With the legalization of psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, in some jurisdictions, a mushroom dispensary has become popular for those looking to experience its hallucinogenic effects. These dispensaries are now popping up in cities across Canada and offering a variety of mushroom products and services, such as guided mushroom experiences, educational workshops, and more.
The shopfronts are hard to miss. In the heart of Toronto, murals of colorful fungus decorate the windows at shops with names like Fun Guyz and Shroomyz, and employees hand out discount fliers in nearby intersections. The storefronts are designed to goad local authorities and defy drug laws. “We are operating a medical protest,” says one of the owners, who would only give his first name. URL magicmushroomsdispensary.ca
In 2022, Colorado voters passed Proposition 122, or the Natural Medicine Act, which decriminalized certain psychedelics including mushrooms and a few other plants, such as DMT and mescaline. It also made it legal to cultivate and possess psilocybin mushrooms for medicinal purposes.
Magic Mushroom Dispensaries: What to Look For
Darren Lyman runs a co-op in a studio in downtown Denver, advertising his business in the Westword and other outlets. After calling ahead and showing ID, clients come to his small office for a session that includes a talk about the intoxicating effects of psilocybin and its potential as a treatment for depression or PTSD. Sessions cost $30, and four grams of blue-streaked Penis Envy mushrooms are included.
Health Canada warns that consuming magic mushrooms can cause you to see, hear or feel things that aren’t there, and can lead to nausea, anxiety or muscle twitches. Those who have a bad trip may need to take a sedative such as diazepam or an antipsychotic, like haloperidol, to ease the symptoms.
