The gray exterior of Dana Larsen’s shop hides a mosaic of psychedelia. Paintings of Incan gods spewing lightning and fire adorn the walls; shelves hold hemp lip balm and stoner-centric comic books. Inside, aging hippies, solitary businessmen and streetwear-clad youth peruse glass cases filled with mushrooms. They are grouped by type: one strain of mushroom is said to boost energy; another provides relaxation. The store’s customers are greeted by a nurse who helps them decide which product is best for them, explaining that the psilocybin found in these mushrooms can have a range of health effects, from improved concentration to lowered anxiety and depression. Learn more magicmushroomsdispensary.ca

Although commercial sales of magic mushrooms are illegal in Canada, they are selling fast. There is even a chain of dispensaries that specialize in the hallucinogenic fungus. Its owners risk arrest by advertising their illegal activities, but they say they are operating a medical protest in the wake of Canada’s legal marijuana boom. The chain Fun Guyz operates 11 locations across Ontario, including five in Toronto. Police have raided some of their stores, seizing their stock and arresting employees, but they often reopen shortly afterward.

Unlocking the Potential: How Magic Mushroom Dispensaries Are Changing Mental Health Treatment

The trend is expanding beyond the US, where cannabis consumers have helped push drug decriminalization forward. But the nascent industry is already facing challenges: a booming supply has led to oversupply, and recent studies suggest that recreational marijuana use does not substantially reduce drug-related deaths. Nevertheless, the mushroom industry is determined to avoid the same mistakes as the pot market, and is taking lessons from its older sibling.