Psychedelic medicine in Canada is closer than you might think
Psychedelic conferences are popping up all over the country, with many focused in Southern Ontario, providing a glimmer of hope for those who’ve long awaited the chance to try psychedelic medicine. It’s a whole new world, following in the footsteps of cannabis, but it’s moving at lightspeed and bound to arrive as a legitimate legal option much sooner than most Canadians might think.
Canada is leading the world in psychedelic medicine research
While America continues to ponder the trials and tribulations of legalizing cannabis federally, Canada is leading the way standing at the forefront of research into psychedelic medicine. An excellent example of this is Health Canada’s Special Access Program (SAP), which allows a limited number of patients to attempt to treat chronic physical and mental health conditions such as depression. It’s still an exclusive shortlist to receive psilocybin therapy, as the only people who qualify must have tried multiple other more traditional treatments without success. Still, it shows the country is headed in the right direction, with world-renowned experts at the wheel.
Perspectives are changing
In a democracy, people must lead the changes we hope to see in policy, and most Canadians are on board with psychedelic medicine. The public is increasingly more interested in the subject now that the culture and focus have shifted to the medicinal use of psychedelics rather than recreation. According to a Nanos Research Poll, 78% of Canadians fully support legalizing psilocybin therapy to assist palliative care patients by improving their quality of life. Here in Canada, the people are miles ahead of the government, hence the appearance of psychedelics conference, festivals, and expo offerings around the world.
The government is paying attention (even if it doesn’t always seem like it)
Several representatives from Health Canada, a sitting Canadian senator, and a former Minister of Health played integral roles at the Catalyst summit as speakers and participants, making it clear that the government, officials, and regulators are keeping a close eye on the budding interest in psychedelic medicine. Though few promises were made, during a Health Canada panel, representatives made it clear that changes were slowly being made to give more people access to psychedelics for medicine and that they would not stand in the way of those who want to do further research on the subject.
There is still a lot we don’t know, but we’re inching closer every day
As the evidence continues to build, this journey towards a better understanding of psychedelics and their role in medicine is off to a great start, but we still don’t quite know enough for regulators or governments to give the official green light. Luckily, there are thousands of researchers, patients, universities, doctors and a wide array of other passionate individuals who are working on that part of the equation. Once we know more, it’s reasonable to expect the government to adapt, driven by a push from the public combined with facts. It might not be today or tomorrow, but one day soon, it will be much easier for patients to gain access to the potential these substances hold.
