Conservatives pitch legalizing some psychedelics with bill to revamp Canada’s drug laws
Conservative MP Corey Tochor introduced legislation on Tuesday to allow physicians to prescribe psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms, without federal approval. The bill aims to address a “mental health epidemic” by removing bureaucratic hurdles in Health Canada’s Special Access Program, which the Conservatives report has seen approval rates drop to roughly 30 percent in recent months.
Why was this legislation introduced?
Tochor stated the bill is designed to alleviate the anguish of patients who currently face a “tangle of red tape” to access treatment. Under current federal law, psilocybin is a controlled substance, making possession and distribution illegal without authorization.
The Saskatoon MP cited the case of Thomas Hartle, a constituent who used psilocybin to treat severe anxiety during oncology treatments. Tochor said Hartle traveled to the Caribbean three times a year after Health Canada revoked his access, before passing away in 2024 at age 56.
Josh Veinotte, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran who served in Afghanistan, told CBC News that psilocybin-assisted therapy helped him manage PTSD after standard pharmaceuticals proved ineffective. Veinotte said the treatment allowed him to come to terms with traumatic events and reconnect with family.
How would the new bill change current laws?
The private member’s bill would permit doctors to prescribe psilocybin and psilocin without requiring approval from federal bureaucrats. It would also mandate that Health Canada grant psilocybin “priority review status” to accelerate research.
Advocates describe the current environment as a “psychedelic research winter” that has lasted half a century. Tochor argued that a legal medical pathway would steer patients away from a “grey market” of illegal storefronts, some of which have faced police raids and arson attacks in Ottawa.
What are the medical risks and benefits?
Danilo Bzdok, a McGill University professor, published a study in the Nature Medicine journal finding that psychedelics “reconfigure large-scale cortical organization.” Bzdok stated there is “massive, rapidly accumulating evidence” that these substances are effective at alleviating mental health symptoms.
However, Health Canada maintains that the safety and efficacy of psilocybin have not been established. A department spokesperson described it as an “experimental drug.”
Medical risks include “bad trips” involving hallucinations, paranoia, and panic attacks. According to the source, use can also lead to psychosis, dangerous behavior, and neurological or cardiovascular conditions.
What happens next for the bill?
The legislation faces a difficult path, as private member’s bills typically fail without government support. Tochor expressed hope for potential support from the Liberal party.
If passed, the bill could potentially shift the management of psilocybin from a controlled substance category—similar to heroin and cocaine—to a clinically administered treatment. A possible next step would be the implementation of the priority review status by Health Canada to facilitate broader clinical studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current process for accessing psilocybin in Canada?
Patients can apply through Health Canada’s Special Access Program, though advocates describe the process as cumbersome and potentially taking over a year to navigate.
What specific conditions are psilocybin intended to treat?
Researchers and patients suggest it can effectively treat major depression, substance abuse such as alcoholism, and severe anxiety or PTSD.
Why does MP Corey Tochor believe clinical administration is necessary?
Because of the risk of psychosis, cardiovascular issues, and “bad trips,” Tochor stated the drug is best administered in a clinical setting under a doctor’s care.
Do you believe medical access to psychedelics should be managed by physicians or federal regulators?