vailsymposium

A Denver native, Kevin Matthews attended the United States Military Academy from 2005-2008 where he was diagnosed with Major Depression and, subsequently, received a medical retirement from the US Army. Between 2008-2011 he initiated a journey of self-exploration to find relief from his symptoms by exploring meditation, yoga, Jungian Psychology and other spiritual and embodiment practices.

In 2011, he was transformed by a single experience of psilocybin mushrooms that cleared the fog of depression for months and enabled him to take control of his health and mindset. After learning about the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies and their tremendous work treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, Kevin was catapulted into study and personal research about other psychedelics and their potential to address a full-spectrum of mental and behavioral health disorders. In 2018, he formed Decriminalize Denver and worked with others to lead the campaign that decriminalized the personal possession, personal use, and personal cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms in Denver in May 2019.

Matthews believes that everyone deserves safe and responsible access to psychedelic plants and fungi to transform their lives and their communities. As a professional speaker and advocate for psychedelics, he is committed to educating the public and being a steward of the psychedelic renaissance. As the Executive Director, Kevin believes that SPORE is a vehicle to organize the psychedelic constituency into a unified community to create the foundation for equitable psychedelic reform in the United States and globally, starting in Colorado. He currently calls Arvada, CO home, where he lives with his wife and 5-year-old son.