The web is wide open for buyers and sellers of magic mushrooms, a type of fungus that contains hallucinogens — chemicals that cause you to see, hear or feel things that are not real. These chemicals, which are found in the psilocybin and psilocin chemicals in magic mushrooms, can also cause anxiety, fear, nausea, muscle twitches and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Currently, it’s illegal to grow, sell or possess magic mushrooms in Canada except for in a few medical contexts requiring special permission from Health Canada.

Nevertheless, shops selling magic mushrooms dispensaries in Canada are sprouting up across the country, spurred on by growing demand and recent policy changes. Health Canada has approved about two dozen clinical trials of psilocybin and allows some patients to buy the drug under personal exemptions, but the federal government continues to classify it as a controlled substance. That creates a discrepancy that gives an opening to retailers, says Jack Lloyd, a Toronto lawyer who represents cannabis and psilocybin businesses.

Legalization and Regulation: Understanding the Landscape of Mushroom Dispensaries in Ottawa

He says some of these stores operate with an eye to promoting responsible use, a key theme in the movement to legalize cannabis. But he says it’s important to remember that while psilocybin has therapeutic effects, it is still not safe and people can overdose or experience adverse reactions such as paranoia or panic attacks.

While the proliferation of mushroom dispensaries is raising concerns about the safety of consumers, police aren’t likely to target them any time soon. They have other priorities to tackle, such as noise complaints or reports of robbery and theft, he said.…