Canada has granted a startup the license to export psychedelics to Australia for patient use. The health department awarded Optimi Health Corp. to ship pills containing psilocybin, an extract from magic mushrooms, and MDMA.
The growing demand has moved beyond local magic mushrooms Ontario. Other countries are following in the footsteps of Canadians by experimenting and allowing the use of serotogenic compounds for medical purposes.
Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways:
- The Rise of Psilocybin Capsules in Canada
- Australia and Magic Mushroom
- Canada’s Role in Psilocybin Research
- What is Psilocybin?
- How Does it Aid in Depression, PTSD, etc.?
- Products You Can Find from Your Local Magic Mushroom Stores
- Psilocybin is Becoming Internationally Recognized
- Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways:
- Optimi Health, a Vancouver-based startup, received a drug establishment license to export shroom pills to Australia.
- Australia allows authorized psychiatrists to use shrooms for treating treatment-resistant depression.
- During the treatment, the patient will have three sessions over five to eight weeks, each lasting about eight hours.
The Rise of Psilocybin Capsules in Canada
The small Vancouver-based company Optimi aims to use its certificate to expand the market for psychedelic drugs as pharmaceuticals and gain an early-mover advantage.
Seven companies have exported psilocybin, MDMA, or both, but only for clinical trial purposes. A spokeswoman for Canada’s health department could not confirm if any of these exports were for regular patient use and declined to name the companies for security reasons.
This milestone places Optimi among a select group of international suppliers. The current market focus is clinical rather than recreational.
What’s in the Pill?
The company didn’t state what type of shroom is inside the pill, but they work with various strains like Albino Penis Envy, etc.
To cultivate, test, and extract its psychedelic mushrooms, Optimi has established 20,000 square feet of facilities in Princeton, British Columbia—a small town with a population of about 3,000, located three hours east of Vancouver.
Australia and Magic Mushroom
Approximately 1 in 5 Australians between the ages of 16 and 85 will suffer from a mental illness. 11% of Australians will, at some point in their lives, have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while 17% of Australians suffer from anxiety disorders.
There are various approaches to treating mental conditions, but not all are effective for everyone. When patients are resistant to specific treatments, they may struggle to find an option that works for them, which puts them at greater risk.
How is it Done?
Australia introduced psilocybin as a groundbreaking pathway by allowing authorized psychiatrists to use controlled substances for treating post-traumatic stress disorder and treatment-resistant depression.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) shocked many in the medical and science world in February when it reclassified MDMA and shrooms for therapeutic purposes. It declared the drugs safe when used in a medically controlled environment for patients with severe mental conditions.
This move has been a game-changer for many scientists and mental experts. Professionals will carefully monitor the use of the substance; it would not be a simple case of taking a pill and leaving.
The patient would have three treatments over five to eight weeks. Each treatment would last about eight hours, and the therapist would stay with the patient the whole time.
Canada’s Role in Psilocybin Research
Canada has become a leading center for psilocybin research, significantly advancing the understanding of this compound. Health Canada researchers and institutions are at the forefront of exploring psilocybin’s potential for treating various mental health disorders.
Research centers no longer need to view these substances as illegal drugs or rely on illegal dispensaries/illegal mushroom shop. The government now permits certain institutions to grow shrooms for research purposes.
The increased access to previously considered dangerous substances allows researchers to advance their understanding of how these can benefit many people.
History Repeating Itself
This field initially showed significant promise in the 1950s for treating mental issues and substance abuse, including alcoholism. English psychiatrist Humphry Osmond and Canadian biochemist Abram Hoffer led much of this pioneering research at the Weyburn Mental Hospital in Saskatchewan. The government of then-premier Tommy Douglas granted them considerable freedom to explore their medical hypotheses.
Drs. Osmond and Hoffer experimented with LSD, mescaline, and peyote as alternatives to the harsh methods of electroshock and lobotomy. Their research expanded in surprising ways. Osmond and Hoffer encouraged doctors, nurses, and support staff to use the drugs.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
The government, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, is funding three clinical trials to understand the therapeutic efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy:
| Project Type | Study Focus | Research Institution | Principal Investigator | Project Amount |
| A randomized controlled trial | End-of-life psychological distress in advanced-stage cancer patients | University of Toronto | Sarah Hales | $928,643 |
| Mechanisms supporting psilocybin psychotherapy to treat alcohol use disorder | Alcohol use disorder | University of Calgary | Leah Mayo | $1,000,000 |
| A randomized phase II clinical trial comparing one versus two psychedelic doses | Treatment-resistant depression | University of Toronto | Joshua Rosenblat | $1,000,000 |
This research investment will provide evidence to understand the benefits of controlled drugs better. It is made possible by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy (CDSS).
