British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced he will study the latest advice and consider mounting calls to legalize the psychedelic drug psilocybin.
The news comes on the heels of a recent report from Conservative MP leader and chairman of the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group (CDPRG), Crispin Blunt, that Johnson had approved the proposed psilocybin rescheduling months ago, but the Home Office had yet to act. .
Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound produced by certain types of mushrooms – commonly referred to as 'magic mushrooms' called. Scientific and clinical research on the chemical in the 20th century and in more recent years has shown that psilocybin may be useful in treating a wide variety of mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, and addiction.
Psilocybin is currently listed in Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, in which the drugs are classified as “little to no therapeutic value”. Cannabis was also listed in Schedule 2018 of the Act until November 1.
This classification means that it is illegal to possess or supply the drug – even for medicinal use, and a Home Office license is required for research into the chemical.
These rules have come under increasing fire in recent years, as activists claim they make it more difficult for scientists and doctors to conduct essential research into the drug's therapeutic potential.
Recent advice is under consideration according to Boris Johnson
A growing number of campaigners, including Crispin Blunt MP, are calling for psilocybin to be moved to Schedule 2 to facilitate medical and scientific research.
According to Blunt, the Prime Minister had personally assured in May that he was determined to reschedule psilocybin for clinical trials. However, no further evidence of this has been seen yet.
In response to this delay, Mr Blunt recently appealed to the Prime Minister during the Prime Minister's inquiries to provide this guarantee.
Boris Johnson told him: “I can say that we will consider the recent advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on reducing barriers to controlled drug research like the one he describes and we will get back to him as soon as possible. There is no evidence anywhere that a 'schedule two' substance has entered the criminal supply chain.”
Sources include BBC (EN), Canex (EN), CityAM (EN), Psychedelics Spotlight (EN)
