Assignment #3
Legalizing The Therapeutic Use of Psilocybin
Jesse Hoag & Riley Gavan
Department of Communications, Algonquin College
PHI 1000: Assignment #3
Word Count: 2705
Dr. Scott Uzelman
April 15, 2023
With promising results from clinical trials, "Mushroom therapy" can revolutionize
the medical field and the way mental health is treated. Health Canada should fully
legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin, continue to treat patients with mental health
issues, and further the research on the potential benefits and risks of psilocybin. The
practice has been shown to benefit terminally ill patients struggling with depression,
anxiety, and addiction; however, it should be acknowledged that some aspects of
psilocybin therapy need more research. Legalizing the therapeutic use of psilocybin will
allow for more comprehensive studies to be conducted and provide patients with safe
and regulated access to treatment options. We believe that there is a massive potential
for psilocybin to revolutionize the treatment of mental health, and the first step is the
legalization of the therapeutic practice of psilocybin in Canada.
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic substance found in over 200
species of mushrooms, commonly known as "magic mushrooms." Psilocybin is
classified as a Schedule III substance under the Canadian Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act (CDSA). Under the CDSA, activities involving psilocybin and psilocin,
such as sale, possession, and production, are illegal unless authorized by Health
Canada (Government of Canada, n.d.). Over the past few years, there has been
growing interest in research into the potential therapeutic uses of psilocybin, particularly
in the treatment of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and addiction.
When ingested, psilocybin is converted to psilocin, which interacts with serotonin
receptors in the brain, resulting in altered perception, changes in mood, and mystical or
spiritual experiences (Nichols, 2016). The effects of psilocybin can include visual and
auditory hallucinations that affect people by distorting their sense of reality (they see
and hear things that are not there), mixing up their senses (they believe they can see
music or hear colors), and altering their sense of time (Government of Canada, n.d.).
Psilocybin's effects on the brain were discovered by a neuropsychopharmacologist, a
medical professional who specializes in studying the effects of drugs on the brain and
behavior. “We saw the default mode network disintegrating under the psilocybin... but
there lies the opportunity to see things differently, to move old beliefs and biases out of
the way so that you can zoom out and see the bigger picture.” (Prof. Robin
Carhart-Harris, How to Change Your Mind, episode 2, 2022). Harris describes the
default mode network as a housing place for yourself, where all your memories and
assumptions about yourself lie. He states, “Many mental illnesses appear to be a kind of
defensive reaction to uncertainty, to give oneself more of a sense of control." (How to
Change Your Mind, 31:40) Psilocybin eliminates your sense of self and allows you to
freely explore your internal world, which may provide a new perspective on your
uncertainties and reduce the need for defensive reactions.
Recent studies have shown that psilocybin provides promising results for the
treatment of various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and
addiction. One study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that
“psilocybin produced immediate, substantial, and sustained improvements in anxiety
and depression and led to decreases in cancer-related demoralization and
hopelessness, improved spiritual well-being, and increased quality of life.” (Griffiths et
al., 2016) Another study featured in the journal explores the fact that psilocybin-assisted
therapy was associated with significant reductions in alcohol consumption in individuals
with alcohol use disorder. These studies suggest that psilocybin could be a promising
treatment option for mental health conditions and addiction; however, more research is
needed to fully understand its potential benefits and risks.
Although Health Canada has authorized the use of psilocybin on a very limited
basis in therapeutic settings, our key proprietor, Green Party Leader, Elizabeth May,
along with other members of parliament, joined a delegation on February 14, 2023, of
patients and healthcare practitioners who are trying to lobby the federal government to
make psilocybin more accessible. According to CTV News, the group is calling on
lawmakers to advance clinical trials to better understand how the substance could be
used for the medical treatment of mental health disorders (Fraser, 2023). We believe
that Health Canada should fully legalize the therapeutic practice of psilocybin, continue
to support patients with psychological issues, and further the research on the potential
benefits and risks of psilocybin. The premises include that psilocybin therapy is effective
in treating mental health conditions like depression and anxiety; it requires more
research to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of psilocybin therapy; and
psilocybin therapy provides an alternative to traditional treatments and could be a
breakthrough in the treatment of mental health. Legalizing the therapeutic use of
psilocybin will allow for more comprehensive studies to be conducted and provide
patients with safe and regulated access to treatment options. We believe that there is a
massive potential for psilocybin to revolutionize mental health.
