PATH Therapy are unable to access psilocybin through Health Canada’s SAP or clinical trial access pathways, small psilocybin stores have opened in Vancouver. Like the cannabis dispensaries that emerged before marijuana was legalized in 2018, these shops are offering psilocybin for sale to people with anxiety and depression.

A recent study found that a single dose of the psychoactive compound psilocybin (along with guided therapy) can help relieve anxiety symptoms and improve quality of life. The study examined 233 patients who were enrolled in the COMP360 psilocybin therapy research program. Participants were randomized to receive one of three doses — 25 mg, 10 mg, or 1 mg — and received the drug along with therapist-guided therapy sessions.

BC Psilocybin Treatment Options: What You Need to Know

Participants completing both baseline and follow-up surveys reported significant reductions in their levels of anxiety, fear of death and dying, and negative feelings about the future. They also reported improvements in their quality of life and spiritual well-being.

Although the results are promising, further research is needed to confirm these findings. The study authors recommend that future psilocybin treatments be provided in a controlled setting where clinicians can ensure that the drug is administered correctly. They also suggest that therapists be trained in guiding and supporting patients through a psilocybin experience.

In addition, researchers need to determine whether psilocybin has long-term benefits for patients with anxiety and depression, including those with treatment-resistant disorders. They need to understand how these experiences are shaped by patient characteristics and how they relate to other treatments, such as the antidepressant ketamine.