Across the country, media outlets have been covering a nearly disastrous incident on a commercial flight involving an Alaskan Airlines pilot, Joseph Emerson, an off-duty pilot who was riding in the jump seat. Thankfully, Emerson was able to be subdued, with no injury or loss of life.

This entire event is unnerving, shocking and tragic. It is yet another glaring reminder of the ever-growing mental health crisis across this country that is spreading rapidly. Colorado in particular ranks 45th out of 51 states and territories in the nation when it comes to the prevalence of mental health issues and poor access to mental health care. This means countless people across this state couldn’t get care or treatment if they wanted to.

More recent headlines, however, have focused on the fact that Emerson may have used psilocybin mushrooms about two days before the incident, sometimes downplaying other factors such as his statements that he was struggling with depression and had not slept for 48 hours prior to boarding the plane. Some have capitalized on the opportunity to frame so-called “magic mushrooms” as dangerous and a threat to our societal well-being.

The reality is many legal substances from alcohol to aspirin to cough syrup carry some level of risk. Our culture often normalizes these substances, despite the fact that they can lead to serious mental and physical harms.This is not, however, a reason to dismiss the healing potential of regulated therapeutic access to natural medicines like psilocybin mushrooms, which have the very real potential to save lives.

As I transitioned from a Marine Corps officer to a physician assistant, I have undergone a transformation influenced by my personal mental health struggles and the profound healing I found through natural medicine. Now, as a health care professional, I bear witness to the staggering number of individuals grappling with mental health crises and the woeful deficiency in accessible and effective care.

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In the military, addressing mental health issues was stigmatized, shamefully marking someone as unfit for duty, while physical battle wounds were worn like badges of honor. The pride associated with visible “battle scars” stood in stark contrast to the shame hidden within invisible wounds. My transition to civilian life brought a heavy burden of severe depression, anxiety and PTSD.

Access to treatment was slow and led me on a disorienting carousel of side effects, further complicating my life. At my lowest point, hope seemed elusive. It was only when I learned about the potential of natural medicine, particularly psilocybin, that hope was renewed. Yet, the lack of a formal system made accessing nature an ordeal. Despite trying every conventional treatment available, it was psilocybin that became my lifeline.

Just one course of this natural medicine acted as a breakthrough. My depression lifted, anxiety subsided, and I found my way back to a sense of self and normalcy. Psilocybin, above all else, provided me with the relief I had longed for. It undeniably saved my life, and I’m not alone in this experience.

Far from “snake oil,” the effectiveness of natural medicines for treating depression, anxiety, substance-use disorder, PTSD and more has been well-researched and documented by a number of leading institutions including Johns Hopkins University, UCLA, NYU and our own University of Colorado. Some studies have found psychedelic medicines to be twice as effective as current treatments even after just two doses with supportive therapy.

In fact, the FDA recently designated psilocybin a “breakthrough therapy” for treatment-resistant depression. There is also research to suggest that natural medicines don’t have the same addictive qualities as other drugs and pharmaceuticals, like opioids, that have led to epidemics across the country. There is even research showing psilocybin can help those struggling with addiction to alcohol and nicotine.

Veterans like me have found natural medicines to be incredibly effective for helping process trauma and find healing. Psilocybin in particular has an extremely strong safety profile, especially when compared with other substances. When researchers compared harms associated with 20 substances, including those that are readily available in Colorado like alcohol and tobacco, psilocybin was determined to be the least harmful.

Modeled after the clinical trials, Proposition 122 maximizes safety by creating access to psilocybin within a therapeutic setting that includes careful screening, preparation and supervision throughout the psychedelic experience by trained and licensed facilitators.

It’s important to understand Proposition 122 does not allow for recreational sales of natural medicines, so we won’t see retail dispensaries. As a result, access to natural medicines will be much more limited to well-regulated therapeutic settings.

I don’t know where I would be without the lifesaving healing I experienced through natural medicines. I’m extremely hopeful that, thanks to Proposition 122, those who are still suffering despite trying every other treatment available may be able to access healing through these groundbreaking natural medicines.

It’s disheartening to see misinformed detractors in the media and elsewhere weaponizing this tragic story. I would encourage them to not just take the time to look at the research from some of the most respected institutions in this state and country, but also to talk to the people who have found healing when they thought hope was lost.  It’s not just veterans. We all experience mental health difficulties at times, and we all know someone who is truly suffering. It’s one of the few things that connects and affects us all, and it is incumbent on us as a society to look for solutions.

Proposition 122 helped us take a critical step forward in working to address the mental health crisis and that should not be misrepresented or overshadowed by unfounded scare tactics. I will tell you what’s far scarier than natural medicines: suffering through this mental health crisis with no end in sight.

Tommy Mulhern is a former U.S. Marine Corps officer and current certified physician assistant in Denver. He also serves as an ambassador for the Heroic Hearts Project, dedicated to building a community that provides veterans with safe and supervised access to psychedelic therapies and professional coaching.