US EditionNew Zealand approves medicinal use of 'magic mushrooms'
- On June 19, 2025, New Zealand approved the restricted medical use of psilocybin, allowing Professor Cameron Lacey as the sole psychiatrist to prescribe it for treatment-resistant depression under strict clinical oversight.
- This decision follows Australia’s 2023 move to permit psychiatrist prescriptions of psilocybin and MDMA and reflects growing global scientific support for psychedelic-assisted therapy.
- Lacey’s intensive treatment program requires GP referral, eligibility assessment, multiple therapy sessions, and an eight-hour supervised dosing to minimize risks and maximize patient safety.
- Clinical trials indicated that approximately two-thirds of participants experienced notable benefits, and Associate Health Minister David Seymour emphasized that this approach offers new opportunities for individuals who have not responded to traditional treatments.
- The approval marks a notable change in how mental health conditions may be treated, though experts warn against self-medicating and highlight the necessity of thorough screening and professional supervision.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Federal court rules Health Canada decision to block experiential psilocybin training was unreasonable
The Federal Court of Appeal is ordering Canada's Health Minister to rethink a 2022 refusal to grant exemptions to 96 health-care professionals from using dried hallucinogenic mushrooms as part of experiential training that will allow them to administer the drugs to patients.
New Zealand to use ‘Magic Mushrooms’ to treat depression
In a landmark decision that signals a shift in mental health treatment and drug policy, the New Zealand government has officially approved the medical use of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in so-called “magic mushrooms,” for treating treatment-resistant depression. The announcement, made Tuesday by Associate Health Minister David Seymour, marks the first time psilocybin has been… Source
The Independent
The Independent (US)New Zealand approves use of ‘magic mushrooms’ to treat depression but there’s a catch
New Zealand approves restricted medicinal use of psilocybin, a hallucinogen found in ‘magic mushrooms’ for patients with treatment-resistant depression
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