OTTAWA — mushroom dispensaries in Ottawa are sprouting up on Canada’s busiest streets, with brightly colored storefronts and catchy names like Fun Guyz or Shroom City. They sell a variety of products with psilocybin, the drug found in magic mushrooms. But unlike the legal cannabis stores that have proliferated since legalization, they’re still selling an illegal substance and operating in a gray area of the law. The city says it has no plans to use its police powers to shut them down.

Navigating the Psychedelic Frontier: The Emergence of Mushroom Dispensaries in Ottawa

The psilocybin dispensaries are not only selling mushrooms, but also slushies, gummies and chocolate bars. And despite their legal status, they’re busy. Customers walk in through the doors, grab a seat at one of the few tables or on the couch, and browse for their purchase. Some are regulars, others just visiting for a day or two. A couple from Montreal, for instance, said they stopped in to buy a package of dried mushrooms and slushies to try out together.

One man, 23, told me he smoked weed but didn’t drink and wanted to try something different with his girlfriend, who drank. “We’re just trying to find a way to enjoy life,” he said.

The psilocybin shops are popping up in cities across the country, including in Vancouver and Toronto. The owners say they’re taking a risk, but they feel the law isn’t keeping up with people’s changing views of drugs. Those views could change further as research on psilocybin shows it has potential for treating depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.