Supporting equitable access to legal and regulated psychedelic medicine for all Canadians.
ABOUT OUR WORK
Working with partners in government, business, and the community, MAPS Canada is committed to advancing psychedelic medicine by supporting scientific, multidisciplinary research; advocating for drug policy reform; offering public education; and supporting equitable access to legal and regulated psychedelic medicine in Canada.
LATEST AT MAPS CANADA
MAPS Canada Research Room presents:
The Latest Perspectives on Psychedelic Brain Imaging
Thurs, Dec 5th 8pm EST / 5pm PST
MAPS Canada Presents:
You Had a Mystical Experience - Now What?
Podcast With Michael Phillip
Michael Phillip is the creator and host of Third Eye Drops, a media vessel dedicated to philosophy, psychology, spirituality, meaning, and adventure (both physical and mental). Michael is a writer, podcast host, speaker, community-builder, and wonder junkie holding a B.A. in Journalism.
Check it out at https://thirdeyedrops.com/
And consider donating to MAPS Canada at https://mapscanada.org/donate/
MAPS Canada School of Psychedelics Presents:
Seminar #6 Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy Approaches
Join us for a new School of Psychedelics seminar, Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy Approaches! The instructors Anne Wagner, Kayla Breelove Carter and Sabina Pillai cover a variety of approaches to Psychedelic therapy with emphasis on considerations for equity seeking groups.
MAPS Canada Partnership with Canadian Centre for Psychedelic Science Presents:
Micro-dosing for MDD Clinical Trial Partnership
MAPS Canada is excited to be in a research partnership with the Canadian Centre for Psychedelic Science (CCPS), an organization dedicated to setting the bar for excellence in the study of psychedelics, on a University of Toronto-sponsored clinical trial studying the effects of microdoses (2mg) of psilocybin on Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
MAPS Canada is partnering with CCPS toward a common commitment to support the utilization of psychedelic-assisted therapies through the conduct of a clinical trial to address mental and physical health challenges and promote wellness.
As part of this partnership, CCPS will conduct a University of Toronto-sponsored clinical trial to examine the effects of sub-hallucinogenic doses of psilocybin on MDD. MAPS Canada will support this project by raising funds that will go directly towards completing this clinical trial.
MAPS Canada presents:
Balancing Safety and Access: Cost Coverage for Psychedelic-Assisted Care
Thur Oct 26, 4:00-5:00 pm PT/7:00-8:00 pm ET
Cost coverage and affordability greatly impact patient access to psychedelic medicines and therapies. Legal access to psychedelics in Canada is only available through Clinical Trials and the Special Access Program (SAP). Ketamine is a legal psychedelic medicine and treatment is available, however, as with other psychedelic therapies, costs are high and are often not covered, making it out of reach for many patients in need.
Costs associated with legal psychedelic-assisted therapy include the cost of psychedelic medicine itself and costs associated with care personnel, which can include medical professionals and other regulated or unregulated health professionals. Treatments can involve several sessions over a period of weeks or months.
Similar costs are associated with underground psychedelic-assisted care and healing as well. Some people may opt to use psychedelics without support or therapy because these are not affordable, and cost-coverage is of course not available for illegal product and services.
Costs for other legal medicines are covered in certain contexts, including treatments for substance use disorders and for medical assistance in dying (MAID) by government and third party insurers. However, costs are not often covered for psychedelic-assisted care.
What is the state of cost coverage for psychedelic-assisted care in Canada? What is the route towards provincial cost coverage? What arguments could be made to third party insurers to include cost coverage in their policies? Which products and services should be covered? What is the impact on patients having to pay out of pocket? What are the implications of not being able to afford access to treatment?
*Recording will be available for 30 days after the event for the same email address that was used to register
Learning Objectives
- Learn about the state of cost coverage for psychedelic-assisted care in Canada
- Learn about how regulatory bodies make decisions about cost coverage in the context of treatments offered as a part of publicly-funded healthcare
- Learn about how third-party insurers make decisions about cost coverage in the context of private insurance
- Learn about how cost coverage, or lack thereof, impacts patients who are in need of care
- Learn about provider perspectives on the impact of cost coverage
- Learn about how we as a community can advocate for cost-coverage where appropriate
Joan is the vice president of group benefits for CLHIA (Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association), a voluntary trade association with member companies that account for 99 percent of Canada’s life and health insurance business. In her role, Joan is responsible for analysis on industry issues, policy strategy development and to build consensus on concerns important to member companies. An important part of the health portfolio is working within industry, including with national healthcare associations as well as with provincial/federal payers on benefit programs, specifically on best practices, strategy, advocacy and sustainability. Joan has been with the CLHIA for more than 7 years, starting as Director of Health and Disability Policy.
Joan brings 20+ years of benefits management expertise to her position at CLHIA, having worked for insurers and administrators on both private and public sector programs, notably with First Canadian Health and Health Canada on the NIHB program and most recently with Medavie Blue Cross.
Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association.
