In a groundbreaking move, Health Canada has approved the regulated medical use of psilocybin—the active compound in magic mushrooms—for terminally ill patients experiencing anxiety or depression. The approval follows years of advocacy by palliative care experts and patients’ rights groups.
The treatment will be administered in certified clinics under medical supervision. Health officials emphasize that this is not a blanket legalization, but a compassionate exception to help ease mental suffering during end-of-life care.
This decision opens up possibilities for discussions in other countries, including South Asian nations, on integrating alternative therapies into palliative support.