canadian doctors are applying for psychedelic drug exemptions to dose themselves
doctors hope to use exemption to train in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
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psilocybin or 'magic mushrooms' could help treat depression and anxiety in patients facing end of life distress.
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therapsil, a b.c.-based non-profit coalition that has been helping terminally ill canadians apply for drug exemptions to pursue psilocybin therapy, is expanding their strategy.the organization is now helping doctors apply for their own exemptions so they “may personally try psilocybin and properly train in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy,” the organization said in an email to the growthop.a recent poll from therapsil found that the majority of canadians, nearly 60 per cent, approve of psilocybin use for end of life care.the organization has been trying to get the attention of health minister, patty hajdu, since april. they have helped four canadians, including thomas hartle, apply for an exemption to section 56(1) of the canadian drugs and substances act. hajdu is authorized to grant such an exemption.“therapsil urges the minister of health to align with public opinion,” the organization said. “we believe that this wait time is a cruelty to people facing an untreatable fatal illness.”momentum is growing for the liberalization of psychedelic drug use in canada. an e-petition launched in april to decriminalize psychedelics has been signed by more than 8,000 canadians and will be presented in the house of commons by nanaimo-ladysmith mp paul manly.manly, the green party’s mp for nanaimo-ladysmith, will present the petition after it closes for signatures on august 14.“in canada, we are facing an opioid and mental health crisis that we urgently need to address,” manly told the growthop in april. “the use of sacramental and medicinal plants containing psychoactive ingredients is a promising area of research for potential treatments and therapies.”don’t miss the latest on covid-19, reopening and life. subscribe to healthing’s daily newsletter coming out of covid.
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