Magic Mushroom Dispensary Canada

The exterior of mushroom dispensary near me Larsen’s Vancouver shop doesn’t give away that it sells psychedelic mushrooms. But inside, rainbow shiitake art lines the walls, and the store sells mushroom-themed merchandise such as hemp lip balms and stoner-centric comic books. Larsen has been selling psilocybin-containing mushrooms openly in the city since 2020, and he has three stores across Canada.

While the science behind psilocybin is promising, it remains illegal to grow, sell or possess in Canada. Despite that, dispensaries like FunGuyz are popping up in cities across the country. And online retailers such as Schedule35 and Shroom World are selling psilocybin-containing products to eager customers.

The Canadian Psychedelic Renaissance: Magic Mushroom Dispensaries Leading the Way

These shops operate in the legal grey area, offering a product that many people find therapeutic and enlightening. But their sales are also putting them at risk of police raids and other legal action.

The legal context

It is illegal to grow, buy or sell magic mushrooms unless you are part of a clinical trial, in which case Health Canada will grant an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). But despite their mystical reputation, the drugs can be dangerous. They can cause hallucinations and distort a person’s sense of reality, which can lead to dangerous risk-taking behaviour and potentially serious short-term side effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure. These symptoms can be even more severe in those with pre-existing mental health conditions. Health Canada warns that taking the mushrooms can also trigger panic attacks, paranoia and a distorted sense of self.