Legal and Regulatory Barriers to Medical Psilocybin Use: An International Overview
October 2, 2025 preprint DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/dy5cu_v1 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPsilocybin shows promise for treating psychiatric and neurological disorders, but its legal status differs widely between countries, hindering clinical use and research. This overview examines the international regulatory landscape for medical psilocybin, focusing on legal restrictions, policy challenges, and emerging frameworks that facilitate clinical trials and compassionate use. Understanding these barriers is essential for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The legal status of psilocybin varies significantly across countries, creating barriers for clinical use and research. |
Abstract
Psilocybin has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent for psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, its legal status varies significantly across countries, creating barriers for clinical use and research. This paper provides an international overview of the regulatory landscape governing medical psilocybin, highlighting key legal restrictions, policy challenges, and emerging frameworks that support clinical trials and compassionate use. Understanding these barriers is crucial for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers.