Mind Medicine Australia has called on the ACT Government to change "conservative" legislation to improve access to psychedelic-assisted therapy.
The Canberra chapter of the advocacy group wants patients and practitioners to have access to MDMA and psilocybin treatment when given the Therapeutic Goods Administration green light.
Chapter head Tony Shields said more than 30 patients had been approved under the TGA special access scheme, however, Victoria was the only jurisdiction with legislation allowing for the therapy to take place.
Although psilocybin and MDMA aren't yet registered medicines on the Therapeutic Goods Register, Mr Shields said the TGA allowed for their use on a case-by-case basis for treatment-resistant patients.
"Arguing against allowing these patients to be treated in the ACT when approval has already been received from the TGA seems cruel and places you at odds with the TGA," Mr Shields said.
"It also puts you at odds with major overseas jurisdictions such as in the US, Canada, Switzerland and Israel which allow similar access for similar reasons."
Clinical trials into the use of MDMA, psilocybin and LSD for the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder and depression, when paired with therapy, have shown promising results both overseas and in Australia.
Mind Medicine founder Peter Hunt said there was currently no avenue for the ACT Government to approve clinical use of psychedelics outside of a research trial, under the Medicines Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.
Mr Hunt said Mind Medicine was seeking an amendment to the act to automatically issue a licence to a doctor who gained TGA approval and the issue of a licence for those approved by the ACT Chief Health Officer.
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He said Mind Medicine had been in discussions with Legislative Assembly members about these changes.
"We are grateful for positive feedback from Minister Emma Davidson and government MLAs, Jonathan Davis, Dr Marisa Paterson and Michael Pettersson," Mr Hunt said.
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