Research has shown that psilocybin therapy can be an effective treatment for
depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. By legalizing the therapeutic use of
psilocybin, terminally ill patients and others with mental health issues will have access
to potentially life-saving treatment. Michael Pollan, the author of How to Change Your
Mind, investigates the potential benefits of psilocybin-assisted therapy in his Netflix
series of the same name, including the ability to alleviate anxiety and depression and
increase feelings of connectedness. In the psilocybin episode, he references a 2016
Griffiths et al. study on the effects of psilocybin on terminally ill cancer patients. He
states that “a single experience with psilocybin had lifted the fear of death from their
shoulders. Many of them describe this as one of the most meaningful events in their
lives" (Michael Pollan, How to Change Your Mind, episode 2, 2022). In this study,
researchers examined the impact of psilocybin on depression and anxiety in cancer
patients and concluded that a single dose of psilocybin produced substantial and lasting
decreases in depressed mood and anxiety along with improvements in quality of life and
decreases in the fear of death in patients with a life-threatening cancer diagnosis
(Griffiths et al., 2016). Michael is one of the many advocates pushing for clinical uses of
psilocybin because he has witnessed the benefits of psilocybin personally and
secondhand, which is the logic behind why he believes that psilocybin can be a
breakthrough in the treatment of mental health issues and that more research should be
conducted to explore its potential. Therefore, psilocybin is effective at treating mental
health issues, such as depression and anxiety, and its therapeutic use should be
legalized across Canada to assist in the treatment of terminally ill patients and to give
others struggling with mental health issues access to potentially life-changing treatment.
Another advocate for the therapeutic use of psilocybin is Green Party Leader
Elizabeth May. Psilocybin is listed under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and
its medical use is restricted to people taking part in clinical trials or those who get an
exemption. She argues that to get more research done, psilocybin must be available to
patients and administered by registered therapists who are trained in psilocybin;
however, with the government's lack of support, many physicians hesitate to administer
the drug (Fraser, 2023). This lack of support and hesitation from physicians hinders the
progress of research on psilocybin's potential medical benefits, including treating
depression, anxiety, and addiction. Since psilocybin mushrooms are listed under the
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, many negative connotations surround the
substance. Many people believe that psilocybin is harmful because they've been told
that magic mushrooms are highly addictive and pose a significant risk of physical harm,
but that’s not necessarily the case. Studies have shown that psilocybin has a low
potential for addiction and does not produce compulsive drug-seeking behaviors
because psilocybin does not activate the brain's reward system in the same way that
addictive drugs do. An article by David Nichols titled “Psychedelics”, explores how
psychoactive substances alter perception and mood and affect numerous cognitive
processes. He discovers that rather than stimulating the release of dopamine, a
neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, similar to many drugs under the
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, psilocybin works by activating serotonin
receptors in the brain, which results in profound changes in consciousness, including
mystical experiences, feelings of unity and transcendence, and alterations in the
perception of time and space, along with altered perception and changes in mood
(Nichols, 2016). Elizabeth May and the findings of David Nichols support the legalization
of the therapeutic use of psilocybin by looking past the Controlled Drug and Substance
Act and examining the potential of psilocybin. Therefore, to allow millions of terminally ill
patients and others with mental health issues access to a potentially life-saving
treatment, we need the government to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin and
reduce the negative connotations, so further research and clinical trials can establish
the safety and efficacy of psilocybin as a therapeutic drug to help replace some
traditional medications. Currently, psilocybin treatments are not as popular as traditional
methods. Unfortunately, many traditional treatments, such as antidepressants and
therapy, do not have a lasting or significant impact on some patients.
Psilocybin therapy involves the use of psychedelic drugs to alter the patient's
perception while guided therapists help them gain new insights into their condition. “The
people who received psilocybin had full-on mystical experiences. Scores on the Mystical
Experience Questionnaire correlate very highly with positive outcomes a year or more
later, enduring positive changes in moods, attitudes, and behaviors” (Dr. Roland
Griffiths, How to Change Your Mind, episode 2, 2022). Green Party Leader, Elizabeth
May says that the federal government should begin exploring psilocybin research before
assisted dying laws (Fraser, 2023). According to Statistics Canada, there has been a
31.3% increase in assisted suicide requests in 2021 compared to 2020 (2023). To be
eligible for the MAID program (Medical Assistance in Dying), you need to have a
grievous and irremediable medical condition. This means that you are in an advanced
state of decline that cannot be reversed (Government of Canada, n.d.). May argues that
rather than assisting mentally ill patients in dying, the government should begin
assisting with psilocybin research to ensure that this advanced state of decline cannot
truly be reversed. The cancer patients who underwent psilocybin therapy have reported
decreases in depressed mood and anxiety, along with improvements in quality of life
and decreases in the fear of death. Rather than living in constant fear that the end is
near, these patients have reported feeling more at peace with their lives and have
begun to welcome death. If this psilocybin therapy was not available to them, like many
other Canadians, many of them would have chosen the MAID program because they
had lost hope and were suffering from existential distress. Therefore, psilocybin needs
to be therapeutically legalized to help the countless Canadians who have lost hope in
their lives and provide a new solution. Instead of offering medical assistance to the
dying, the government needs to offer more research on psilocybin to explore the
benefits of this drug and begin saving countless, hopeless lives.
