The emergence of the mushroom dispensary comes amid Canada’s “Shroom Boom.” Spurred by rising demand, evolving research and subtle policy shifts in recent years, stores peddling psilocybin and other hallucinogens are opening all over the country. Some, such as Fun Guyz, boasted more than two dozen locations in 2023. Despite the growing popularity of the psychedelics, however, they remain mostly illegal.

In 2022, the mushroom dispensary near me relaxed possession charges for a variety of drugs — including heroin, cocaine and MDMA — except for psilocybin. That was a missed opportunity to create a legal market, Kagan said. But that hasn’t stopped mushroom dispensaries from popping up in cities like Toronto and Vancouver, where storefronts promoting psilocybin are juxtaposed with trendy restaurants and coffee shops. And with a slew of online options, it’s easy for consumers to get the mushrooms they crave in Canada — even though they’re still technically illegal.

Dan Larsen, who runs the Medicinal Mushroom Dispensary at 247 West Broadway, doesn’t think the city should shut him down. He says the city’s decision to reissue his business licence shows they’re finally ready to regulate psilocybin sales.

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He and his fellow shop owners argue that psilocybin has been used in Indigenous cultures for spiritual and religious reasons, and research suggests it can ease anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms. And it’s unlikely to produce dangerous side effects, he adds. But they’re also not ignoring the risks. A bad trip can cause paranoia and a distorted sense of identity, and people with heart conditions or other medical issues can be harmed by the drugs’ short-term effects, which can increase blood pressure and heart rate.