Under Canada’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), Section 56.1 permits the Minister of Health to grant exemptions for otherwise restricted activities with controlled substances if it is believed to be necessary for medical, scientific, or public interest purposes. These exemptions are rare and granted on a case-by-case basis at the Minister’s discretion.
While this legal mechanism remains on the books, it has not been used for individual patient access in recent years. TheraPsil previously supported Canadians in applying for these exemptions, but this pathway has been effectively retired by.
We continue to advocate for the legal rights of patients and healthcare providers and support regulatory reform to ensure Canadians in medical need are not left without viable treatment options.
