Boris Johnson is considering legalizing psilocybin therapy in the UK

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is open to the idea of ​​legalizing psilocybin for therapeutic use in the UK, according to a recent conversation. By downgrading psilocybin’s classification to Appendix 2, the mushroom would be available for medicinal use and research.

BBC News reports that Tory MP (MP) urged Crispin Blunt Johnson to review the country’s law to allow more research on psilocybin’s potential as a therapeutic during the Prime Minister’s questions. Blunt said it has “exciting potential” for treating mental illnesses such as depression, trauma and addiction.

Under current law, psilocybin is currently listed on Appendix 1 of the Drug Abuse Act and shares the category with drugs like LSD, DMT, MDMA, and mescaline – similar to how it is classified in the United States. Most people in the UK cannot legally own psilocybin unless a home office license is used for research.

Proponents hope to move psilocybin to List 2 with restrictions to prevent misprescription and advance medical and scientific research.

Blunt urged the prime minister to allow psilocybin to be reclassified. “I can say that we will take into account the recent advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on removing barriers to research with controlled drugs such as the one he describes and we will get back to him as soon as possible,” said Johnson in response to Blunt’s question.

“There is no record anywhere of any substance getting off Schedule Two and into the criminal supply chain,” Johnson told BBC News.

It’s not the first time Blunt has called to reclassify psilocybin. Blunt is also president of the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group, a political forum that promotes informed debate on drug policy reform. Last month, Blunt said, “This delay is significant. In the 110 days since the Prime Minister gave the green light, nearly 2,000 people have committed suicide, most of them likely preventable if that research is turned into treatment. “

Police Minister Kit Malthouse told MPs on October 18 that although planning psilocybin was a job for the drug regulator, he liked the idea of ​​tackling mental illness.

“There is ongoing study and research on psilocybin in the UK and while the medicine has yet to be approved by the Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority, we will consider postponing it if it does,” he said.

Psilocybin as a therapeutic medicine

Ongoing clinical research shows that psilocybin, when combined with conventional therapies, can help treat people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The substance is also being studied as a therapy for depression and end-of-life treatments.

City and state-wide efforts to decriminalize psilocybin use have expanded across the United States, including efforts in Denver, Colorado, and other cities. California cities like Oakland and Santa Cruz went a step further and decriminalized other psychedelic substances.

In November 2020, Oregon voters approved Measure 109, which allows psilocybin to be used in regulated facilities. However, the program won’t be operational until 2023 and there is still a lot to be clarified. The Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board is currently researching the safety and effectiveness of psilocybin in treating a variety of mental illnesses.

Last year Canada announced that four patients diagnosed with end-stage cancer were receiving psilocybin therapy. It came in response to a request from patients with the government. Finally, the plea for medicine was approved by Patty Hajdu, Canada’s minister of health. It was the first exception to the rule for psychedelic treatments since 1974.