Australian government backs psychedelic drug clinical trials to treat mental illness

$15m grant comes despite TGA's failure to reschedule MDMA and psilocybin from a prohibited substance to a controlled medicine

The use of magic mushrooms, ecstasy and other psychedelic drugs to treat mental illnesses, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, may be a step closer in Australia, with clinical trials given a $15m grant.

Despite international evidence suggesting the medicinal effectiveness of psychedelic drugs to treat mental health conditions, the Australian Therapeutic Drug Association last month made an interim decision against rescheduling MDMA and psilocybin from a prohibited substance (schedule 9) to a controlled medicine (schedule 8).