In the past, mushroom pickers have been arrested for picking and selling these psychedelic plants — but this year, a court ruling has made it legal to grow, sell and even eat them. The mushrooms are called magic because they contain hallucinogens such as psilocybin, which has been compared to the drugs LSD and mescaline. The fungus grows in fields and pastures across Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands after fall rain, and is picked by people who cook the mushrooms for personal use and to sell them in Quebec or Ontario. The RCMP on Vancouver Island and Graham Island in the Queen Charlottes said they’re not arresting mushroom pickers this season, which begins with early fall rainfall. Source:https://northcoastremedies.com/magic-mushrooms-vancouver/

Beyond the Mountains: A Journey into the Magic Mushroom Scene of Vancouver

One Vancouver store that’s opened up to sell the mushrooms is run by a man who works in the financial industry and says he hasn’t seen police harassing customers or seizing products yet. Its minimalist interior features mushroom artwork and books. A sign outside the door asks customers to show identification before buying. Inside, the shop sells dried mushrooms, which can be eaten or brewed into tea, and an edible liquid that’s sold by the cupful.

The owners of the shop, who have also opened stores in Ottawa and Toronto, say they’re doing this to end the war on drugs. But despite a lack of enforcement, they know the risk they’re taking. The fungus contains chemicals that could trigger a “bad trip,” including anxiety, paranoia and a distorted sense of time and space. A too-large dose can also cause a long-term mental illness known as psychosis.