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Australia Becomes First Country To Regulate Psilocybin & MDMA As Medicines

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

The Therapeutic Goods Administration said its decision to down-schedule two psychedelic substances to controlled drug status followed extensive public consultation, a report from an independent expert panel, and advice from the Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling.

Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic substance obtained from certain types of mushrooms • Source: Shutterstocks

From 1 July, specifically authorized psychiatrists in Australia will be able to start prescribing medicines containing the psychedelic substances psilocybin and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) for treating treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder respectively.

The move, announced this month by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, makes Australia the first country to legalize the prescription of psilocybin (found in so-called magic mushrooms) and MDMA

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