Microdosing
What is Microdosing?
Microdosing is the practice of ingesting a minuscule amount of a psychedelic substance.
Done properly, microdosing is sub-hallucinogenic, meaning one shouldn’t really feel the consumed substance’s psychedelic effects. At least not much.
Microdosing has become extremely popular of late, though its scientific efficacy remains subject to debate.
Is Microdosing Legal in Canada?
Generally no, microdosing is illegal under Canadian federal law unless one is (perhaps incorrectly) referring to microdosing cannabis.
Psychedelic microdosing is effectively illegal in Canada, as possession of the substances typically used for microdosing, like psilocybin and LSD, are criminally prohibited regardless of quantity.
On June 7th, following a court-mandated re-assessment, Health Canada granted a Special Access Program (SAP) application for psilocybin microdosing to treat cluster headaches (see Health Canada’s response letter here). This marked the first time anyone in Canada has been granted legal access to psilocybin for the purpose of microdosing or treating cluster headaches.
Medical or Therapeutic Use?
Proponents claim the practice of microdosing yields various benefits, such as improved focus, mood, and creativity. Though conversely, some studies suggest the touted benefits of microdosing are just a placebo effect.