Supporting equitable access to legal and regulated psychedelic medicine for all Canadians.
ABOUT OUR WORK
Working with partners in government, business, and the community, MAPS Canada is committed to advancing psychedelic medicine by supporting scientific, multidisciplinary research; advocating for drug policy reform; offering public education; and supporting equitable access to legal and regulated psychedelic medicine in Canada.
LATEST AT MAPS CANADA
June 25, 2026
MAPS Canada presents:
Straight from the Source: Hear from Canada’s Psychedelic Manufacturers
Get the inside scoop on Canada’s psychedelic industry: who’s making what, what’s in demand, and what’s coming next. Direct from the source.
Join MAPSC Canada for an exclusive conversation with leaders from some of Canada’s licensed psychedelic manufacturers. Hear from the people behind the molecules to explore what’s being made, who’s using it, and what the future of legal psychedelics may hold in Canada and beyond.
Objectives:
Attendees will learn:
- which psychedelic substances are currently being legally produced in Canada and for what purposes
- current and emerging therapeutic and research applications of legal psychedelics
- key challenges facing psychedelic producers in the Canadian regulatory environment
- how industry leaders see the landscape evolving over the next one to five years
Panelists:
Nick Kadysh – CEO, PharmAla Biotech
With over a decade of experience as a Public Affairs and Regulatory expert, Nick Kadysh is the founder and CEO of PharmAla Biotech, and a leading consultant in the intersection of pharmaceutical development and consumer products.
Prior to launching PharmAla in 2020, Nick led government relations and regulatory departments for several large corporations, including as Head of Corporate Affairs for JUUL Labs, as Government Affairs & Public Policy Leader for General Electric Canada, and as Director of Public Affairs for Red Bull Canada.
Nick gained a deep understanding of government as a campaign and legislative staff member in multiple levels of government prior to joining the corporate sector, most recently directing the Outreach department of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition at Queen’s Park in Toronto. He has also worked as a policy advisor at the Parliament of Canada.
Nick is trilingual (English, French & Russian) and is a graduate of Queen’s University. He lives in East Toronto with his wife, Olga, and two daughters, Milena and Sasha. He is active in non-profit and community initiatives in Toronto, including fundraising for Toronto East General Hospital and as a member of the board for Yonge-Dundas Square.
Roya Barghian – Mycologist & Master Grower, Shields Pharma Inc.
Roya Barghian is a Senior Research Scientist in the Psychedelic Division at Shields Pharma Inc., a Health Canada–approved and GMP-approved contract testing laboratory recognized for its advanced scientific, analytical, and regulatory capabilities.
With a background in psychology and mycology, Roya specializes in the development and production of pharmaceutical-grade Psilocybe strains for therapeutic applications targeting conditions such as depression, anxiety, addiction, PTSD, ADHD, chronic pain, and suicidal ideation. She has developed eight proprietary Psilocybe strains with validated psilocybin concentrations exceeding 2.2%, demonstrating strong batch-to-batch consistency and reproducibility.
Her work spans the full production lifecycle—from genetic optimization and cultivation to analytical validation, formulation, and pharmaceutical-grade encapsulation under GMP and GACP standards. While synthetic approaches can also be supported, Roya’s primary focus is advancing a botanical approach to psychedelic medicine through the standardized cultivation and encapsulation of naturally derived Psilocybe biomass for both micro-dosing and macro-dosing applications.
Beyond research and manufacturing, Roya actively collaborates with clinics, universities, and healthcare organizations to support the responsible advancement of psychedelic medicine and clinical innovation. She is also a strong advocate for improving safe and equitable access to psychedelic-assisted therapies for veterans, first responders, and individuals facing severe mental health challenges.
Danny Motyka – Co-Founder & CEO, Psygen
Danny is a long-time proponent for the use of psychedelic medicines. His academic background in chemistry, professional career in operations management and strategic planning, and his strong understanding of controlled substance regulations were all intentionally curated skills to build Psygen. Danny truly believes that psychedelics are important tools to transform and improve the world.
Hosts
Sonia Brodie – Board Member, MAPS Canada
Sonia is a long-standing clinical research enthusiast with a wealth of experience in operationalizing pharmaceutical and medical device trials. Her technical experience spans from protocol development, to regulatory applications, efficient study start-up processes, clinical trial management, establishing quality management systems and standard operating procedures, data analysis, and knowledge translation across a wide range of study types and interventions.