Philippe Lucas, PhD
President, SABI Mind Vice Chair, Psychedelics Canada
Philippe Lucas PhD is an experienced cannabis and psychedelic researcher, patient advocate, and President of SABI Mind, a clinic group that provides access to psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat mental health, pain and substance use disorder, and that’s a proud partner of Project Solace. Philippe was founder of the Vancouver Island Compassion Society, one of Canada’s first medical cannabis dispensaries, a founding Board member of the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies Canada, and co-founder of the Victoria Association of Psychedelic Studies. More recently he worked as VP, Global Patient Research & Access at Tilray, where he oversaw an international cannabis research program, and he is also acting-CEO of Plantchek, which produces analytical tools for the cannabis industry.
He has received a number of accolades for his patient research and advocacy, including the Americans for Safe Access Researcher of the Year Award 2021, the Cannabis Council of Canada Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
David Fascinato
Executive Director Heroic Hearts Canada
David is the Executive Director of Heroic Hearts Canada. He is also a veteran who spent 10 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, including a deployment to Afghanistan in 2010. Since leaving the military, he has embarked on a career in service to non-profits, leading and scaling national and international charities. His work includes co-founding Team Rubicon Canada, a prominent veteran-led disaster relief organization. He continues his work to support veterans in their transition from the military by launching Heroic Hearts Canada. David has a Masters of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation from OCAD University and resides in Toronto.
Clifford Lo, PharmD, MHA, MSc, BSc(Pharm), PharmD
Director, Formulary Management, Pharmaceutical, Laboratory & Blood Services Division, BC Ministry of Health
Clifford Lo is currently the Director of Formulary Management for the Pharmaceutical, Laboratory & Blood Services Division at the British Columbia Ministry of Health and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He completed his undergraduate pharmacy degree from the UBC, then a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from the University of Washington and he is a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist. Clifford has also completed a Masters in Health Administration from UBC, a Masters in Health Economics, Policy and Management from the London School of Economics, and a 2-year administrative fellowship at BC Renal. In addition to his administrative roles, he provides lectures at the UBC School of Pharmacy, and School of Medicine and has a variety of research interests including health policy and access, he has published several peer-reviewed papers in this area
MAPS Canada Partnership with Empower Psychedelics Presents:
A Clinical Trial of Psychedelic Group Therapy for First Responders
MAPS Canada is excited to be in a research partnership with Empower Psychedelics, a non-profit organization based in British Columbia, on a groundbreaking study of group-based psychedelic-assisted therapy for first responders.
MAPS Canada is partnering with Empower Psychedelics toward a common commitment to contribute to the growing body of evidence of psychedelic-assisted therapies through the conduct of a clinical trial to address mental and physical health challenges and promote wellness.
As part of this partnership, Empower Psychedelics will conduct a clinical trial to assess the feasibility of a custom psilocybin-assisted group therapy program for first responders exploring potential effects on mental health, wellbeing, and cognition. MAPS Canada will support this project to raise funds that will go directly towards completing this impactful clinical trial.
MAPS Canada Presents:
A Christian Minister Took Psychedelics, This Happened
Podcast with Don Lattin
Don Lattin is a veteran religion journalist and award-winning author of several books on psychedelics including The Harvard Psychedelic Club and his latest book God on Psychedelics.
He was a speaker at Psychedelic Science 2023, the world biggest ever conference on psychedelics, and he has been closely following the movement from it’s beginnings.
In this podcast, hear Don Lattin’s perspective on the rise of psychedelic churches, the NYU-John Hopkins study on religious clergy members experience after two psilocybin sessions
Find more about Don Lattin here: www.donlattin.com
More information on Don Lattin’s latest book God on Psychedelics: https://apocryphilepress.com/book/psychedelics/
MAPS Canada School of Psychedelics
The MAPS Canada School of Psychedelics provides education to promote safe, legal, and equitable access to psychedelic medicines. The school provides programs for everyone from clinicians and researchers to policymakers and to anyone interested in learning more about psychedelics.
BALANCING SAFTEY AND ACCESS REPORT
Please read our report on Alberta’s Regulations and service standards, and related recommendations.
MAPS Canada Partnership with Roots to Thrive presents:
Roots to Thrive Partnership
MAPS Canada is pleased to be in partnership with the groundbreaking, non-profit healthcare organization Roots To Thrive, based in Nanaimo, BC in collaboration with the Snuneymuxw First Nation and Vancouver Island University.
Founded in 2019, Roots to Thrive is Canada’s first and only multidisciplinary, non-profit healthcare practice to legally offer evidence-informed, multi-week, group therapy programs that include psilocybin-assisted and ketamine-assisted group therapy sessions.
Roots to Thrive recently achieved two historic firsts in Canada: it offered the first psilocybin group therapy program for patients facing life-threatening illness; and it received nine first-ever Health Canada Special Access Program request approvals for ANY psychedelic therapy, in any form, for the program.
MAPS Canada is supporting Roots to Thrive through fundraising and communications to promote decolonization and reconciliation in its delivery of community-based, psychedelic medicine-assisted therapies, research, and training of healthcare professionals.
MAPS Canada Podcast Relaunch
The MAPS Canada Youtube channel is getting active again, and will be bringing new content! Keep your eyes out for the re-launch of the MAPS
