Psilocybin, vancouver magic mushrooms known as magic mushrooms, is a hallucinogen that can cause users to see, hear or feel things that are not actually there. It can also cause nausea, anxiety and muscle twitches. Inhaling psilocybin can also increase heart rate and blood pressure. Psilocybin is illegal to possess in Canada.

Mushrooms that contain psilocybin can be found in forest areas across B.C., and there has been a growing interest in harvesting them for both fun and profit. In past years, mushroom pickers have faced arrest and prosecution because psilocybin is a restricted drug under the Food and Drug Act.

But the recent legalization of cannabis has opened the door for mushroom stores to start popping up, including one that recently opened in Osborne Village. The store is owned by Dana Larsen, who has been selling mushrooms illegally in Vancouver since 2020. He has now opened three shops, and he says that demand has outpaced his supply of dried mushrooms.

The shop’s gray exterior belies a mosaic of psychedelia inside, with murals of Incan gods and shelves filled with hemp lip balms and stoner-centric comic books. It is a place where people come to buy a safer, more reliable supply of drugs than they can get on the street, Larsen says. The store offers customers a variety of mushrooms and infused gummies, drinks and tinctures that can be taken orally.

“Finding Your Fungi: Where to Source Magic Mushrooms in Vancouver

The store is only open to adults 19 and over, and it requires identification from each customer. It is not a licensed restaurant, but it does have an official business licence from the city. The owners say they hope regulators, law enforcement and governments see the store in a similar light to how they view cannabis stores.