She has consulted and advised on a variety of psychedelic research initiatives, including the world’s largest microdosing study, and established three clinical trials sites for psychedelic research for several global Phase II and III randomized controlled trials, balancing pharmaceutical rigor with a strong understanding of the unique considerations for psychedelic research. As Director of Growth and Partnerships with CaRe Clinics, her focus is on building and nurturing collaborative relationships with industry sponsors, CROs, healthcare providers, and policy makers to help bring more clinical trials to Canada. She is also on the board of directors for MAPS Canada.
Rielle Capler – Executive Director, MAPS Canada
Rielle Capler (MHA, PhD) has over 20 years of experience in the cannabis field, where she engaged in research, advocacy, knowledge translation, service provision, standards development, and community organizing. Rielle received the Governor General of Canada’s Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal acknowledging her contribution to Canadian society through her work with medical cannabis. She has been engaged in psychedelics research for over 10 years, and in psychedelic-related education, advocacy and leadership for the past 4 years.
Rielle earned a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of British Columbia, focused on access to medical cannabis under different regulatory frameworks in Canada. She has published various research articles and book chapters, and held a postdoctoral research fellowship at the B.C. Centre on Substance Use. She is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Population and Public Health, in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Rielle was on the board of MAPS Canada for 3 years, and has been the Executive Director of MAPS Canada for the past year.
June 18, 2026
MAPS Canada presents:
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for persisting symptoms after concussion
Speaker Bio – Mack Hancock is a PhD student in the Clinical Neuroscience program at the University of Calgary. Originally from Kingston, Ontario, Mack completed his undergraduate studies in Neuroscience at Dalhousie University. Currently, under the supervision of Dr. Chantel Debert, Mack is working on a clinical trial exploring the potential of psilocybin-assisted therapy for treating persisting symptoms after concussion, specifically examining the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of this intervention. In addition, he will be involved in a similar clinical trial investigating the same therapeutic approach for post-traumatic stress disorder in a population of intimate partner violence survivors.
Talk Abstract:
Persisting symptoms after concussion (PSaC) are experienced by up to a third of those who suffer a concussion. Symptoms can include headache, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, impaired attention and memory, and noise and light sensitivity, which vary between patients and are often debilitating to day-to-day life. Unfortunately, there is no cure or evidence-based standard treatment these patients can turn to, as PSaC can vary for each patient. Current treatments, such as psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, are not effective for all patients.
A novel treatment approach which has shown promise in treating similar symptoms as PSaC, such as cluster headaches, anxiety, and depression, is psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. This therapy involves the therapeutic administration of a psychedelic substance, which is paired with psychotherapy before, during, and after medication administration.
This clinical trial aims to determine if psilocybin-assisted therapy is a safe, feasible, and effective intervention for adults with PSaC. Participants will be randomized to either a small control dose or a larger treatment dose of psilocybin, followed by 5 sessions of acceptance and commitment therapy adapted for patients with brain injury.
By measuring outcomes such as recruitment, adherence, safety, and preliminary efficacy in PSaC symptoms, this novel trial aims to identify the potential for psilocybin-assisted therapy to improve recovery for those suffering from PSaC.
June 15, 2026
MAPS Canada presents:
Executive Summary of the National Dialogue on Psychedelic Access
Experts Call for Urgent Action on Psychedelic Access in Canada
In April 2026, MAPS Canada convened the first-ever National Dialogue on Access to Psychedelics, bringing together clinicians, researchers, policymakers, Indigenous knowledge holders, legal experts, community and business leaders, advocates, veterans, and people with lived experience to examine the future of psychedelic access in Canada.
The dialogue comes at a pivotal moment. Growing evidence supports the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies for conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, substance use disorders, and end-of-life distress. At the same time, public interest and demand for these treatments continue to increase – as do recent and upcoming legislative proposals signalling growing political attention to this emerging field.
Read this Executive Summary highlighting key findings, priority areas, and calls to action emerging from the National Dialogue. The summary is intended to inform ongoing discussions and policy development ahead of the release of the full report.
