Halpern had heard about patients using psilocybin to treat themselves for cluster headaches, and decided to do some research. Because using a hallucinogen poses significant regulatory challenges, Halpern turned to an inactive analogue of LSD, 2-bromo-LSD. Clinical trials have proved successful, and patients are going into remission after years of cluster headaches (Panne 2014).

After ingestion, psilocybin is converted into the active form psilocin in the body. There are many different types of Sacred Fruit Magic Carpets mushrooms, some of which grow in the wild in Ireland usually in Autumn time. Although current research suggests psilocybin is not addictive, some people may have bad experiences, including feelings of anxiety, paranoia, and short-term psychosis. There are no guarantees with mushrooms since they are an unprocessed plant product, and bad trips can and do happen. If someone has ingested mushrooms and is experiencing panic, anxiety, or is in any danger of harming themselves or others, seek medical assistance immediately.

The initiative allows for the use of psilocybin at state-regulated centers under the supervision of licensed facilitators. It also legalizes personal private use, growing and sharing of psilocybin and psilocin, as well as three additional psychedelic compounds — DMT, ibogaine and mescaline — by adults over the age of 21. Retail sales are not permitted, and the law has several limitations, including ones prohibiting use in public, in school, or while operating a vehicle. As is typical for studies of hallucinogenics, participants were briefed extensively on what they might experience during the two treatment sessions, which were done two weeks apart in a comfortable room with facilitators trained in mental health. Tracked periodically over the following year, depression scores dropped in 75% of participants, with improvements sustained in 58% of participants 12 months later. The psychedelic compound 5-MeO-DMT is legal for personal use and possession in Canada.

Professor Crowe highlights the value in conducting psilocybin trials in Aotearoa. "There’s evidence that it’s effective and we don’t have good treatments. Depression and TRD are such a huge problem that it’s worth trialling to see if we can get some treatment response." Current evidence suggests that many TRD sufferers who take these doses will experience mood improvement and symptom reduction for at least nine months, with the potential for further research to show longer term effects. Should psilocybin-assisted therapy be FDA-approved, both researchers highlighted that working out the therapy’s scalability and affordability will be of utmost importance. In experimental trials, psilocybin-assisted therapy can cost tens of thousands of dollars per patient. Reaching a point where it is universally accessible (e.g., covered by insurance companies) will be key.