This is a summary of the article, “I Am Dying of Cancer. Black Market Psilocybin Gave Me a New Lease on Life.” 1

The article chronicles the journey of a 54-year-old woman from Winnipeg, who was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in 2011 and later found her cancer to be terminal in 2021. She led an adventurous life, working as a translator for the provincial government and participating in numerous activities, such as archaeology projects and organizing women’s conferences.

Following her terminal diagnosis, her mental state spiraled as she faced the harsh reality of death. Seeking relief, she discovered a Netflix documentary about the benefits of psilocybin, a psychoactive ingredient found in mushrooms, for end-of-life distress in cancer patients. Intrigued and desperate, she sought out more information about this potential treatment, learning about its positive impact on severe depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions.

Although psilocybin is considered a controlled substance in Canada, she discovered TheraPsil, a non-profit organization offering psilocybin-assisted therapy, given approval from Health Canada. She applied for a Section 56 exemption, allowing access to controlled drugs for medical
purposes, but was rejected due to the government’s preference for clinical trials and the Special Access Program (SAP).

Undeterred by the rejection, she sought media attention, attracting the notice of Health Canada’s chief medical adviser. Despite continued discussions, she was not granted approval. Meanwhile, a local therapist offered her two psilocybin-assisted therapy sessions, which she
accepted. Her experiences with the sessions were transformative, eliminating her fear of death, and providing insights into her past traumas.

Despite the powerful impact on her life, Health Canada rejected her second request for the exemption. She became involved in lobbying for the regulatory framework for psilocybin- assisted psychotherapy and joined seven other plaintiffs challenging Canada’s prohibition of psilocybin on Charter grounds. Though unsure of the exact cause of the government’s resistance, she remains committed to advocating for the decriminalization of psilocybin and safe access to its potential benefits for those in palliative care.

━━━━━

1 https://macleans.ca/society/health/black-market-psilocybin-cancer-treatment/