The Psilocybin Chronicles: Tales from the Legal Frontier - Episode 02: Paul Lewin

In this episode of the Psilocybin Chronicles, Tales from the Legal Frontier. I speak with Paul Lewin, a veteran constitutional lawyer, who over 20 years ago played a key role in successfully challenging the constitutionality of the laws prohibiting access to marijuana for medicinal use. He, along with a dedicated team of lawyers, is now leading a similar challenge, claiming that prohibition of psilocybin for medicinal purposes violates Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. As Paul aptly puts it, the beating heart of this case are Canadians with terrible health issues seeking access to safe and effective treatment.

In our inaugural podcast, I speak with Thomas Hartle, a father and husband, who was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer in 2016.  Since then he has completed approximately 80 chemotherapy treatments.  At one of his lowest points, Thomas discovered the healing properties of psilocybin, which turned out to the be only modality that successfully, and without side-effects, alleviated the acute anxiety experienced due to his illness.  He became the first Canadian to receive an exemption to use psilocybin as a treatment.  The process Thomas had to go through was cumbersome and expensive.  While his first request was granted, it was valid for a one-year period.  His second application for an additional one-year exemption was denied after a 511 day wait.  Had you spoken to Thomas prior to 2016, you would have never imagined that a few years later he would become the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Canadian Government claiming access to therapeutic psilocybin is a constitutional right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for the thousands of Canadians that can benefit from the treatment.   This is his story.