Psychedelics see increased legalisation and decriminalisation globally as treatment usages expand.
Research continues to progress on the potential mental and physical health benefits of psychedelics used in a therapeutic context. Yet psychedelic substances remain illegal around much of the globe, with notable exceptions.
As of 2024, some psychedelics have been given a legal or decriminalised foothold in: parts of Central Africa (Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and Republic of the Congo), South Africa, Australia, the Bahamas, Brazil, the British Virgin Islands, Canada, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Samoa, Spain, Switzerland and the United States.
Psychedelics include psilocybin (which can be found in “magic mushroom”), MDMA (“ecstasy” or “molly”), LSD (“acid”) ayahuasca, peyote and ibogaine among others. The legal landscape of these substances is changing globally amidst continuous emerging research on the various benefits of their therapeutic use. Psychedelics have been shown to help with mental health conditions, such as treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They’re also being studied for the relief of physical health conditions, such as those related to chronic pain.
“Psychedelics are not only very effective at treating a wide range of indications that currently lack treatment options but are also proving, when used responsibly, very safe,” says Grace Blest-Hopely, a neuroscientist and psychedelic researcher affiliated with King’s College London, in the UK.
Their full report
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240320-legal-status-of-psychedelics-around-the-world
