“Dosed – it’s not magic – it’s medicine“
An award-winning documentary screened for the first time in Vancouver this week offered a unique look at illegal psychedelic medicine, such as magic mushrooms and iboga.
DOSED, presented by Golden Teacher Films and M.A.P.S. Canada, focuses on “providing solutions to the mental health and addictions crisis afflicting Vancouver and the world.”
“DOSED follows the journey of a suicidal woman who turns to underground healers in Vancouver to try and overcome her depression, anxiety, PTSD, and opioid addiction with illegal psychedelic medicine,” a synopsis reads.
“After many years of prescription medications failed her a suicidal woman turns to underground healers to try and overcome her depression, anxiety, and opioid addiction with illegal psychedelic medicine like magic mushrooms and iboga. Adrianne’s first dose of psilocybin mushrooms catapulted her into an unexpected world of healing where plant medicines are redefining our understanding of mental health and addiction.”
The documentary is set in Vancouver during the epoch of the fentanyl overdose epidemic, and features top psychedelic medicine researchers and experts.
They include Dr. Gabor Maté (Vancouver-based addiction and trauma expert), Dr. Rosalind Watts (clinical psychologist – Imperial College London), Rick Doblin, PhD (founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies – M.A.P.S.), Mark Haden (Executive Director of M.A.P.S. Canada), Trevor Millar (Chair of M.A.P.S. Canada) and Dr. Ingrid Pacey (Vancouver-based psychedelics researcher and psychiatrist).
The documentary’s screening comes on the heels of Vancouver City Council having rejected a resolution (B.11) which would have increased enforcement on magic mushroom dispensaries serving Canadian customers.
“Other cities around the world, such as Oakland and Denver, have recently voted to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms due to their high medical value in treating mental health and substance use disorders,” notes a release from the filmmakers. “Encouraging scientific studies have resulted in FDA approvals for clinical trials for psilocybin to treat depression in the U.S. and comparable trials are planned through the B.C.C.S.U in Vancouver.”
Psychedelics are an area of plant medicine that many hope to see explored further, both in the medical field as well as in regulation.
“As proof of cannabis’ medicinal properties and benefits come to the forefront, it’s abundantly clear that psychedelic medicine is the next plant that’s primed to become better understood. It’s healing properties are masterfully highlighted in the DOSED documentary,” said Barinder Rasode, CEO of cannabis business accelerator Grow Tech Labs.
“We’ve already seen researchers from Johns Hopkins University recommend psilocybin – the active compound in hallucinogenic mushrooms – be reclassified for medical use. This would of course pave the way for this plant to one day help treat a variety of illnesses and conditions. Psychedelics have a place in the future of medicine. Our goal as a society should be to heal ourselves naturally and holistically, and we at Grow Tech Labs hope leaders take note and realize the potential.”
The DOSED documentary has won the Audience Award at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival and is scheduled to play at numerous international film festivals in the next several months.
The premiere earlier this week served as a partial fundraiser for M.A.P.S. Canada to perform ongoing psychedelic research.
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