PsyCan White Paper 2023: Public Release
Click here to access the White Paper.
Dear Friends,
PsyCan — the not-for-profit trade association of legally-operating Canadian psychedelic companies — is pleased to share its 2023 White Paper on the future of psychedelic access in Canada: Beyond the Special Access Program — Regulatory Analysis and Recommendations on Psychedelic Access in Canada.
The White Paper examines regulatory reforms governing access to psychedelics. It includes a review of current Canadian regulations and an environmental scan of relevant regulatory proposals, acts, and academic publications from comparable jurisdictions.
“The Canadian healthcare system is based on the principle of patient and physician autonomy in making fundamental decisions about medical treatments. However, most psychedelic-assisted therapies are an exception to this – requiring individual federal government approval on a per-patient basis,” said PsyCan Vice-Chair and White Paper Committee Chair Dr. Philippe Lucas PhD.
"We urge the Government of Canada to consider alternative access models from around the Globe that would reduce the regulatory burden and enable patients and health care providers to access potentially beneficial treatments expediently, while also maintaining high quality and safety standards.”
“The body of clinical evidence on the safety and efficacy of psychedelic therapies has become incredibly persuasive. Recent years have seen changes in the global legal landscape governing access to psychedelic medicine and therapy – and of course, Health Canada’s decision to allow for access through the Special Access Program is to be commended,” said PsyCan Board Chair Nick Kadysh.
“However, to keep pace with reforms in the United States, the European Union, Australia, and elsewhere, Canada must be proactive, rather than reactive. Ultimately, I believe we all share the same goal: to allow patients access to treatments which will help heal them, and to reduce the stress and burden of accessing these treatments.”
Questions and comments on the White Paper are welcome by way of a reply to this email or by messaging admin@psychedelicscanada.org.
