Could magic mushrooms be Canada’s next cannabis?

Anais Loeppky, Staff Writer

Western Canada researchers are studying something that would have seemed unfathomable just a few years ago: using psychedelics to help treat addiction.

Leah Mayo, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary, is leading a clinical trial exploring how psilocybin—the active drug in “magic mushrooms”—can be used alongside therapy to help people reduce or stop drinking. 

Announced in spring 2024, it’s one of the largest single-site clinical trials of its kind. The UCalgary study will recruit 128 people diagnosed with alcohol use disorder who will undergo structured therapy sessions both before and after the psilocybin treatment. 

While the research is still in the works, it reflects a shift in how psychedelics are being viewed. Psilocybin and other psychedelics, like LSD, were first officially studied in the early 1960s by Harvard psychologists Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert. 

However, according to an article by Harvard University’s Department of Psychology, their research was poorly conducted. In 1963, the project was forced to be dismissed when the pair were seen promoting the substances recreationally by giving samples to students off-campus. 

Despite traditional studies from the 1950s having already determined that certain psychedelic drugs were generally safe and non-addictive, the downfall of the Harvard project saw the substances become a symbol of counterculture across North America.

This eventually led to the criminalisation of psychedelics, which scholars argue was the product of “moral panic,” and consequently halted medical research into the topic. Magic mushrooms have been considered a dangerous drug for quite some time, and are now returning to their origins as a potential treatment.

A different way of treating addiction

At the same time that Canada is seeing a surge in interest, often described as a “shroom boom,” addiction and the supports needed to treat patrons are on the rise, which is difficult given the high rates of relapse. In 2023, nearly 18 per cent of Canadians over the age of 15 met the criteria for alcohol use disorder. 

Psilocybin-assisted therapy takes a different approach. It addresses how people think and feel, diving deeper into the psychological effects of addiction. Research by Johns Hopkins Medicine suggests that psilocybin can alter brain patterns, allowing individuals to step outside harmful habits and behaviours and reflect on them in a new way.

Some studies suggest that people who undergo this kind of therapy report lasting changes in how they relate to alcohol. They often describe a shift in perspective rather than a sense of restriction.

Psilocybin is also not considered physically addictive, which makes it especially interesting to researchers studying substance use. That doesn’t mean it is risk-free. A mushroom “trip” can be very unpredictable and depends on the environment and support provided. 

For now, access to this type of treatment in Canada is limited to clinical trials and special approvals.

A complicated legal status

Psilocybin is still illegal in Canada under federal law, which outlines that the possession, sale, and production are prohibited unless approved for research or specific medical use. However, the enforcement of this has not been consistent.

In some cities, stores openly sell mushrooms despite the law. Online access has also made it easier for people to obtain them. In Calgary, for example, people can have them delivered to their door through various websites. 

The accessibility and normalisation of psilocybin are bringing new conversations to light. Some people see it as a sign that Canada’s policy is lagging behind reality, especially when other parts of the world are moving at different speeds.

In places like the Netherlands and Jamaica, psilocybin can be accessed in certain forms. Some regions in the United States have decriminalised it, while others allow supervised therapeutic use.

These changes are being watched closely, as they offer examples of how regulation could work in the future for both recreational and medical use, much the same as the debate revolving cannabis prior to 2018.

Before Canada legalized cannabis, there was a similar pattern. It was widely used, easily accessible, and inconsistently enforced. Over time, the government moved toward regulation. Psilocybin is in a similar position in some ways, but there are key differences.

Cannabis is often used casually. Psilocybin is usually taken in a more intentional setting because of its strong effects on perception and emotion. The experience can last for hours and is difficult to predict.

Because of this, many researchers argue that if psilocybin becomes legal, it will likely be within a therapeutic framework rather than something you could find in your local corner store.

Should it be regulated?

The current situation raises an obvious question: if people are already using psilocybin, would regulation make it safer?

Supporters of regulation argue that it would create clearer standards by reducing the risks tied to unregulated products and providing guidance on safe use.

Others view it as a more serious drug that should not be legalized the way cannabis is. Psilocybin can bring up intense emotions, especially without preparation or support. There is concern that commercial access could lead to misuse or negative experiences.

This is why most current research focuses on controlled environments. The emphasis is on supervision, preparation, and follow-up care.

There are also arguments that, because psilocybin is already part of a growing and scalable market, not legalizing it is a missed opportunity for tax revenue. Currently, it operates as a thriving unregulated market.

The conversation around psilocybin is already happening across Canada. Regulation could help ensure it moves forward more safely and more under control research happening at UCalgary is part of a broader shift.

While psychedelics are gaining a lot of attention in the medical community, by way of being studied with the same level of attention given to other treatments, the public perception is also changing. Conversations that once felt slightly scandalous are now happening in classrooms, clinics, and policy discussions.

For now, psilocybin sits in an in-between space. While being illegal, magic mushrooms are becoming increasingly normalised and accessible.

Whether Canada chooses to regulate it in the future remains uncertain. What is clear is that interest is growing, and research is continuing.

The question is no longer whether psilocybin works, as this has already been established. Today, the proposition is whether the country is ready to decide what to do with that knowledge.