Track and Food 66: TheraPsil CEO Spencer Hawkswell On Getting Psilocybin Legal In Canada And Giving Back To Those In Need
Track & Food Staff @trackandfood
Marijuana was legalized in Canada just a few years back and we are certain there are not many who are upset with this. Psilocybin, the chemical altering compound found in "magic mushrooms" is still illegal. It has been since 1974. This needs to change. Enter in Spencer Hawkswell. He's the CEO of a new Victoria based non-profit called TheraPsil. He helped co-found this venture with his friend and mentor Dr. Bruce Tobin who is a psychotherapist. Together they've helped a small group of Canadians in times of need, specifically end of life treatment. In doing so they've given those individuals at this time a new medicine with which to work with, one that isn't addictive and completely natural. The results have been life changing. But they want to help all Canadians and until Health Canada changes the law regarding the manufacture, production and use of psilocybin, their hands are limited.
Enter a few weeks ago where they submitted a 165 page proposal detailing how psilocybin should be legalized. In this interview Spencer goes through this document, how he sees this process unfolding and what psilocybin access and treatment will look like.
You can hear it in his voice, he wants to help and we appreciate his candour and empathy for this cause. We're confident you'll enjoy this one. I say we, because Mickey is back!
therapsil.ca
TheraPsil is a non-profit coalition dedicated to helping Canadians in medical need access legal, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy to treat end-of-life distress.
TheraPsil was formed in 2019 and is made up of healthcare professionals, patients, community members, and advocates. To meet our team, click here.
After over 100 days of advocating, TheraPsil facilitated precedent-setting and tangible progress in the fight for compassionate access to psilocybin therapy when it helped 4 Canadians suffering from end-of-life distress, due to a terminal illness, access approved 'section 56 exemptions' from the Minister of Health, on August 4th 2020. This was the first time section 56 exemptions for psilocybin had been approved for patients since psilocybin was made a controlled substance in 1974, in Canada.
As of March 2021, TheraPsil has now supported 27 patients in 5 different provinces access legal, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.