Ketamine
What is Ketamine?
Often used as a medical sedative and anaesthesia for both humans and animals, ketamine can also be used to induce a psychedelic experience that, depending on dosage, may last up to 90 minutes. The effects are often described as being dissociative, numbing, and euphoric, with some experiencing hallucinations. It can be consumed in a number of ways, including by being smoked in a cigarette, snorted, mixed with a liquid, via nasal spray, and through injection.
You can find Canada’s webpage on ketamine here.
Is Ketamine Legal in Canada?
Yes, ketamine is legal for medical use subject to regulation. It is not legal for recreational use.
Ketamine is generally prohibited under Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. However, it is permitted for and common in medical use, being regulated pursuant to the Narcotic Control Regulations. It also has the distinction of being the only psychedelic substance (other than cannabis) currently permitted for therapeutic use in Canada, with clinics operating in Toronto and other Canadian cities.
The popular ketamine nasal spray Spravato was approved for use in Canada in 2020.
Medical or Therapeutic Use?
In addition to its well-known use as a sedative and anaesthesia, medical studies suggest ketamine used under proper conditions may prove helpful in treating pain, addiction, anxiety, depression, trauma, and obsessive compulsive disorder.