The world of psychedelic-assisted therapies is rapidly evolving in Quebec, Canada, and internationally. Stay informed about the latest news on the subject.
« Suicide headache » patient granted magic mushroom access after Health Canada U-turn
Jody Lance's 'historic win' comes after a federal court judge ruled Health Canada wholly disregarded legal arguments that he has a Charter right to medical grade psilocybin. Published on June 12, 2024 in the National Post.
Magic mushrooms for treating alcoholism are the subject of a study
Researchers at the University of Calgary are launching a project to evaluate the effectiveness of psilocybin — the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms — combined with psychotherapy in the treatment of alcoholism. Published on March 20, 2024 on the Radio-Canada website.
Quebec Therapists Conduct First Legal Psilocybin Group Therapy Session
A Canadian psychedelics therapy advocacy group on Monday announced that it has supported what is reportedly Quebec’s first legal group therapy session with psilocybin. Published on November 13, 2023 in Forbes Magazine.
Psychedelic psychotherapy offered in two Montreal hospitals
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has been authorized for a few years by Health Canada to treat mental health disorders in exceptional cases. The Montreal Mental Health University Institute and the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal now offer this treatment to some of their patients. Published on November 9, 2023 on the Radio-Canada website.
Federal Court ruling sets back health workers seeking psilocybin mushroom access
Dozens of health care professionals across the country are fighting the federal government in court for legal access to psychedelics, namely psilocybin mushrooms, to start offering therapeutic treatments in their practices. Published on September 30, 2023 on CTV News.
A decision by Health Canada regarding psilocybin is being challenged in Federal Court
A group of therapists and patients is challenging in Federal Court Health Canada's decision to reject their request to use psilocybin for professional training purposes. Published in french on September 15, 2023 in Le Soleil.
Australia has authorized the medical use of ecstasy and hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Australia became on Saturday one of the first countries in the world to authorize the medical use of ecstasy and hallucinogenic mushrooms, in hopes of combating certain mental disorders. Published on June 30, 2023, on Radio-Canada's website.
Terminal cancer patient renews call for psilocybin access amid Winnipeg magic mushroom shop bust
The active component in magic mushrooms helped give Janis Hughes, 66, a new outlook on life as she prepares for death — a benefit the Stage 4 breast cancer patient wants others who are suffering to experience in a safe way. Published on May 22, 2023 on the CBC News' website.
Film explores B.C. woman's experience with magic mushrooms to ease cancer anxiety
Laurie Brooks never thought she'd one day use magic mushrooms and advocate for the ability of others to do the same. The 55-year-old B.C. resident also never imagined having colon cancer and feared the impact her imminent death would have on her husband and four children. Published on April 22, 2023 on the CBC News' website.
Roland Griffith's Magical Profession
Over his half-century career at the Johns Hopkins University, Roland Griffiths has published hundreds of papers, most of them having to do with the downsides of drugs, attempts to understand the mechanisms of dependence and withdrawal. His research ushered in the psychedelic renaissance. Now it's changing how he's facing death. Published on April 10, 2023 in The Chronicle.
Health-care professionals fight decision to reject access to psilocybin for training
Canada violated the rights of hundreds of patients awaiting access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy when it rejected applications from health-care professionals to consume the restricted drug for training purposes, a lawyer for the workers argued in Federal Court on Tuesday. Published on March 28, 2023 in The Toronto Star.
Advocates, MPs call on feds to expand access to psychedelic treatment
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May says she wants Canada to consider expanding access to psychedelic drugs as medical treatments. May and other MPs joined a delegation of patients and health-care practitioners who are trying to lobby the federal government to make psilocybin -- the psychedelic compound produced by magic mushrooms -- more readily available. Published on February 14, 2023, on the CTV News' website.
Alberta’s new policy on psychedelic drug treatment for mental illness: Will Canada lead the psychedelic renaissance?
Patients in Alberta will now be able to legally consider adding psychedelic-assisted therapy to the list of treatment options available for mental illnesses. Published on January 15, 2023, in The Conversation.
Quebec Approves Health Coverage For Psilocybin Therapy
This week, Quebec advanced the acceptance of psychedelic therapies by becoming Canada's first governing medical body to publicly fund medical psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. Published on December 16, 2022, in Forbes Magazine.
The therapeutic magic mushrooms are of interest to experts in Atlantic.
Health Canada opened the door to clinical trials on the use of magic mushrooms a little less than a year ago. This is an experiment that experts in Atlantic are closely monitoring, wondering if this Health Canada authorization paves the way for a wider decriminalization of drugs. Published in french on November 7, 2022, on the CBC News' website.
Alberta to be 1st province to regulate psychedelics for therapy, government says
Alberta will become the first Canadian jurisdiction to regulate the use of psychedelic drugs for people in therapy, the province announced Wednesday. Published on October 5, 2022, on the CBC News' website.
Psychiatrists’ Views on Psychedelics at Odds With US Policy
A recent study has found considerable differences between psychiatrists' perceptions about the safety and therapeutic value of certain psychoactive drugs, including psychedelics, and how such drugs are classified under the Controlled Substances Act. Published on July 25, 2022, on the HMP Global Network.
A first patient treated with magic mushrooms in Quebec
Mathieu has juggled with anxiety and depression all his life. In 2017, he was first diagnosed with cancer, then survived the gaping hole left on his face by the total amputation of his nose. Head held high, he agreed to face the world with a synthetic nose and tried a number of experimental treatments to cling to life. Published on July 8, 2022, in Le Devoir.
Health Canada authorizes the use of psychedelic drugs for therapies
Canadian physicians can now request access to psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and MDMA (active agent in ecstasy) for the emergency treatment of their patients. Published on January 14, 2022, on Radio-Canada's website.
Three patients win Ottawa's right to use psilocybin legally
The new federal Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, has just authorized three Canadians who suffer from mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, to legally undergo psilocybin-based therapy. Published on December 14, 2021, on Radio-Canada's website.
