Nova Scotia To: Hon. Brian Comer Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Nova Scotia Legislature Via Email: MentalHealth.Minister@novascotia.ca CC:premier@novascotia.ca Health.Minister@novascotia.ca spencer@therapsil.ca Dear Minister Comer, I trust this letter finds you well. I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for your ongoing efforts in the field of mental health and addictions in Nova Scotia. Your commitment to addressing the complex challenges that individuals in our province face in these areas is truly commendable. I am reaching out to you with a proposal that has the potential to significantly impact the lives of individuals struggling with mental health issues and limited treatment options. I urge you to consider the allocation of provincial resources to facilitate expanded access to controlled and supervised psilocybin therapy, along with supporting research trials to explore its potential benefits. In recent times, both on a global scale and within Canada, there have been notable strides in recognizing the therapeutic potential of psilocybin-assisted therapy. For instance, Australia's decision to delist psilocybin as a controlled substance, allowing its prescription for treatment-resistant depression, represents a significant development in the acceptance of its therapeutic utility. Moreover, encouraging developments have occurred within Canada. Last year, Alberta became the first Canadian jurisdiction to regulate the use of psychedelic drugs for people in therapy. The University of Calgary has established a research chair to oversee exploration into the use of psychedelics to improve mental health, with a particular focus on PTSD. In another significant step, Quebec became the first province to fund doctors for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy after treating patients with legal access in December 2022. Even private insurers, such as Pacific Blue Cross, have started providing coverage for these treatments. The progress doesn’t stop there. Less than a year ago, the Guardian newspaper reported on the largest clinical trial yet into psilocybin and depression, where nearly a third of patients at 22 sites in the UK, Europe and North America went into rapid remission after a 25mg dose and therapy sessions. The former chair of the UK's COVID vaccine task force described the use of psychedelics to treat depression as an area of real excitement. 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 Nova Scotia is not at the forefront of this transformative movement. 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.” . TheraPsil brought Janis’s case and others to the Committee on MAiD, which recommended that Health Canada review the Special Access Program (SAP) and policies to determine ways to improve access to psilocybin. One significant challenge is the cost associated with accessing psilocybin through the SAP, which can amount to as much as $10,000, compounded by the lack of coverage by the province. Conversely, individuals covered by Nova Scotia's health insurance plan receive comprehensive coverage for medications related to MAiD. This disparity sends a puzzling message to Nova Scotia residents who are seeking alternative therapies like psilocybin. In the face of the overdose crisis and the ongoing mental health and addiction challenges, why has this safe and potentially life-changing treatment not received the attention it warrants? Are we truly doing everything within our means to address these pressing issues? While various provinces, such as British Columbia, advocate for the decriminalization of hard drugs under section 56, it is worth considering the safe utilization of psilocybin as a proactive measure. Unlike substances such as heroin and cocaine, psilocybin is deemed physiologically safe by the US National Institutes of Health, carrying no risk of dependence or addiction. Recent statements from Health Canada also affirm that supervised psilocybin therapy does not pose a threat to public safety. The rise of magic mushroom dispensaries in Nova Scotia highlights the need for prudent consideration by the provincial government. While illicit suppliers continue to operate, the province's commitment to legal and potentially transformative psilocybin treatments remains uncertain. I implore you to approach this matter with the seriousness it demands, exploring regulated options that prioritize the well-being and security of our citizens. By allocating resources to support safe SAP access to psilocybin under the guidance of healthcare professionals, we may be able to reduce reliance on illicit suppliers. Aligned with your government's steadfast commitment to addressing concurrent public health challenges, I urge you to take concrete steps that will enhance the lives of countless Nova Scotia residents, provide a safer alternative to harmful controlled substances, and reinforce Canada's leadership in this emerging wellness sector. This is an opportunity that calls for leadership, and I believe your dedication to these matters is unwavering. Therefore, I propose that your ministry actively collaborates with organizations like TheraPsil, other non-profit entities, patients, care providers, licensed psilocybin producers in Nova Scotia, and researchers to invest in a comprehensive psilocybin treatment and research strategy for our province. This strategy should encompass the following components: * Facilitating psilocybin-assisted treatment for a minimum of 400 eligible Nova Scotia residents within the next year. * Enabling the participation of at least 200 eligible Nova Scotia residents in applied research trials over the next 12-18 months. The estimated combined investment required for these two aspects of Nova Scotia's psilocybin strategy is approximately $6 million over the next 12-18 months – equivalent to $10,000 per patient. This projection does not consider the potential cost savings resulting from substituting expensive ongoing pharmaceutical interventions with a safe, plant-based treatment that often requires only one session for success in many cases. For Nova Scotia residents seeking psilocybin as an alternative or adjunct to MAiD, the program's cost is minimal in comparison to the value of alleviating suffering. Furthermore, these compassionate investments represent only a fraction of the $4.8 billion in funding allocated by the federal government to Nova Scotia for mental health and addiction initiatives over the next 10 years. This funding was jointly announced by the federal and provincial governments earlier this year. In the coming days, we intend to submit detailed proposals that will provide further insights into these requests and the ensuing dialogues. These proposals will be grounded in two years of project modelling, developed in collaboration with researchers, doctors, care providers, and advocates. As part of this submission, I respectfully request the opportunity to meet with you and your officials during the summer months to delve deeper into these matters. Thank you in advance for your consideration and your dedication to facilitating positive change. We hope that you will take these options seriously and seize this leadership opportunity. Sincerely, Your Name here