A whitish beige powder that police say is the hallucinogenic drug DMT Canada has been found in a Pictou County home. Two people have been charged with possession of the substance. The drug is listed as a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

The drug is known for producing powerful visions, often accompanied by feelings of euphoria, transcendence and empathy. Its effects last for several hours and can also include vomiting and nausea. It has been used by various cultures for ritual and religious purposes for centuries. It can now be easily purchased on the internet in pill form, and extracting methods are widely discussed in articles, forums and even a Netflix documentary.

DMT in the Great White North: Exploring the World of Psychedelics in Canada

Despite its potency and popularity, DMT remains illegal in Canada. It is considered a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Drugs and SubstancesAct, meaning it can only be sold or possessed for research or medical purposes.

However, clinical trials and Section 56 exemptions offer a way for people to legally access psychedelics. A Section 56 exemption is a power granted by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that allows Health Canada to exempt people, groups or institutions from the application of certain provisions of the CDSA in cases of medical or scientific purposes or in the public interest.

One example is a church in Montreal that received a Section 56 exemption to import and serve tea made from ayahuasca, a plant native to Central and South America that contains harmaline and dimethyltryptamine (DMT). However, the church would still have to comply with the restrictions of the Controlled Drugs and SubstancesAct since the plant itself is a controlled drug under Part J of the Food and Drug Regulations.