Manitoba To: Hon. Janice Morley-Lecomte Minister of Mental Health and Community Wellness Manitoba Legislative Building Winnipeg, MB Via Email: minmhcw@manitoba.ca CC: premier@leg.gov.mb.ca minhealth@manitoba.ca Dear Minister Morley-Lecomte, I trust this letter finds you well. Thank you for your continued dedication to the well-being of Manitobans and your efforts to address the pressing mental health and addiction challenges within our province. I am writing to propose an initiative that could potentially provide substantial relief for Manitobans who are grappling with mental health issues and limited treatment options. I urge you to consider provincial funding for expanded access to safe and controlled psilocybin treatment and research trials. Recent developments across the globe and within Canada have underscored the potential benefits of psilocybin-assisted therapy. For instance, Australia's decision to delist psilocybin as a controlled substance, enabling its prescription for treatment-resistant depression, reflects growing recognition of its therapeutic potential. Building upon these advancements, I propose that Manitoba take a leading role in embracing safe psilocybin-assisted treatment. Canada, as a pioneer, granted legal exemptions for psilocybin treatment in 2020, marking a pivotal moment in the recognition of its potential benefits. Since then, hundreds of individuals have received exemptions, and a surge of healthcare professionals have shown interest in specialized training within this emerging field. Moreover, encouraging developments have unfolded within our own borders. Last year, Alberta emerged as the first Canadian jurisdiction to regulate the therapeutic use of psychedelic substances, a significant step forward. In alignment with this progress, the University of Calgary has established a research chair dedicated to exploring the application of psychedelics for enhancing mental health, with a specific emphasis on addressing PTSD. Furthermore, Quebec's decision to fund doctors for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy following legal access in December 2022 is indicative of a growing momentum. Even private insurers, like Blue Cross, are now extending coverage for these treatments. The momentum continues with recent clinical trials demonstrating promising results. A significant trial examining psilocybin's impact on depression, conducted across 22 sites in North America, Europe, and the UK, reported almost a third of patients experiencing rapid remission after a 25mg dose coupled with therapy sessions. This progress has sparked enthusiasm even among notable figures such as the former chair of the UK's COVID vaccine task force. Additionally, New York University published research last year documenting significant reductions in alcohol dependence when subjects combined psilocybin and psychotherapy. These positive results, and many others, build on a landmark 2016 trial by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine which found increases in quality of life and decreases in death anxiety continued six months after psilocybin-assisted therapy for 41 of 51 participants. Given these promising trends, it raises the question of why Manitoba is not at the forefront of this movement. A compelling voice in this conversation is that of Janis Hughes, a stage 4 cancer patient who was forced to go underground due to the barriers to access posed by the SAP, put it this way “If I had not gone underground for treatment, I might well have exercised my right to MAiD by now.” Her case, along with others championed by TheraPsil, prompted the Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) to call for a review of Health Canada's Special Access Program (SAP) and related policies, with the goal of enhancing psilocybin access. One notable challenge lies in the cost of accessing psilocybin through SAP, which can reach up to $7,000, compounded by the lack of coverage by the province. In contrast, individuals covered by the Manitoba Health Insurance Plan receive full coverage for medications associated with MAiD. This incongruity sends a perplexing message to Manitobans who are exploring alternatives like psilocybin as an adjunct or alternative therapy. Given the magnitude of the overdose crisis and the mental health and addiction crisis that persists in Manitoba, why has this safe, plant-based treatment option been overlooked? Are we truly doing everything within our power to address these pressing issues? While cities and provinces, like British Columbia, advocate for the decriminalization of hard drugs under section 56, it is worth considering the safe use of psilocybin as a preliminary measure. Unlike substances like heroin and cocaine, psilocybin is deemed physiologically safe by the US National Institutes of Health, without the risk of dependence or addiction. Recent disclosures from Health Canada also affirm that supervised psilocybin treatment does not pose a threat to public safety. The surge of magic mushroom dispensaries in Manitoba underscores the need for the provincial government's thoughtful consideration. While illicit suppliers continue to operate with impunity, the province's commitment to legal and potentially life-changing psilocybin treatments remains uncertain. I implore you to approach this matter seriously, exploring regulated options that prioritize the welfare and security of our citizens. By allocating funds to support safe SAP access to psilocybin under the guidance of healthcare professionals, we may be able to curtail reliance on these illicit suppliers. In alignment with your government's unyielding dedication to confronting concurrent public health challenges, I urge you to take concrete steps that will enrich the lives of countless Manitobans, provide a safer alternative to harmful controlled substances, and reaffirm Canada's leadership in this emerging wellness domain. This is an opportunity that demands leadership, and I believe your commitment to these matters runs deep. Hence, I propose that your Ministry initiates active collaboration with TheraPsil, other non-profit organizations, patients, care providers, licensed Manitoba psilocybin producers, and researchers to invest in a comprehensive psilocybin treatment and research strategy for Manitoba. This strategy should encompass the following components: Facilitating psilocybin-assisted treatment for a minimum of 400 eligible Manitoban patients within the next year. Enabling the participation of at least 200 eligible Manitoban patients in applied research trials over the next 12-18 months. The estimated combined investment required for these two facets of Manitoba's psilocybin strategy is approximately $6 million over the next 12-18 months – equivalent to $10,000 per patient. This projection does not encompass the potential cost savings derived from substituting costly ongoing pharmaceutical interventions with a safe, plant-based treatment that often necessitates only one session for success in numerous cases. For Manitobans who are seeking psilocybin as an alternative or adjunct to MAiD, the program's cost is trivial when contrasted with the value of alleviating suffering. Moreover, these compassionate investments represent only a fraction of the $6.7 billion in federal funding allocated to Manitoba for mental health and addiction initiatives over the next decade. This funding was jointly announced by the federal and provincial governments earlier this year. In the coming days, we intend to submit comprehensive proposals to further inform these requests and subsequent dialogues. These proposals will be grounded in our two-year project modelling, developed in collaboration with researchers, doctors, care providers, and advocates. As part of this submission, we humbly request the opportunity to meet with you and your officials during the summer to discuss these matters further. Thank you for your anticipated consideration and your commitment to fostering positive change. We hope you will find it within your heart to seriously contemplate these options and embrace this leadership opportunity. Yours sincerely, Your name here