June 13, 2026
MAPS Canada presents:
Why Older Adults Are Turning to Psychedelic Therapy with Scott Paul Wright
In this episode of the MAPS Canada Podcast, host Matt Hamel speaks with filmmaker Scott Paul Wright about his documentary The Next Chapter, an intimate and deeply human exploration of adults over the age of 55 who are turning to psychedelic-assisted therapy as a pathway to healing, meaning-making, and renewal.
The film follows individuals navigating depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, and existential questions later in life, often after conventional treatments have not provided sufficient relief. Through their stories, The Next Chapter highlights both the challenges and the possibilities of psychedelic-assisted therapy, while centering the importance of integration, human connection, and hope.
Scott also shares his own personal journey into this work, including his experience with psilocybin at age 68, and how that experience shaped his decision to create the film. What emerges is a reflection on vulnerability, transformation, and the shared human search for meaning.
The upcoming world premiere of The Next Chapter takes place on June 18, 2026 at The Royal Cinema in Toronto, followed by a live Q&A panel featuring the filmmaker alongside leading clinicians, researchers, and voices in Canada’s psychedelic medicine community, including Dr. Joshua Rosenblat and Dr. Blake Pearson. The event is designed as a community gathering and conversation, bridging lived experience with clinical and research perspectives at a time when psychedelic-assisted therapy is rapidly entering the public discourse in Canada. For more information about the documentary and how you can attend, visit https://thenextchapterfilm.com/
May 29, 2026
MAPS Canada presents:
CAN-PACT: Reimagining Cancer Care Through Psychedelic Therapy with Dr. Ron Shore & Dr. Linda Carlson
In this episode of the MAPS Canada Podcast, host Matt Hamel speaks with Dr. Linda Carlson and Dr. Ron Shore about CAN-PACT (the Canadian Network for Psychedelic-Assisted Cancer Therapy), a groundbreaking national initiative exploring the role of psilocybin-assisted therapy for people living with advanced cancer.
Dr. Carlson and Dr. Shore discuss the emotional and existential challenges many cancer patients face, including anxiety, uncertainty, grief, demoralization, and fear surrounding death and dying. They explain how CAN-PACT is building a cross-Canada network of researchers, clinicians, patient partners, and educators to investigate how psychedelic-assisted therapy may help address these deeply human experiences.
The conversation explores:
• Existential distress and demoralization in cancer care • Group-based psilocybin-assisted therapy
• Mindfulness and psychedelic-assisted therapy
• The role of spirituality, meaning, and connection
• Training clinicians for future psychedelic-assisted care
• The future of psychedelic-assisted therapy in Canada The episode also examines how CAN-PACT hopes to create sustainable, evidence-based models that could eventually be integrated into mainstream cancer care across Canada.
Learn more about CAN-PACT: https://canpact.ca
Watch the MAPS Canada Research Room presentation featuring CAN-PACT
May 22, 2026
MAPS Canada presents:
How Psilocybin Changed One Man’s Experience with Terminal Cancer | with Steve Allgood
In this episode of the MAPS Canada Podcast, host Rielle Capler speaks with Steve Allgood about his experience navigating a terminal brain cancer diagnosis and the unexpected role psychedelics played in helping him confront fear, depression, and existential distress.
Steve shares the emotional reality of being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer just days before his wedding, the difficult process of radiation treatment, and the psychological toll of living under the belief that his life would soon end. The conversation explores his search for hope through alternative approaches to care, including high-dose cannabis and psilocybin mushrooms, and how these experiences gradually transformed his relationship to illness, suffering, and meaning.
The discussion also highlights the importance of emotional support, psychedelic safety, and reducing stigma around end-of-life care and alternative therapies. Through Steve’s deeply personal story, the episode offers insight into the growing conversation surrounding psychedelics, mental health, and quality of life for individuals facing serious illness.
May 14, 2026
MAPS Canada presents:
The Medicine Within | Ep. 5: Navigating the Psychedelic Experience with Ryan Schebek
In Episode 5 of Medicine Within, Osheen sits down with registered clinical counsellor Ryan Schebek to explore the realities of navigating the ketamine experience — from dissociation and preparation to breathwork, resistance, and integration.
