A plethora of mushroom shops is popping up across the country, with their owners claiming they’re filling a vital need while taking advantage of a loophole that allows them to sell the drugs. They’re banking on the public’s indifference and police forces focusing their energies on tackling drug-related crime. Learn more organicshroomcanada.co

The psychedelic mushrooms they sell contain the hallucinogenic compound psilocybin, and are legal under Health Canada’s approval for some medical cases. But they’re not regulated, and there’s no indication the law will change anytime soon. Many shop operators are using tactics gleaned from cannabis retailers when they first sprouted up before marijuana was legalized in the country, but with more emphasis on privacy and marketing to customers.

Exploring the Fungi Frontier: A Guide to Toronto’s Mushroom Stores

One of the mushroom stores in Vancouver’s downtown core looks like a wellness boutique, with clean white script on green signage and frosted windows. Inside, a nurse helps customers choose which product is right for them, explaining that some are better for energy, focus or relaxation.

The fungi they sell are all legally harvested from wild areas in the province, including Psilocybe silvatica and Psilocybe caerulipes, which can be found growing in deciduous forests and on decaying hardwood logs. Customers pay by the gram and can choose from a selection of dried or edible mushroom products. They can also purchase mushroom teas and tinctures. Some customers are even experimenting with “micro-dosing,” purchasing smaller amounts of the fungi to achieve similar effects as larger doses.