Is DMT Legal in Canada?
No. DMT (and therefore ayahuasca) is illegal under Canadian federal criminal law. DMT (and ayahuasca) can only be used legally in cases where Health Canada grants a s. 56 exemption request.
DMT was initially prohibited in Canada in 1968 when it was designated a controlled substance under the Food and Drugs Act. DMT is now prohibited under Schedule III of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
The Canadian government, however, permits its use in the form of ayahuasca through s. 56 exemptions for qualifying ayahuasca churches (see also Religious Rights).
Constitutional challenges to psychedelic prohibition increasingly invoke the Charter's s. 2 protection of freedom of thought and conscience. In October 2025, an Ontario court dismissed a Notice of Constitutional Question that raised this argument in the context of psilocybin (lead counsel's responding analysis is here). Because DMT, like psilocybin, is a Schedule III substance, the reasoning in that decision is directly relevant to any comparable freedom-of-thought challenge concerning DMT.
What is DMT?
Sometimes called “the spirit molecule”, DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine) can be inhaled or ingested on its own for a relatively short (5 - 15 minute) psychedelic experience. It can also be orally ingested in the form of an ayahuasca brew for an experience that typically lasts several hours.
When mixed with monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or herbs that contain MAOI, the mix is commonly referred to as changa.
DMT is known to produce intense hallucinations, and users commonly report encountering elf-like entities while on the drug.
Medical or Therapeutic Use?
Medical studies and anecdotal evidence suggest DMT, particularly in the form of ayahuasca, used under proper conditions, may be beneficial for persons struggling with addiction, anxiety, depression, and/or trauma.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. DMT is a Schedule III controlled substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Certain DMT-containing plants may be lawfully sold for ornamental purposes, but extracting DMT or preparing them for consumption is illegal absent an exemption.
Reviewed by Marc Z. Goldgrub, Founding Lawyer, Green Economy Law Professional Corporation (Law Society of Ontario; New York State Bar) · Last updated: 2026-08-06
Stay updated on the firm’s work and psychedelic law developments in Canada and elsewhere.