Study: More Than a Third of Canadian Cities Have (Illegal) Magic Mushroom Dispensaries
More than one third of Canadian cities now have at least one storefront selling psilocybin mushrooms, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia. The research marks the first formal survey of its kind and suggests a sharp rise in open psilocybin retail despite federal laws that continue to prohibit the substance.
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| Key Takeaways from the UBC Study | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of cities with dispensaries | 48 out of 162 Canadian cities |
| Province with the highest concentration | British Columbia with 25 stores in Vancouver alone |
| Common marketing terms used | Mushroom dispensary, wellness store, microdose shop |
| Legal status | Still illegal under federal law but tolerated in some cities |
| Enforcement trends | Uneven law enforcement and growing municipal leniency |
A Rapid Rise Despite Federal Restrictions
Psilocybin remains a controlled substance in Canada. Yet dispensaries are operating in major cities from coast to coast. Vancouver leads the country with an estimated 25 shops. Toronto and Ottawa follow with 11 and 9 respectively. The study’s authors noted that storefronts tend to market their products as part of a larger wellness movement using terms like microdosing and natural medicine.
Researchers found that nearly 30 percent of the dispensaries surveyed promoted psilocybin as a way to improve mental health. They often linked it to anxiety relief and depression treatment. While scientific interest in psychedelics has grown in recent years, Health Canada has not approved psilocybin for general use outside of clinical settings.
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Public Policy Caught in the Middle
The rise in retail sales puts pressure on local and federal governments. Some cities appear to be looking the other way. Others, like Winnipeg and Regina, have cracked down on the shops and enforced federal rules. In places like Vancouver and Toronto, however, enforcement remains rare.
What explains the uneven response? Some experts believe that the growing public interest in alternative mental health treatments is outpacing policy. Others point to the precedent set by cannabis dispensaries, many of which operated illegally before the federal government legalized recreational marijuana in 2018.
RELATED: A Guide To Vancouver’s Magic Mushroom Dispensaries
Looking Ahead
For now, the legal future of psilocybin dispensaries remains uncertain. Lawmakers have yet to take a coordinated stance. As cities weigh the public health risks and the potential benefits, storefronts continue to operate. The growing gap between legal restrictions and retail behavior raises new questions for public health and criminal law. Whether a shift in national drug policy will follow remains to be seen.
