Psychedelics in 2022: What to Expect
SOURCE: https://www.truffle.report/psychedelics-in-2022-what-to-expect/
By Emily Jarvie
January 3, 2022
2021 was a big year for the emerging psychedelics industry, and the Truffle Report team predicts 2022 will be even bigger. From significant decriminalization legislation to groundbreaking clinical trials, here’s what to expect across the sector in the next 12 months.
Access To Improve in Canada
In the last weeks of 2021, there was significant progress in patient access to psychedelics in Canada which indicates the potential for further improvement in 2022. In late December, Health Canada amended its Special Access Program (SAP) to allow qualified healthcare practitioners to request access to restricted drugs, such as psilocybin or MDMA, on a case-by-case basis.
The new regulations will come into effect when the amendment to the SAP is published in the Canada Gazette, which is expected to occur on January 5, 2022. Prior to this, patients seeking these medicines needed to apply to the country’s Health Minister for a Section 56 exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act — a lengthy and often unequal process.
Major Decriminalization Legislation to Go Before Lawmakers
In the United States, California is the biggest state to watch in 2022. Democratic Senator Scott Wiener’s bill SB 519 proposes making possession of small amounts of psychedelic substances legal for persons aged 21 and over. The bill was paused in the State Assembly on August 26 to allow more time for it to build support through education and lobbying before the 2022 legislative session. Several cities in California have already successfully passed their own decriminalization measures, which is a positive sign for this bill.
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