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Friday, Mar 29, 2024
Mugglehead Magazine
Alternative investment news based in Vancouver, B.C.

Canada

Health Canada to increase legal access to psychedelics for therapy

Psychedelics firm Numinus says amendments made to the country’s Special Access Programme come into effect in January

Health Canada to increase legal access to psychedelics for therapy
Canadian advocates have been pushing for greater access to psychedelic treatments. Photo via TheraPsil

Early next year, Canadian patients will have increased access to restricted substances like psilocybin for therapy.

In a statement last week, Numinus Wellness Inc. (TSX: NUMI) commended Health Canada for amending the government’s Special Access Programme (SAP), which allows patients to access unapproved drugs for serious illnesses when conventional treatments have failed.

The changes will come into effect when the official regulations are published on Jan. 5, according to the psychedelics company.

Mugglehead has reached out to Health Canada for more information on the changes, but Numinus says, “Access will be provided when there is sufficient data to support the safety and efficacy of the drug for the specific condition of the patient.”

The amendments would allow healthcare professionals to apply on behalf of patients seeking access, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Healthcare professionals seeking psychedelics for professional training purposes won’t be eligible.

Read more: Advocates threaten legal action against Health Canada for delaying patient access to psilocybin

In 2013, Canada’s Food and Drugs Act and Regulations included regulatory amendments that prohibited access to restricted drugs, like psychedelics and other salt-based drugs, for applications outside scientific and research purposes.

“Amending the SAP and righting a historical wrong based on stigma highlights Canada’s commitment to making psychedelic-assisted therapies a possibility for the many Canadians who struggle with mental wellness,” Numinus founder Payton Nyquvest said in the statement.

“While we believe this is only the beginning of greater change to come, it signifies an important step towards creating expanded safe access to treatment and care in the mental health sector through psychedelic medicine. I am proud of our team who have had a longstanding role in advocating for this reform.”

Read more: Proposed amendment could greatly expand access to psychedelic therapy in Canada

Read more: Health Canada says patients should access medical psilocybin via clinical trials

The notice of intent for the amendments was originally published in the Canada Gazette on Dec. 12, 2020, which was followed by a 60-day public consultation period that ended on Feb. 10 this year.

Non-profit organizations like TheraPsil have been pushing for changes in Canada’s regulatory framework around psilocybin to be able to treat severe mental illnesses related to end-of-life conditions.

 

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