Latest news with #psilocybin
Bloomberg
4 hours ago
- Health
- Bloomberg
New Zealand Allows First Medical Use of Magic Mushroom Compound
By Hi, it's Karoline in Singapore, where the use of hallucinogens is largely illegal and subject to severe penalties. But one nation just allowed medical use of 'magic mushrooms'. But before I tell you more... Psilocybin, a hallucinogen found in more than 200 species of 'magic mushrooms' was defined by the UN's 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances as a drug with high potential for abuse and not recognized for medical use. But in recent years, studies have shown that it can relieve severe depression when taken in conjunction with psychotherapy.
CBC
10 hours ago
- Health
- CBC
Federal court rules Health Canada decision to block experiential psilocybin training was unreasonable
Social Sharing The Federal Court of Appeal has ruled that Health Canada's refusal to allow exemptions for health-care workers to use psilocybin as part of their experiential training was unreasonable. Wednesday's decision was the result of an appeal of a 2022 judicial review application in a case involving 96 health-care practitioners who sought an exemption to legally use dried hallucinogenic mushrooms as part of what is known as experiential training. The initial application for exemption was filed under the name of Jeff Toth, a Nova Scotia nurse practitioner. Health Canada's refusal of the health-care workers' requests for exemptions has been sent back to Health Minister Marjorie Michel for redetermination. The mushrooms, commonly called magic mushrooms, contain psychoactive substances that are only legal for use in Canada if an exemption is granted under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). Such exemptions are reserved for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, which involves medically supervised consumption of the substance for the treatment of serious medical conditions including end-of-life distress or treatment-resistant depression. Late Wednesday, the federal court ruled that Health Canada's reasons for refusing to grant exemptions to the 96 health workers training to administer psilocybin were too arbitrary. Refusal of exemptions harms patients: advocate John Gilchrist, communications director for TheraPsil, a Canadian non-profit organization that advocates for legal access to psychedelic therapy, was "elated" with this week's decision, which he called a "very long time coming." Gilchrist hopes this leads the current health minister to open up access to therapies by training more professionals who can help treat patients with debilitating migraines or depression. He says Health Canada's refusal to grant the exemptions is "harming health-care professionals and, very importantly, patients who are the most vulnerable in Canada." The Federal Court of Appeal's decision noted that Health Canada changed its position on psilocybin exemptions between 2020 and 2022 with no clear explanation. In 2020, then Health Minister Patty Hajdu granted exemptions to 19 health-care practitioners. This was reversed in 2022 under Carolyn Bennett, the then minister of mental health and addictions and the associate minister of health. "Health Canada is not aware of peer-reviewed clinical evidence to demonstrate that health-care professionals need to take a psychedelic drug in order to appreciate what the patient experiences," the ministry is quoted as saying in the federal court decision this week. But Federal Court of Appeal Justice Douglas Rennie wrote in his decision Wednesday that "nearly identical exemption requests" were granted in one case and denied arbitrarily in the other. "The Minister can't make such a significant and abrupt shift without explanation," he wrote. WATCH | Psychotherapist explains what a medical magic mushroom trip will look like: What a magic mushroom trip will look like for medical participants 1 year ago Duration 1:32 Health Canada has approved a study with 20 Londoners who suffer from PTSD to experience therapy under the influence of psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms. Psychotherapist Jared Dalton will oversee the therapy. He explains how it will work. Wins will open access to treatments: lawyer Ottawa lawyer Nicholas Pope says this is the latest in legal wins that will help open up access to psychedelic treatments. Pope, lawyer for the appellants, said the health-care workers were approved in 2020, then denied based on a lack of scientific evidence of efficacy. "Health Canada didn't demand that level of evidence in 2020 and now is demanding it," he said. In May 2024, a Calgary man named Jody Lance who suffers debilitating cluster headaches was the first to win a Federal Court battle forcing Health Canada to reconsider his bid for legal access to psilocybin to treat his extreme pain. His case was withdrawn after he got approval for an exemption this year. Requests to access controlled substances in special medical circumstances are filed through Health Canada's Special Access Program (SAP). Lance's initial application under the SAP to help treat his pain was denied due to lack of research into the efficacy of psilocybin to treat cluster headaches. Canadians have had limited legal access to psilocybin under the SAP since 2022. Health Canada approved 56 SAP requests in 2022, 106 in 2023 and 85 as of October 2024.
