.<\/p>\n<p>The case against a chemist who was arrested during the January raid also was dismissed Thursday, Tyler said.<\/p>\n<p>Gorelick is the founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2022\/02\/11\/denver-mushrooms-psilocybin-sacred-tribe\/\">The Sacred Tribe, a Denver-based religious group that used psilocybin ceremoniously<\/a> until the police raid last winter. Several members of the group were in the courtroom Thursday and celebrated when the dismissal was announced.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know what everything got dismissed on or for,\u201d Gorelick told The Denver Post. \u201cAt this point in time, what I can tell you is I\u2019m very, very, very grateful to the DA\u2019s office for dropping the case. It\u2019s been a long year for the community, it\u2019s been a long year for us, and we look forward to getting back to practicing our religion, which is what the whole point of this is.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-slideshow\">\n<ul data-total=\"5\">\n<li data-index=\"1\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapper\"><img alt=\"Rabbi Ben Gorelick, measures out a ...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/da-drops-felony-drug-charge-against-denvers-mushroom-rabbi-citing-voter-legalization-of-psilocybin.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/da-drops-felony-drug-charge-against-denvers-mushroom-rabbi-citing-voter-legalization-of-psilocybin.jpg 620w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC2562x.jpg?w=780 780w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC2562x.jpg?w=810 810w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC2562x.jpg?w=1280 1280w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC2562x.jpg?w=1860 1860w\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"slide-credit\">Andy Cross, The Denver Post<\/p>\n<p class=\"slide-caption\">Rabbi Ben Gorelick, measures out a precise amount of sacrament, psilocybin mushrooms, during The Sacred Tribe&#8217;s ceremony on Nov. 6, 2021.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"2\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapper\"><img alt=\"Rabbi Ben Gorelick, right, talks to ...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/da-drops-felony-drug-charge-against-denvers-mushroom-rabbi-citing-voter-legalization-of-psilocybin-1.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/da-drops-felony-drug-charge-against-denvers-mushroom-rabbi-citing-voter-legalization-of-psilocybin-1.jpg 620w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC3425x.jpg?w=780 780w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC3425x.jpg?w=810 810w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC3425x.jpg?w=1280 1280w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC3425x.jpg?w=1860 1860w\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"slide-credit\">Andy Cross, The Denver Post<\/p>\n<p class=\"slide-caption\">Rabbi Ben Gorelick, right, talks to participants at a Sacred Tribe community dinner at the Synagogue, his home, Nov. 5, 2021.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"3\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapper\"><img alt=\"A Sacred Tribe attendee, center, sits ...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/da-drops-felony-drug-charge-against-denvers-mushroom-rabbi-citing-voter-legalization-of-psilocybin-2.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/da-drops-felony-drug-charge-against-denvers-mushroom-rabbi-citing-voter-legalization-of-psilocybin-2.jpg 620w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC2776x.jpg?w=780 780w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC2776x.jpg?w=810 810w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC2776x.jpg?w=1280 1280w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC2776x.jpg?w=1860 1860w\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"slide-credit\">Andy Cross, The Denver Post<\/p>\n<p class=\"slide-caption\">A Sacred Tribe attendee, center, sits on a vibration healing table while others wait to try it out on Nov. 06, 2021.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"4\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapper\"><img alt=\"Rabbi Ben Gorelick, measures out a precise amount Sacrament, psilocybin...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/da-drops-felony-drug-charge-against-denvers-mushroom-rabbi-citing-voter-legalization-of-psilocybin-3.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/da-drops-felony-drug-charge-against-denvers-mushroom-rabbi-citing-voter-legalization-of-psilocybin-3.jpg 620w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC2633x.jpg?w=780 780w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC2633x.jpg?w=810 810w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC2633x.jpg?w=1280 1280w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC2633x.jpg?w=1860 1860w\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"slide-caption\">Rabbi Ben Gorelick, measures out a precise amount Sacrament, psilocybin mushrooms, during Sacred Tribe Sacrament ceremony at the Synagogue, his home, November 05, 2021. (Photo by Andy Cross\/The Denver Post)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"5\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapper\"><img alt=\"Sacred Tribe participants during a Breathwork ...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/da-drops-felony-drug-charge-against-denvers-mushroom-rabbi-citing-voter-legalization-of-psilocybin-4.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/da-drops-felony-drug-charge-against-denvers-mushroom-rabbi-citing-voter-legalization-of-psilocybin-4.jpg 620w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC3775x.jpg?w=780 780w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC3775x.jpg?w=810 810w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC3775x.jpg?w=1280 1280w,https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/TDP-L-SACRED-TRIBE_DSC3775x.jpg?w=1860 1860w\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"slide-credit\">Andy Cross, The Denver Post<\/p>\n<p class=\"slide-caption\">Sacred Tribe participants during a breathwork exercise in the Synagogue on Nov. 06, 2021.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>After the police raid, The Sacred Tribe temporarily suspended gatherings but has since convened for Shabbat dinners and other events \u2014 sans psychedelic substances. Elle Logan, who has been a member since 2021, said the case \u201cbroke the community in a lot of ways,\u201d but that she wasn\u2019t surprised the charges were dismissed.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"related right\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cThe psychedelic movement, the plant medicine movement, and with Prop 122 passing, there\u2019s amazing momentum going into a brand new future that looks really different for a lot of people in terms of mental health and spiritual wellness,\u201d Logan said. \u201cBen\u2019s heart has been in that place from the get-go\u2026 I\u2019ve known his heart the whole time, that\u2019s never been in question and I\u2019m glad the court saw it too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Public enthusiasm around psychedelics has been growing in recent years, as clinical research has yielded promising results in their ability to treat ailments like post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. In November, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2022\/11\/08\/colorado-results-prop-122-legalizing-psilocybin-psilocin-mushrooms\/\">Colorado voters approved Proposition 122<\/a>, which legalized psilocybin and psilocin for medicinal use.<\/p>\n<p>Denver became the first city in the U.S. to decriminalize psilocybin in 2019. Last year, Denver District Attorney Beth McCann was on a panel that recommended <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2021\/10\/08\/magic-mushroom-denver-decriminalization-psilocybin-report\/\">the city loosen laws further<\/a> after studying the effects and concluding it \u201chas not since presented any significant public health or safety risk in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"media_block\"><\/div>\n<p>A Denver rabbi facing a felony drug charge for manufacturing psilocybin has been cleared of the charges. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[52,6811,8219,6897,8308,376,7540,7143,7938,7069,77,9,7300,8146,5019,5890,8147,8148,7534,1,3,6923,61,1736],"tags":[2632,6816,40,6898,8396,2954,7541,7144,7939,7071,2655,7305,8151,5022,41,8152,8153,7535,6924],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9568"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9568"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9568\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9568"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9568"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9568"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}