Vancouver Island doctor advocates for better access to medical psychedelic treatments

A Vancouver Island doctor is among the Canadian physicians leading the way on researching and prescribing psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Christine Parlee says it’s a fear that surfaced ever since a doctor told her she has terminal, stage 4 metastatic malignant melanoma in 2017.

"There’s things I want to do with my life," says Parlee. "And knowing that our time is really limited stresses one out."

The 52-year-old is one of just a few patients on Vancouver Island to receive special approval by the federal government to access the controlled substance of psilocybin – also known as magic mushrooms – with the help of her doctor.

She’s being prepped for the psychedelic-assisted therapy starting on April 3.

"I want a new outlook," she says.

Her doctor, Dr. Valorie Masuda, is among the Canadian physicians leading the way in this growing field for western medicine.

"With this treatment we can change the way those patterns of thinking have entrenched themselves in somebody’s brain," she says.

The palliative care doctor received an exemption through section 56(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights to get legal experiential training in the field.