A Quebec-based religion is taking the minister of mental health and addictions to court, claiming Health Canada is dragging its feet on a decision whether to allow its members to use magic mushrooms in their ceremonies.
Gratitude Sanctuary, known as Sanctuaire de la Gratitude in French, and its B次元官网网址淩everend SuperiorB次元官网网址� Alain Menier, filed an application in Federal Court claiming its members need to consume magic mushrooms to practice their religion.
The application was filed by the religious non-profit in early October in Ottawa, and says the group believes people receive B次元官网网址渢heir own teachings when entering the sacred space opened by the consumption of psilocybin mushrooms.B次元官网网址�
The application says ceremonies must be done safely and legally, but Health Canada hasnB次元官网网址檛 decided on the groupB次元官网网址檚 request for an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which was first submitted in March 2022.
B次元官网网址淎n important tenant of the religion is that the mushrooms should be consumed in the safest way possible, which requires that they be consumed under strict health and safety protocols, in a controlled environment, and under trained supervision,B次元官网网址� it says.
In response to the request, the application says Health Canada sent two questionnaires to Menier with 41 questions in total, but months went by without a response.
The religious non-profitB次元官网网址檚 lawyer sent a B次元官网网址渄emand letterB次元官网网址� in September to Health Canada seeking a response to the exemption request within 30 days, and B次元官网网址淗ealth Canada confirmed receipt but did not provide any of the responses requested nor demonstrate that it was taking steps to further the processing of the exemption request.B次元官网网址�
It wants to compel the agency to decide on the exemption, saying it B次元官网网址渃annot conduct their religious ceremonies withoutB次元官网网址� it.
Menier and Gratitude Sanctuary claim in court that their B次元官网网址渞eligious freedom rights are being infringed by the lack of an exemption,B次元官网网址� and they want a judge to compel the minister of mental health and addictions to either decide to grant or refuse the request.
B次元官网网址淣o harm will result from the minister continuing to process the exemption request,B次元官网网址� the court application says.
B次元官网网址淩ather, it will result in either the minister granting the request and allowing the applicants to practice their religion or the minister notifying the applicants about what more information that is needed or of the ministerB次元官网网址檚 intent to refuse the request.B次元官网网址�
Health Canada said it was looking into a question about religious exemptions from the act.
Health CanadaB次元官网网址檚 website outlines how exemption requests are decided on a B次元官网网址渃ase by case basis,B次元官网网址� and processing times vary depending on the purpose of the exemption.
The agencyB次元官网网址檚 website says it strives to B次元官网网址渁ssess requests in a timely fashion,B次元官网网址� aiming for 45 days for clinical studies, 70 days for scientific research, but for B次元官网网址渘on-routine exemptions, there is no set time period for receiving decisions.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭he review time varies depending on the complexity and completeness of the request,B次元官网网址� Health CanadaB次元官网网址檚 website says.
A lawyer for Gratitude Sanctuary did not immediately respond to an email and voice mail seeking comment.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
