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Psilocybin remains prohibited in most jurisdictions, but Switzerland, Canada, and Australia have established tightly regulated clinical access pathways. In this developing landscape, prescribers are pivotal to safe access and must navigate conflicting guidance, uncertainty, and legal risk. Clarifying how current regulations define prescribers’ roles is therefore important for understanding how regulated clinical access pathways operate in practice.

Chronic pain and anxiety are two common conditions for which medicinal cannabis (MC) is prescribed in Australia. Project Twenty21 Australia was an observational study that investigated the effectiveness of MC for chronic pain, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and multiple sclerosis, following patients for up to 12 months. The analysis reported in this paper is restricted to patients prescribed one specific full-spectrum high cannabidiol (CBD) oil, CannC CBD3000/5000, f

Nutt et al. recently proposed a common lexicon for psychedelic science including dosing categories for different forms of psychedelic use across multiple substances.

Nutt et al. recently proposed a common lexicon for psychedelic science including dosing categories for different forms of psychedelic use across multiple substances.

A UK study of 46 deaths among methadone-treated patients at a London practice found that in half of the 8 cases labeled "methadone poisoning" by coroners, the clinical evidence pointed elsewhere. The authors say toxicology reports cite a fixed "fatal" blood level without accounting for how much tolerance varies between patients, misleading coroners.

A new Australian study of 522 medicinal cannabis patients found significant improvements in chronic pain, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms (plus sleep, mood, and quality of life) within three months, with gains holding steady for a full year. Adverse events were rare and mostly mild, though the study's lack of a control group means placebo effects can't be ruled out.

Medication-related harm is a leading cause of adverse health outcomes worldwide. However, incentive-linked prescribing – a practice where physicians prescribe expensive or unnecessary medications in exchange for incentives from pharmaceutical companies – is often overlooked as a contributing factor to medication-related harm.

A recent meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, published in Lancet Psychiatry, concluded there was little evidence that cannabinoids help treat mental health conditions (Wilson et al, 2026). It got plenty of media coverage, much of which made the classic mistake of treating 'lack of evidence of benefit' as 'evidence of lack of benefit'. They're not the same thing.

RCTs of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) for anxiety consistently show little evidence of efficacy, yet patient use continues to grow. This editorial argues the discrepancy is largely artefactual, reflecting flawed trial methodology rather than a genuine lack of benefit.

Jurisdictions that have implemented formalised regulatory pathways integrating psilocybin into supervised clinical practice include...

We consider the validity and accuracy of information in medical science as it relates to legal liability. We argue that fundamental changes have occurred concerning knowledge dissemination to doctors (and patients) that have profound implications for the ethical and legal responsibility for accuracy. Such considerations are important for legal professionals at all stages of legal processes and tribunal proceedings.

Whilst substance dependence is well-documented as a risk factor for suicide, less is understood about individuals who die by suicide following recreational polydrug use. Cocaethylene, a psychoactive metabolite produced by the co-ingestion of alcohol and cocaine, may be a cumulative risk factor for suicidality.

Drawing on data gathered in the General Social Survey (GSS), this study examined the influence of political ideology, conceived as a measure of personal identity, and party affiliation, an indicator of group identity, on attitudes toward the legalization of marijuana in the United States.

This qualitative study explored perspectives on recreational substance use and harm-reduction practices among festival workers at UK music festivals.

In 2025, DSPL published 21 articles with contributions from 86 different authors, with reviews and original research covering psychedelics, cannabis and harm reduction. This report will summarise the major themes and key findings covered in the journal this year.

This study aimed to develop a high-quality Mandarin version of the 5 Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness (5D-ASC) Rating Scale to increase language accessibility in psychedelic research.

Restrictions on what are now deemed ‘controlled drugs’ and, in New Zealand, ‘prohibited plants’ unjustly impact both medical care and research.

Although psychedelics have shown therapeutic potential in treating conditions such as depression, PTSD, and addiction, concerns remain regarding ethical practices, participant diversity, and the structural limitations of prevailing theoretical frameworks.

The current mechanisms in the United States to research and develop novel reversal agents for substances that can lead to overdose are restricted by regulations placed on the pharmaceutical industry.

To date, there has been a lack of consensus in the field of psychedelic research regarding key terms. It is our hope that development of this lexicon can aid in translating findings across various research groups and improve clarity and precision in our communications with each other and the general public.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is an emerging treatment that combines pharmacotherapeutic dosing sessions with psychotherapy. Despite limited regulatory approval, treatment seekers can access PAT through various avenues, including ketamine treatment centers and “supported adult use” psilocybin centers in the US, drug tourism, “underground” therapy, and participation in clinical trials.