Conservative MP Corey Tochor has introduced new legislation aimed at making psilocybin and psilocin, the active ingredients in magic mushrooms, more accessible for therapeutic use. The move comes after a three-year journey inspired by a constituent's story.
The War on Drugs Made an Error
Tochor, who represents Saskatoon, says his interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy was sparked by Thomas Hartle, a constituent who became the first Canadian to legally use psilocybin to manage anxiety from Stage 4 colon cancer. Hartle died in 2024.
"I didn't get involved in politics for this," Tochor told the National Post. "But Thomas came into my office and really tweaked me that, wait a minute, there might be something more to this."
Current Legal Barriers
Psilocybin remains illegal in Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Patients and prescribers must obtain a special exemption from Health Canada, either under Section 56 or through the Special Access Program (SAP). In 2022, Health Canada added psilocybin and MDMA to the SAP due to growing interest in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
However, access is inconsistent. Hartle successfully received three doses through the SAP but was denied when he applied for additional doses. This experience is common, according to John Gilchrist of TheraPsil, a nonprofit advocating for psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Legal Challenges and Advocacy
TheraPsil has taken the federal government to court over psilocybin access, winning a Federal Appeal Court case last year that overturned a denial of an exemption for healthcare providers seeking training. The group helped advise Tochor on his bill.
Health Canada acknowledges that clinical trials with psilocybin have shown promising results for treating anxiety, depression, and substance-use disorders, especially in palliative care. However, the department cites risks such as "bad trips" from the hallucinogen.
How Psilocybin Therapy Works
Gilchrist explains that psilocybin-based therapy involves supervised doses combined with talk therapy before and after the experience. Advocates argue that current regulations are too restrictive and hinder research and patient access.
Tochor's legislation proposes to streamline the approval process, reducing bureaucratic hurdles for patients seeking this treatment. The bill has garnered attention on Parliament Hill as the House of Commons wraps up its session.
