The first person in Canada to legally access 'magic mushroom' therapy has died at age 56

A Saskatoon man who became a trailblazer for psilocybin-assisted therapy, using a psychedelic drug commonly known as magic mushrooms, has died at age 56.

A Saskatoon man who became a trailblazer for psilocybin-assisted therapy, using a psychedelic drug commonly known as magic mushrooms, has died at age 56.

Thomas Hartle struggled with end-of-life anxiety stemming from a terminal cancer diagnosis, and in 2020 he became the first person in Canada to legally access to psilocybin-assisted therapy to help cope with it.

“I really felt like it made him be here for years longer because he was so passionate about it … once he was able to try the psilocybin therapy himself,” his wife Marliss Hartle said.

Thomas died on August 13, after a 10-year battle with cancer.

Marliss said her husband’s cancer was difficult to detect which caused him to have overwhelming anxiety. He began looking for relief and came across TheraPsil, a psychedelic advocacy organization.

She said after his first treatment, there was an instant change in her husband.

“He stopped worrying so much, right? That anxiety was lifted,” she said.