Conservatives pitch legalizing some psychedelics with bill to revamp Canada’s drug laws – CBC

MP wants doctors to prescribe psilocybin to help deal with Canada’s mental health ‘epidemic’

Jun 16, 2026

Conservative MP Corey Tochor introduced new legislation on Tuesday to legalize prescribing psychedelics like psilocybin (colloquially known as magic mushrooms), which researchers and patients say can effectively treat some mental health disorders.

Under Canada’s federal drug laws, psilocybin is a controlled substance and possession, production and distribution are illegal without authorization.

These psychedelics were criminalized during the so-called war on drugs, when many Western countries like Canada cracked down on substances seen as dangerous, addictive and a source of crime.

Defenders argue this classification doesn’t fit given the scientific and anecdotal data suggesting psilocybin can ease major depression and help with substance abuse like alcoholism.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/magic-mushrooms-drug-legalization-conservatives-9.7236254