Canadians View Psilocybin Therapy As 'Reasonable Medical Choice' For End-Of-Life Distress, New Study Reveals

A majority of Canadians (79.3% ) consider psilocybin-assisted therapy as "a reasonable medical choice" for addressing "existential distress" during the final stages of life, a team of 12 experts behind the new research revealed.

The study, published last month in the journal Palliative Care, is based on data collected from an online survey that was conducted in Canada between November 23 and December 4, 2022.

"The social acceptability of psilocybin-assisted therapy for existential distress at the end of life is rather high in Canada," the team of researchers concluded. "These findings may contribute to efforts to mobilize resources and improve access to this emerging therapy in palliative and end-of-life care settings."

The study also showed that 84.8% of those asked said the costs of the intervention should be covered by the public health system, while 63.3% favored the legalization of psilocybin for medical purposes, reported Marijuana Moment.

Additionally, 44.2% backed allowing healthcare professionals to administer psilocybin without going through Health Canada.

See also: Canada To Australia: New MDMA & Psilocybin Shipment On Its Way For Legal Therapeutic Market

The research was based on 2,800 questionnaires submitted by adults from four Canadian provinces – Québec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

The questionnaire included 39 multiple-choice items and 2 open-ended questions related to the Special Access Program, palliative care, existential distress and psilocybin-assisted therapy.

The Canadian government changed the way patients can access psychedelic therapies with restricted drugs, including MDMA and psilocybin in 2022.

Through an amendment to federal regulations, Health Canada allowed physicians to request access to restricted drugs on behalf of patients through the Special Access Program.

"In light of the meteoric rise in the interest in psychedelic-based therapies, Canada's experience with granting therapeutic psilocybin access could have far-reaching impacts, both locally and globally," the researchers said.

Now read: Medical Cannabis Pioneer cbdMD Secures $1.2M To Fund Rollout Of Functional Mushroom Products

Benzinga Cannabis Conferences are coming to Los Angeles. Join the Benzinga Cannabis Market Spotlight: California, and unlock the future of cannabis at the premier networking event in Culver City on February 22. Connect with top industry leaders, gain insider insights into the investment landscape and shape the evolving markets in California and beyond. Don't miss this chance to be at the forefront of the cannabis industry's growth and innovation! Join now.