Access to controlled drugs as medicinal tools has always been always fraught with moral and ethical challenges. There are also extraordinary regulatory delays and obstacles to making therapeutics available. Regrettably, those who need these treatments most often pay the steepest price. Seeking permission to access, procure, and use psychedelics to better treat people with serious conditions is governed by section 56(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (“CDSA”) and the Special Access Program (“SAP”). On January 5, 2022, the Food and Drug Regulations, governing the “SAP” were amended to allow healthcare practitioners to request access to restricted drugs which were previously prohibited. Health Canada revised its Special Access Program for drugs: Guidance document for industry and practitioners to reflect these amendments. While the change appeared to a quantum leap from a legal perspective, the facts on the ground tell a different story. Access for the potentially thousands of Canadians who may benefit from these breakthrough drugs and therapies has been problematic. This podcast is about the patients, physicians, legal eagles and organizations that are doing battle to right a system that is simply not working.