A systematic evidence review from Oregon Health & Science University shows a
lack of scientific research on the interactions between widely used psychiatric
medications and psilocybin (Robinson, 2022). The evidence review looked at 40
psilocybin studies dating back to 1958, including 26 from randomized controlled studies,
11 case reports, and three epidemiologic studies, and only one study examined how
psilocybin interacts with antidepressant medications (Sarparast et al., 2022). This lack
of data is problematic because many patients who would be recommended to try
psilocybin therapy are either regularly taking psychiatric medication or have in the past.
This is a clear sign of the need for further research on the clinical outcomes of
combining psychiatric medications with psilocybin therapy. Assistant professor of
psychiatry in the OHSU School of Medicine, Aryan Sarparast, says that “There’s a major
incongruence between the public enthusiasm and exuberance with psychedelic
substances for mental health issues — and what happens when they combine with the
existing mental health treatments that we have now.” (Robinson, 2022) Sarparast
believes that this lack of evidence will result in many providers directing their patients to
stop taking medication to avoid complications before starting psilocybin therapy.
(Robinson, 2022) Patients suffering from extreme mental health issues may very well
benefit from psilocybin therapy; however, the implications of stopping existing
psychiatric treatment in order to receive psilocybin services may force vulnerable people
to choose between their existing medical treatment or psilocybin services.
In response, when legalizing psilocybin therapy in Canada, there needs to be
more research on the proper way to administer psilocybin to patients with existing
medical prescriptions and the effects it may have on them. Canada must ensure that
psilocybin treatment is solely for people who have tried everything else, including
prescriptions, therapy, and other medications, but still feel hindered by or unaffected by
the drugs. Patients should be well educated on the risks associated with the drug before
treatment.
Although evidence has shown psilocybin to be an effective way to treat
depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues, there is little evidence to support
the psychotic side effects and other safety concerns of psychedelic treatment. One
survey of over 1,000 self-reporting recreational psychedelic users did not find a link
between drug use and schizophrenia-like symptoms. Another study similarly showed no
connection between past psychedelic use and current psychosis or other psychiatric
disorders (Smith, 2023). Although many patients won’t experience symptoms of
psychosis, experts say there is still the risk of psychedelics triggering a psychotic or
manic episode that is likely elevated for people who have a personal or family history of
schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (Smith, 2023). Individuals with an underlying
predisposition to psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia could be at risk of passing the
threshold when exposed to treatments like psilocybin therapy. Psychiatrist Dr. Nemeroff
says, “I think the issue with these very powerful medications is that there are probably
people who are genetically vulnerable to a major psychiatric illness, but they haven’t
reached the threshold yet. And then what these medications might do is unleash it.”
(Smith, 2023) This is another sign that aspects of psilocybin therapy need more
research and reevaluation when implementing them into Canada's health care system.
In response, psilocybin is a very powerful drug that can have adverse side effects
when used in an improper setting. Patients must talk to their therapists and discover the
potential risks involved before proceeding with the treatment. Therapists have a moral
code to educate and ensure that patients are aware of the lack of data on certain
aspects of the treatment. It is also crucial that therapists are aware of patients' mental
health and family history. When patients are eligible and mentally fit for the therapy, the
process allows for a safe and supportive environment for individuals to explore their
inner experiences and emotions. Trained professionals guide and support individuals
through the experience, helping them to navigate any challenging emotions or thoughts
that may arise. More research is needed, and therapists need to be properly trained on
psilocybin.
In conclusion, we believe that the therapeutic use of psilocybin should be
legalized in Canada. The three premises outlined in this essay provide strong evidence
that psilocybin therapy can be effective in treating mental health issues such as
depression and anxiety, that said, more research is required to fully understand the
potential benefits and risks of psilocybin therapy. Legalizing the therapeutic use of
psilocybin will allow for more comprehensive studies to be conducted, providing patients
with safe and regulated access to treatment options. We acknowledge that some
aspects of psilocybin therapy require further investigation, such as the potential for
adverse side effects, but we firmly believe that the benefits outweigh the risks. The
potential for psilocybin to revolutionize mental health treatment is enormous, and by
legalizing its therapeutic use, it can offer hope to many patients struggling with mental
health issues. It is essential to recognize that psilocybin therapy is not the solution to
everything and should not replace traditional treatments but rather be considered
another option. We urge Health Canada to consider the benefits of legalizing the
therapeutic use of psilocybin and to continue to support research into this potentially
life-changing treatment.
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