MDMA trials under review in Canada over alleged abuse of study participants

Health Canada confirms reviews into trials following complaint of alleged investigator misconduct'

All clinical trials into the psychoactive drug MDMA are being reviewed by Canadian regulators after complaints about abuse of study participants by a trailblazing American psychedelic research organization.

The California-based Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (Maps) has led the way in conducting trials into the medicinal qualities of the drug. In May 2021, it released results from a phase-three trial in the journal Nature on the benefits of the drug - commonly sold illegally as a powder or within ecstasy tablets - as a breakthrough treatment for PTSD, for which there is currently no effective pharmaceutical treatment.