Psychedelics are, for the most part, illegal in Canada. But that doesn’t mean people won’t use them, anyway. Jon Kamin, the CEO of Open:Mind Expo, says that’s why the exhibition this June will aim to bridge the informational gap that people may find when they turn to health experts or the internet, for resources on how to use the substances for mental health reasons and wellness.
“It’s truly for the uninitiated, the curious. When they first start to think about psychedelic therapy, they kind of hit a brick wall, where there’s a lack of information,” he said, adding that some doctors and therapists may be hesitant to share information about psychedelics with patients for legal reasons. The exhibition, sponsored by the Toronto Ketamine Clinic, will take place on June 1 and 2 at The Symes venue in the Junction.
It will highlight more than 30 speakers and about 50 exhibitors from Canada, the United States, Costa Rica, Peru, Mexico and Jamaica. No substances will actually be present, and there won’t be any dispensaries participating, Kamin said, but experts and therapists will discuss psychedelic retreats, ketamine clinics, and more. Among the topics to be discussed are “couples therapy, psychedelics and sexuality, choosing the right retreat, and exploration of the legal landscape.
” There will also be a live replication of an Ayahuasca Ceremony. Money is pouring into the fledgling psychedelic medicine industry, with dozens of startup companies vying to be among.
