The legal status of psychedelic drugs in Canada varies depending on the specific drug in question. [1] [2]
A number of major psychedelics, including DMT, psilocin, psilocybin, mescaline, DOM, 2C-B, 25I-NBOMe, MDA, and LSD among others, are explicitly controlled substances. [1] [2] In addition, most other psychedelic phenethylamines are implicitly banned under catch-all clauses. [2] Conversely, most tryptamines, lysergamides, and scalines are not explicitly nor implicitly banned in Canada as of 2025. [2]
The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) regulates the legality of psychedelic drugs in Canada. [1] [2] Most controlled psychedelics are Schedule III substances under the act, with the exception of amphetamines as a general group which are Schedule I substances. [2] [3]
A number of psychedelics and closely related compounds are explicitly controlled substances in Canada as of 2025. [2] These include the following: [2]
In addition, certain relevant synthetic precursors, including P2P, phenylacetic acid, MDP2P, safrole, isosafrole, piperonal, lysergic acid, ergotamine, and ergometrine, among others, are explicitly controlled substances. [2]
In addition to explicitly controlled psychedelics, there are catch-all clauses banning all amphetamine derivatives and many methoxyphenethylamines in Canada. [2] In the case of methoxyphenethylamines, this blanket ban specifically covers phenethylamines with alkoxy groups in the 2 and 5 and/or 6 positions of the benzene ring and their derivatives, including N-benzylphenethylamines. [2] It also specifically covers certain cyclic ring-extended phenethylamines including benzodioxoles, benzofurans, and benzopyrans. [2] As a result of the preceding clauses, all 2C drugs, DOx drugs, 4C drugs, 3C-scalines, ψ-PEA drugs, BOx drugs, HOT-x drugs, TWEETIOs, MDPEAs, PEA-benzofurans, FLY drugs, and 25-NB drugs, including derivatives, are banned under the rules. [2] In contrast, there are no catch-all clauses or blanket bans in Canada for scalines, tryptamines, lysergamides, arylpiperazines, or other psychedelic chemical groups as of 2025. [2] Similarly, thio-2Cs (as in 2- and/or 5-thio-substituted 2Cs) such as 2C-5-TOET (2-thio-2C-E) are not explicitly nor implicitly controlled in Canada as of 2025. [2] Cyclized phenethylamines (as in side chain and/or amine) may be a more ambiguous case. [2]
Although mescaline is explicitly controlled in Canada, there is an exemption if it is in the form of peyote. [1] [2] [4] [5] Conversely, San Pedro cactus is legal only for ornamental purposes. [6] The same is true for dimethyltryptamine (DMT)-containing plants. [6] Psilocybin-containing mushrooms are illegal in Canada. [5] [7] [8] Despite this however, many psychedelic mushroom stores have opened in Canada and are operating openly, though raids have occurred. [8] [5] [9] [10] In addition, the sale of psilocybin-containing mushroom spores and grow kits is not illegal and is tolerated in Canada. [5] [6]
There are exceptions for import and use of DMT-containing ayahuasca for several religious groups, including the Santo Daime and União do Vegetal churches among others. [2] [5] Various explicitly controlled psychedelics, including psilocybin, DMT, and LSD among others, are available to physicians for treating patients under Health Canada's Special Access Program (SAP). [1] [2] [5]
A variety of notable psychedelics, including 4-AcO-DMT (psilacetin), 4-HO-MET, 5-MeO-DMT, 5-MeO-DiPT, α-methyltryptamine (AMT), escaline, ergine (LSA), 1P-LSD, ETH-LAD, and LSZ, among many others, are neither explicitly nor implicitly controlled substances in Canada. [2] [5]
While not serotonergic psychedelics, the oneirogens and related drugs harmaline and harmalol are also explicitly controlled substances in Canada. [2] In contrast, other oneirogens including ibogaine, noribogaine, harmine, tetrahydroharmine, and 6-MeO-THH are all not controlled substances. [2] [5] However, Health Canada has added ibogaine to its prescription-drug list, meaning that the drug is regulated in the country. [11] [12] [5]
While mescaline is illegal under Schedule III of the Canadian drug act, peyote is exempted as long as the mescaline isn't extracted from it.
While no law allows it, the sale of magic mushroom spores and grow kits has been tolerated in Canada for some time. The argument for legality of spores is premised on the fact that the spores do not contain a controlled substance – there is no psilocybin in the spores themselves. Following this approach to the law, it would hold that once the spores germinate and a magic mushroom's mycelium forms, it becomes a controlled substance as that is when psilocybin is present.