Magic mushrooms in Vancouver

Mushrooms that contain psilocybin and psilocin, the compounds behind the effects. Health Canada describes them as hallucinogens: they can make you see, hear or feel things that are not there and change your state of mind.

No. Psilocybin and psilocin are controlled substances under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Canada’s federal drug law. Health Canada states that selling, having or producing magic mushrooms is illegal unless it gives permission, for example through a licence.

They depend on the person, the dose, the type of mushroom and the setting. Health Canada lists heightened emotions and senses, feeling happy and creative, a changed sense of time and hallucinations. The effects start within 15 to 45 minutes and usually last four to six hours. Health Canada also lists the harder side: mood swings, anxiety, confusion and paranoia, and at high doses a frightening bad trip.

People who microdose report more creativity and a better mood. Responses vary a lot from person to person. The research is still limited: Health Canada says no study has looked at what repeated use does over time. A qualified doctor or pharmacist can tell you whether it is safe for you and with the medicines you take.

You take a very small amount on a regular schedule, small enough that it does not bring on a trip. Effects differ from person to person, so start very low, about a tenth to a twentieth of a full dose, and notice how your body and mind respond. Take it every few days or on set days of the week. Health Canada notes that tolerance can build over several days of regular use, which means the same amount does less. Microdosing does not replace medical treatment. A doctor can tell you whether it suits you. Our dosing guide sets out six dose levels and shows where a microdose sits among them. Many people follow a cycle: they microdose for a few weeks, then take a break before they start again.

Researchers are studying psilocybin for anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and drug or alcohol problems, Health Canada says. Some early clinical trials show promising results. The evidence is still limited. No therapeutic product containing psilocybin is approved, in Canada or elsewhere. None of this research tested our products.