Toronto Mushroom Dispensary marijuana was legalised in Canada, a wave of dispensaries opened across the country, hawking psychedelic mushrooms with names like Fun Guyz and Shroom City. Their storefronts are hard to miss: paintings of colourful fungus adorn their façades, and employees hand out discount fliers at intersections.

The Toronto Mushroom Dispensary carries a small selection of dried mushrooms and edibles. Customers are required to show identification and there is a limit on how much you can purchase. The staff also provides a variety of information about the mushroom, which are called Psilocybin. “If you’re going to try magic mushrooms, do it in a safe environment and with the help of a guide,” said Kagan.

Toronto Mushroom Dispensary: A Trusted Source for Magic Mushrooms

But the government still classifies psilocybin as a Schedule 3 drug. That means the dispensaries are technically breaking the law. Often, they get raided and their products confiscated, but they continue to operate in the face of the law.

Last November, police raided Larsen’s Medicinal Mushroom Dispensary shop in Vancouver. He hasn’t faced any charges. “We live in a forward-thinking society, and I think the government is going to have to catch up,” said Larsen. He sends each member of the provincial legislature a festive card at Christmas, along with a coca leaf and a gram of Golden Teacher mushrooms.

Josh Crabb is a reporter for CBC News in Manitoba. He joined the team in 2005 and covers provincial and national stories, with a focus on justice, health and social issues.