Another three patients who have petitioned the federal government to use psilocybin therapy as a treatment for their mental health conditions have received an exemption from the minister of health to legally undergo this therapy.
Psilocybin — the active ingredient in magic mushrooms — was banned in Canada in 1974, but recent trials have shown that it could be an effective way to treat severe depression, PTSD and other mental health conditions.
Canada’s health ministry granted the first four patient exemptions in August 2020 but further exemptions were slow to come.
Surrey-based Nathan Kruljac, who applied for an exemption in March with help from the B.C.-based non-profit TheraPsil, was one of the patients granted an exemption.
He released a statement through the organization saying it had been a long time coming.
“I have been in agony for 15 years. This decision by the Minister to acknowledge my trauma and pain and allow me compassionate access to psilocybin may be the turning point in my life; it may not. The choice is mine and shouldn’t fall to a decision made by an administrative department of our government,” his statement read.
Many others waiting
Spencer Hawkswell, CEO of TheraPsil, said he is beyond excited for the patients who have been granted the exemption — but many more are still waiting, including 15 more patients with his non-profit.
“It’s a success story and we have to celebrate the small wins, [but] overall, my message to the government is that this is not even close to being over,” Hawkswell said.
“We’re putting in new exemption [requests] almost every week … Thousands of people have messaged us asking for support and unfortunately, we have to tell them the same thing which is we don’t have the capacity to help you right now.”
Hawkswell said one positive aspect is that the exemptions are no longer just for patients who are in palliative care or have a terminal diagnosis.
“When our MAiD (medical assistance in dying) legislation doesn’t require death to be foreseeable, why would death have to be foreseeable for you to access a mushroom, too?”
Read more at
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/psilocybin-exemptions-granted-1.6285937
