CanadaShrooms that sells hallucinogenic mushrooms opened its first Winnipeg store on May 13. It’s the third location for Canada Shrooms which also has locations in Ottawa and Toronto. The owner of the company says they expect to open more stores across Canada as demand grows. But the operation is not without controversy. The Winnipeg Police Service is aware of the store and has not issued any tickets or seized products. “They’re hoping to get the same response they got in other cities which is a police presence that makes sure this is being sold safely, only to adults and that people are being treated responsibly,” Kagan said.

Growth and Regulations: The Canadian Perspective on Magic Mushrooms

The company is forging ahead despite the fact that mushrooms are illegal under federal drug law. Psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, contain hallucinogenic properties and can alter a person’s senses, thoughts and emotions. Health Canada warns that taking them can cause a person to see, hear or feel things that aren’t there and experience anxiety, fear, nausea and muscle twitches. They can also trigger flashbacks and increase heart rate and blood pressure.

But the government has granted dozens of exemptions under its special access program, which allows those with terminal illnesses to receive the drug along with therapy. Thomas Hartle, a Saskatoon man who received the exemption in 2021, was one of them. He flew to Vancouver Island in August last year for his second psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy session.

RCMP officers on Haida Gwaii and Graham Island in the Queen Charlottes say they’re not arresting mushroom pickers for the first time in years. Veteran pickers say they can’t understand why.