CBS News
15 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Gov. Jared Polis announces pardons for Coloradans convicted of psilocybin possession at psychedelics conference
This week Colorado's governor said he's pardoning some people who were convicted in the state for possessing certain psychedelics. Gov. Jared Polis made the announcement on Wednesday at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver. The conference is going on all week at the Colorado Convention Center. Gov. Jared Polis speaks at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference on Wednesday. CBS The pardons cover people convicted of possessing the drugs found in so-called "magic" mushrooms: psilocybin and psilocin. "This is a step forward for the individuals -- they'll now have this cleared from their records," he said. "But also truly acknowledge the error in public policy that led to their conviction creating a more just system to break down barriers." In his speech, Polis also showcased the progress Colorado has made in the eventual legal use of psychedelic mushrooms, and the future of the psychedelics industry. In 2022, Colorado residents voted to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms for people 21 and older in 2022. The measure also green lighted state-regulated "healing centers" where participants can experience the drug under supervision. The governor says he hopes Colorado can take on a leading role for the rest of the country when it comes to the legal framework, and research, around psychedelic mushrooms. "Colorado has been a national leader in breaking through outdated laws around cannabis, and now we are doing the same for natural medicine," Polis said in a prepared statement.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Health
- Associated Press
Colorado's First Licensed Psilocybin Manufacturer, Psylutions, Showcases Breakthrough Therapies at Psychedelic Science
Explore Precision-Grown Psilocybin Solutions for Healing Centers at Booth #1106 'I'm here because I've experienced the healing effects of this medicine. Now we're delivering that same possibility through effective products that help people reclaim their lives.'— Rhonda DeSantis, founder of Psylutions DENVER, CO, UNITED STATES, June 19, 2025 / / -- Psylutions, Colorado's first licensed cultivator and manufacturer of psilocybin, is bringing its next-generation therapies to Psychedelic Science 2025, the leading global gathering for psychedelic research and innovation. Visit Booth #1106 to meet the Psylutions team and explore high-potency, lab-verified psilocybin cultivated for clinical healing, chronic pain, trauma relief, and daily mental wellness. Psylutions partners with healing centers and serves as a resource to help interested parties connect with the right licensed facilitators and healing centers throughout Colorado. 'I had a profound life-changing experience on low-dose psilocybin,' said Rhonda DeSantis, founder of Psylutions. 'I'm here because I've experienced the healing effects of this medicine. Now we're delivering that same possibility through precisely dosed, verified, effective products that support mental health and help people reclaim their lives.' Psylutions combines natural healing powers with scientific precision to provide licensed healing centers with regulated medicines. Under the mission of producing the purest and most potent strains available, Psylutions products are curated to support safe and effective mushroom products tailored to individuals' specific needs. Psylutions' mushroom-based products leverage the long-recognized therapeutic properties of psilocybin found to support mental health and chronic pain management, including: Support for Neurological Health: Compounds like psilocybin and psilocin have shown promise in supporting neurological health by interacting with serotonin in the brain. This potential to enhance neuroplasticity can be beneficial for individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mood disorders that are potentially altered when the brain is able to adapt and reorganize itself. Chronic Pain Management: For those suffering with chronic pain, psilocybin has been found to affect pain perception and potentially reduce the intensity and frequency of episodes. These effects could be a valuable tool for individuals seeking to manage conditions like fibromyalgia, migraines, and other chronic pain disorders. Mental Wellness: One of the most profound benefits of psychedelic mushrooms is the reported improvement in overall mental wellness experienced by many users. Individuals often report greater emotional clarity, reduced stress, and an enhanced sense of well-being. These effects are thought to be attributed to the mushroom's ability to promote the release of neurochemicals that could foster positive mood and emotional balance. 'We've built a facility that meets the highest possible standards,' DeSantis added. 'Triple HEPA filtration, mitigated contamination risk, and optimized growing environments. We're setting the bar for what regulated psychedelic medicine should look like.' For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Shawna Seldon McGregor at 917-971-7852 or [email protected]. Psylutions: Precise. Verified. Effective Psilocybin Solutions. Psylutions is Colorado's first state-licensed cultivator and manufacturer of psilocybin mushrooms, serving licensed healing centers, clinicians, and researchers with precision-grown, lab-verified psychedelic therapies. Psylutions combines scientific excellence with a deep commitment to healing. With a growing portfolio of high-potency strains, Psylutions is setting a new standard for safety, purity, and purpose in the regulated psychedelics industry. Learn more at Shawna Seldon McGregor Maverick Public Relations + +1 9179717852 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Another country approves use of ‘magic mushrooms' to treat depression
New Zealand has approved the restricted medicinal use of psilocybin, a hallucinogen found in " magic mushrooms." The approval is specifically for patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression. Only one psychiatrist, Professor Cameron Lacey, who was behind the first clinical trials of psilocybin, is authorised to prescribe it under strict reporting and record-keeping requirements. Associate Minister of Health David Seymour hailed the policy change as a "real breakthrough" for individuals who have exhausted other treatment options. New Zealand joins other regions, including Australia, Switzerland, Oregon, and Colorado, in allowing some form of legal or restricted access to psilocybin for medical purposes.
