Legal and Regulatory Barriers to Medical Psilocybin Use: An International Overview
Mohamad Chweikh
October 2, 2025 preprint DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/dy5cu_v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Key findings | The legal status of psilocybin varies significantly across countries, creating barriers for clinical use and research. |
Abstract
Psilocybin has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent for psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, its legal status varies significantly across countries, creating barriers for clinical use and research. This paper provides an international overview of the regulatory landscape governing medical psilocybin, highlighting key legal restrictions, policy challenges, and emerging frameworks that support clinical trials and compassionate use. Understanding these barriers is crucial for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| The pharmacology of psilocybin | 2002 | Review | |
| Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses | 2008 | Review | |
| Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness | 2018 | Review | |
| The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act | 2018 | Review |