Psilocybin, the active ingredient in mushroom delivery canada, is a psychoactive drug that causes altered states of consciousness. It’s controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions and, in Canada, under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. As such, the sale, possession and cultivation of this substance is illegal unless authorized by Health Canada.

But this hasn’t stopped mushroom shops from popping up in cities across the country, including one — called Shroomyz — in Toronto that opened earlier this year. The storefront displays paintings of colorful fungus and greets passersby with a sign inviting them to “walk into a new reality.” Staff hand out discount fliers at an intersection.

Virtual Psychedelia: Exploring the World of Online Shroom Procurement

Like other illicit drugs, the psychedelics sold at these stores can be harmful if taken in large quantities. But they can also have therapeutic benefits. Some people with mental health disorders, like depression and anxiety, find relief from psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. But the treatment isn’t available to everyone. Only a handful of health-care professionals have been approved to offer it through clinical trials or Health Canada’s Special Access Program.

Some cities have cracked down on these dispensaries. But in Vancouver, buying mushrooms is as easy as buying a cup of coffee. Shops with names like Fun Guyz and Shroom City advertise their products in the street and on the internet. Police have raided some of the stores, but they quickly reopen. It’s reminiscent of the 1990s when owners of legal marijuana shops defied back-breaking drug laws.