Across the country, interest in the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin mushrooms is growing alongside a “wild west” of dispensaries. The owners of Magic Mush, which opened its Winnipeg store this week, say they’ve been working with the Winnipeg police service to ensure their products are sold safely and only to adults. They’ve also worked with Health Canada to ensure their products are lab-tested and sourced responsibly. Read more organicshroomcanada.co

Like the city’s cannabis stores, Magic Mush offers dried psilocybin mushrooms and other mushroom-infused products. Customers are required to present identification and sign a waiver. They’re also required to take a minimum of 25 milligrams of a psilocybin capsule, known as a microdose. Those who want to buy larger doses are asked to provide documentation from a medical professional that they have a condition that can be treated with psilocybin.

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The city says it doesn’t have the power to shut down Magic Mush or other shops selling the drug, which is still illegal under Canada’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. However, the shops are thriving as Toronto residents look for alternative ways to help treat mental health issues.

Psychedelic mushrooms are considered a natural way to treat a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. Psilocybin mushrooms are believed to reduce symptoms by reducing anxiety, promoting neuroplasticity and altering patterns of thinking and perception. While the effects are typically short-lived, they can be profoundly healing for some people. Psychedelic users have reported the undoing of years of trauma, breaking down shackles of fear and enabling deep self-reflection.