Other Psychedelic Studies
Psychiatrists in Vancouver begin a phase III clinical trial of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The treatment involves three eight-hour sessions with MDMA, spaced one month apart, and nine 90-minute sessions without the drug. Researchers consider this trial historically significant as it is the first clinical test of an illegal psychedelic drug over four decades.
What is Psilocybin?
It is a natural psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms. Upon ingestion, it converts to psilocin. Psilocin activates serotonin 5-HT2a on cortical pyramidal cells in the brain. These cells are where everything comes together.
The local authorities are studying the substance for its potential to help with depression, anxiety, addiction, and end-of-life distress through introspection and spiritual insights.
How Does it Aid in Depression, PTSD, etc.?
The active substance can target multiple regions in the brain, which makes it beneficial for various mental issues. Many patients in Canada and Australia have already undergone this therapy, and the results have been promising, with only a few side effects, such as increased blood pressure or temporary anxiety.
Neurobiological Effect
- Serotonin Receptor Activation: Acts as a partial agonist at serotonin receptors, particularly the 5-HT2A subtype, necessary for mood regulation and emotional processing.
- Default Mode Network (DMN) Modulation: Reduces activity in the DMN. Promote introspection, decrease rigid thinking patterns, and enhance emotional flexibility.
- Activation of Prefrontal and Limbic Regions: The substance’s antidepressant effects stem from its influence on the prefrontal and limbic brain regions, including the amygdala. In depression, individuals become less responsive to emotional stimuli. The substance increases responsiveness to positive emotional stimuli in the right amygdala and decreases or normalizes responsiveness to negative or neutral emotional stimuli.
Psychological and Emotional Effects:
- Promotion of Positive Mood States: Induce euphoria, interconnectedness, and emotional openness during and after the experience.
- Enhanced Emotional Processing: The psychedelic experience may allow individuals to confront and process deep-seated emotions, traumatic memories, or existential concerns in a safe and supported environment.
- Spiritual and Existential Insights: Studies from Johns Hopkins University and Imperial College London show that it can bring about lasting positive changes, such as better well-being, higher life satisfaction, and spiritual growth.
Products You Can Find from Your Local Magic Mushroom Stores
Interested in how the drug might affect your well-being? You can explore magic mushroom shops to find a product that suits your needs.
| Capsules | Amount | Dosage | Benefit |
| Evoke – Medicinal Mushrooms | 20 | 100mg or 200mg | Improve your mood, encourage creative thinking, and increase productivity and focus |
| Ground Sounds – Microdose Capsules – Super Freak | 30 | 50mg, 100mg, and 250mg | Supports better well-being and improves overall quality of life |
| Kind Stranger – Microdose Capsules – Sidekick | 30 | 100mg | Induces a sense of clarity, creativity, and focus. Contains a clinical strength blend of potent adaptogenic herbs |
| Osmosis – Brain Boost | 30 | 100mg or 200mg | Provides energy and cognition benefits |
Psilocybin is Becoming Internationally Recognized
Canada is not alone in supporting the use of magic mushrooms for mental issues. Countries like Australia are also embracing hallucinogens to manage conditions such as depression and PTSD. They have looked to source quality psychedelic capsules from reputable nations. With proper supervision, patients can significantly improve their quality of life. Zoomies Canada, a magic mushroom shop, offers a variety of products, from pills to LSD edibles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the similarity between psilocybin and MDMA?
Psilocybin and MDMA share therapeutic potential by enhancing psychological well-being. The former affects serotonin 2A receptors and aids in treating depression and addiction.
MDMA promotes empathy and aids PTSD therapy, which shows promise in enhancing emotional processing and therapeutic outcomes despite being a part of controlled drugs.
Can any Australian use the pill for treatment options?
No. In Australia, you must first undergo an evaluation to determine whether you can use the substance. They will assess factors such as any existing cardiac diseases, history of psychosis, and other issues. Only patients who have not responded to conventional treatments for depression, anxiety, or PTSD can use this treatment.
What is the impact of Canadian shroom exportation?
Similar to its position with cannabis, Canada is aiming to lead the market for hallucinogens. This will enable more companies to produce high-quality products. As a result, the country could become a leader in the psychedelic market, boost its economy, and support access to treatments for other nations. It will also prevent other nations from accessing their hallucinogens from an illegal dispensary or source for safety.
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