World-first: Magic mushrooms and ecstasy get the thumbs up for clinical use

Derived from magic mushrooms, psilocybin has been effective in helping people with treatment-resistant depression. Photo: Getty

In a world first, the Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved the use of psychedelics for mental health treatment in Australia.

It’s surprising that Australia is the first country take this step, given our long-standing conservatism on the use of what are otherwise illicit drugs.