In a groundbreaking decision showing changes in mental health treatment and drug policy, the New Zealand government officially approved the medical use of psilocybin, the best coaching compound found in so-called “magic mushrooms” to treat treatment-resistant depression.
The announcement made Tuesday by Deputy Health Minister David Seymour is the first time psilocybin has been legally stipulated for therapeutic use within the country. The move will bring New Zealand to partner with growing global trends, including select states in Australia, Canada, Switzerland and the US.
“It’s about giving hope to people who have exhausted traditional treatments,” Seymour said. “We’re moving with caution, but we’re moving.”
Strict regulations, singular approvals
Under the new framework, psilocybin remains a “unapproved drug,” but psychiatrists may apply for a special permit to provide it under Section 25 of the Medicine Act. The first such authority was granted to Professor Cameron Lacey, a psychiatrist and academic at the University of Otago.
Strict clinical monitoring and documentation are required, and patients are carefully selected. Currently, Professor Lacey is the only practitioner approved to manage substances, but more approvals are expected in the coming months.
“It’s not about opening the lock,” Seymour said. “It’s about opening the door for those who need it the most.”
Global psychedelic shift
The New Zealand decision follows a similar move by Australia in 2023, where psychiatrists can prescribe both psilocybin and MDMA for certain mental health conditions. Internationally, trials are underway in the UK, Switzerland and the US, increasing scientific support for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
Recent studies have shown promising results in the rapid and sustained reduction of depressive symptoms, particularly when combined with specialized therapy.
Indigenous and local exams
New Zealand is also hosting local research, including a trial in Christchurch and a pioneering Maori-centric initiative at Tairāwhiti, where psilocybin therapy was administered in a Marae-based setting.
A spokesman for the University of Otago research team said:
The road ahead
The change is historic, but experts and health officials have warned that psychedelic therapy is not a silver bullet. Patients undergo rigorous screening, all treatments are administered in a clinical setting, and often with therapeutic support before, during and after the psilocybin session.
“It’s not just molecules,” Dr. Lacey said. “It’s about the setup, preparation and integration that follows.”
Despite the ongoing debate over drug liberalization, public sentiment appears cautiously optimistic. Advocacy groups welcome the move as a compassionate response to the growth of New Zealand’s mental health crisis, where depression and suicide rates remain high.
The country is watching closely as Professor Lacey prepares to take on the first patient. Perhaps there’s a bit more hope.