Together, they unpack: 
Whether ketamine is truly a psychedelic Why “set and setting” matter so deeply How healing can still happen through challenging experiences The importance of realistic expectations and ethical therapeutic support
“Healing is not always comfortable, but it can still be transformative.”
For more on Ryan and his work, check out:
Ryan Schebek LinkedIn
https://www.layers-counselling.ca www.instagram.com/ryan.schebek.therapy
May 14, 2026
MAPS Canada presents:
The Canadian Network for Psychedelic Assisted Cancer Therapy (CAN-PACT): Research Overview
Speaker Bio—Dr. Linda Carlson: Dr. Linda Carlson holds the Enbridge Research Chair in Psychosocial Oncology and is a Full Professor in the Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary. She directs the Alberta Complementary Therapy and Integrative Oncology (ACTION) Centre and has provided clinical care at Cancer Care Alberta since 1997. A globally recognized leader in mindfulness-based cancer recovery and integrative oncology, Dr. Carlson has published over 250 peer-reviewed works, co-authored influential books, and received numerous prestigious awards, including the 2023 Dr. Rogers Prize in Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She also serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice, is Past-President of the Society for Integrative Oncology and Treasurer for the International Society for Contemplative Research.
Linda Carlson’s LinkedIn
Speaker Bio—Dr. Ron Shore: Dr. Ron Shore is a psychedelic scientist based out of Kingston Ontario and Co-Investigator of the Canadian Network for Psychedelic Assisted Cancer Therapy. Ron began his career as a community organizer at the height of the AIDS movement, helping start the Keep Six! Needle Exchange in 1991 and founding the Street Health Centre in 1996. Ron taught drug studies at Queen’s for 17 years and has taught in both the University of Ottawa psychedelics and consciousness program and in the UHN Foundations of Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy program.
Talk Abstract:
Background: Psychedelic-assisted therapy shows promise for psychological and existential distress in advanced cancer, with psilocybin producing rapid, sustained reductions in depression, anxiety, and demoralization. Mindfulness-based interventions, including MBCR, improve adaptation and quality of life. CAN-PACT integrates these approaches in a multi-site trial network.
Knowledge Gap: Prior trials have used individual dosing and have not integrated mindfulness-based oncology interventions. Evidence is limited for scalable, group-based models and optimizing shared mechanisms (e.g., relationality, meaning-making, attentional training).
Aim: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a group-based psilocybin-assisted therapy model integrated with mindfulness-based care.
Methods: CAN-PACT is a multi-site Canadian trial soon to enroll patients with advanced cancer and demoralization. A factorial design compares 25 mg vs. 5 mg psilocybin (with supports), with and without adapted MBCR. Group dosing occurs within a shared therapeutic container. Outcomes include demoralization, existential well-being, biometrics, microbiome, safety, and feasibility.
Results: Study initiation is planned for fall 2026. Outcomes will assess acceptability, safety, and preliminary psychological improvement.
Conclusions: CAN-PACT advances a scalable model integrating psilocybin and mindfulness in a group format, informing future trials in psychosocial oncology and palliative care.
April 30, 2026
MAPS Canada presents:
The Medicine Within | Episode 4: Myths, Risks & Neuropharmacology of Psychedelics
Are psychedelics the “miracle cure” often portrayed in the media, or is the reality more nuanced?
- Women’s Health: Gaps in psychedelics research regarding hormonal fluctuations and chronic pain.
- Harm Reduction: Why “more” isn’t better and the reality of conditions like Serotonin Syndrome.
- The “One and Done” Myth: Why integration and community support are essential for lasting change.
April 24, 2026
MAPS Canada presents:
Inside Psychedelic Public Education at MAPS Canada with Dr. Rielle Capler
April 7 2026
MAPS Canada presents:
Talk + Film Screening: Ibogaine, PTSD & Healing - In Waves and War
Join us in Vancouver for a community gathering and discussion about Ibogaine’s role in healing PTSD, with screening of In Waves and War.
VIFF Cinema at the VIFF Centre
1181 Seymour St, Vancouver, BC
Doors: 6:00 pm
Film: 7:00pm
Talk: 9:15
Join MAPS Canada and friends in Vancouver on April 7th, 2026 to explore the use of ibogaine in the context of PTSD.
There will be a free screening of the powerful film In Waves and War followed by insightful speakers and audience questions.
