In a bold and unconventional move, the Psychedelic Church of Colorado has garnered attention for distributing free magic mushrooms to its congregation of over 500 members.
Founded by an individual known as Dez, who was inspired by a psychedelic vision in a Mexican forest, the church has positioned itself as a spiritual community that embraces psychedelics as a means to enhance the human experience.
This development has sparked curiosity, debate, and coverage from various news outlets in recent days.
According to a report by the Daily Star on March 29, 2025, Dez founded the Psychedelic Church after a transformative encounter with his ancestors during a “chemically induced vision.”
The church, based in Colorado, operates out of Dez’s residence and boasts a congregation exceeding 550 members. Dez funds the operation entirely out of his own pocket, offering what he calls “communal offerings” of magic mushrooms free of charge.
The Daily Star quotes Dez as saying, “When people gather on spiritually that is a church,” emphasizing that the community transcends a physical location. He further stressed the collective ownership of the group, telling his followers, “This is not mine – this is ours.”
The founder of the Psychedelic Church has revealed the institute is aimed at battlling ‘rising fascism’ caused by a pair he calls ‘Orange Hitler and his apartheid lapdog cheering him on’
Additional reporting from posts on X aligns with this narrative, highlighting the church’s unique approach.
An X user noted that while not every member is “tripping in church,” Dez believes ingesting psychedelics can “enhance the spiritual experience.”
Another post from March 26, 2025, described the Psychedelic Church of Colorado Springs as a place where the faithful can “supercharge their spiritual experience” through these offerings.
These sentiments suggest a broader mission to integrate psychedelics into spiritual practice without mandating their use.
The church’s mission extends beyond psychedelics, as Dez also provides food to members in need, according to the Daily Star.
This charitable aspect underscores his vision of a supportive community, one that rejects traditional financial models.
Dez explicitly avoids charging for the mushrooms, framing them as a gift to his congregation rather than a commodity. His motivations, however, are not without political undertones.
The Daily Star reports that Dez sees the church as a counterforce to what he describes as “rising fascism,” specifically referencing “Orange Hitler and his apartheid lapdog cheering him on”—a pointed critique that hints at his broader ideological stance.
While the Psychedelic Church has not been explicitly tied to other news outlets in the provided references, its emergence reflects a growing cultural fascination with psychedelics.
The church’s activities come at a time when psychedelic substances are gaining traction in therapeutic and spiritual contexts across the United States.
Colorado, in particular, has been a hotspot for such experimentation, having decriminalized certain psychedelics in recent years. This legal backdrop likely enables the church to operate without immediate interference, though its long-term sustainability remains an open question.
Critics might question the safety or legality of distributing magic mushrooms, even within a religious framework, but Dez’s operation appears to lean on the principles of religious freedom and communal goodwill.
For now, the Psychedelic Church of Colorado stands as a provocative experiment—one that blends spirituality, psychedelics, and social commentary into a singular, mushroom-fueled mission.
