The fungi known as Magic Mushrooms Online Canada contain the hallucinogen psilocybin (info from the Government of Canada). They’re found in over 200 different types of mushroom and belong to a group of drugs called psychedelics.

The sale, cultivation and possession of the fungi are illegal in Canada. Despite this, shops that sell mushrooms have been popping up across the country. This is a result of growing demand, changing perceptions of the drug and changes in drug policy.

Dana Larsen has been selling illegal mushrooms in his Vancouver shop for over a year. His storefront is a mosaic of psychedelia, with paintings of Incan gods spewing fire and lightning. He stocks the shelves with hemp lip balm and stoner-centric comic books.

Magic Mushrooms Online Canada: Exploring Trusted Dispensaries

Though he’s selling something that’s technically against the law, Larsen sees his business as a form of civil disobedience. He believes that openly defying the law will lead to changes in it, and he hopes that his shop’s presence will help destigmatize the drug.

He also says that it’s important to have places like his where people can access mushrooms. He wants to help people “avoid going into these underground markets and getting the mushrooms from questionable sources and people.”

The police don’t seem to be putting a lot of effort into cracking down on the stores, at least not yet. The Vancouver Police Service said it’s aware of the mushroom shop and is working with a federal inspector on the issue, but they have no plans to close it down. The agency says it prioritizes enforcement on illegal drug trafficking and crimes that have a serious impact on the community.