Fun Guyz location in Downtown St. Catharines.

Fun Guyz is a magic mushroom store chain mainly operating in Ontario, with 17 stores in the province[1] and one in Quebec.[2] Their business operates illegally, as sale and possession of magic mushrooms is illegal in Canada.[3] These stores are frequently raided and their products confiscated.[2] Potential customers are required to be at least 19 years old and sign a waiver before purchase.[4] Customers must also pay in cash.[5] The owner of the business believes that criminal charges would make a constitutional challenge for the legality of psilocybin possible due to similar actions taken by businesses before the broader legalization of cannabis. He also states that his products are for therapeutic use; however, the substance has not been approved by Health Canada.[2] Identities for spokespeople of the business have varied.[1] As of August 2023, police have sought an arrest warrant for the owner of the stores.[6]

Background

The active ingredient in magic mushrooms is psilocybin, which is converted into psilocin when consumed by humans and has hallucinogenic properties. Both substances are considered Schedule III substances under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.[7] Other illegal mushroom dispenseries unaffiliated with Fun Guyz have operated storefronts; such as Shroomyz and The Mushroom Cabinet. Shroomyz was the first such illegal mushroom dispensary in Canada.[8]

The only legal method of obtaining psilocybin is through Health Canada's Special Access Program after all possible treatment options have been exhausted.[9] As of 2020, sixteen healthcare professionals were legally exempt from the laws prohibiting the possession of psilocybin.[10] As of 2021, forty-six patients were granted exemptions under the same program.[11] Psilocybin has been used in some clinical trials but has not received formal approval from Health Canada and has limited comprehensive research supporting its use.[9] Valorie Masuda is a Canadian physician certified in prescribing psychdelics; she advocates for psilocybin to be more accessible in tandem with being regulated to prevent safety hazards that may occur through illicit use.[12] As of 2023, Australia is the only country in which psychdelics are regulated as medications and formally approved for psychiatric use.[13]

History

Fun Guyz locations have been raided by police and had their products seized. The storefront located in Barrie also had two employees charged with trafficking and possession of illegal drugs; after the raid, the store reopened. When Barrie's police force communications co-ordinator reiterated that the products the store sells are indeed illegal, they declined to answer when a journalist asked them why the store was not raided daily.[14] In 2023, their Wasaga Beach, Bradford and St. Thomas locations were shut down by local authorities due to the illegality of their business operations.[15] All Fun Guyz locations opened in 2023. Each one has been raided by police but typically reopen, with the exception of the two stores that were shut down.[16] The company expanded outside the province of Ontario with another location that opened in Montreal, Quebec. The same day the store opened, it was raided and four employees were arrested.[17] The store was raided an additional two times during its first month of business.[18] In August 2023, an employee at the St. Catharines storefront was charged with psilocybin trafficking and proceeds of property obtained by crime.[19] A storefront opened in Preston, Ontario, in November 2023.[20]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Dhir, TJ. "It's been raided twice, so why is this magic mushroom store in Windsor still open?". CBC News. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Gilmour, Matt (9 June 2023). "Plante vows to crack down on illegal magic mushroom dispensary slated to open in Montreal". CTV News. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  3. ↑ "Magic mushroom store opens up in Windsor amid push for legalization Social Sharing". CBC News. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  4. ↑ Paul, Rob (17 February 2023). "Mushroom dispensary refuses to stay closed despite police raid". BradfordToday. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  5. ↑ Carruthers, Dale. "At London store selling illegal drugs, a wait for police – but no worry". The London Free Press. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Owner of downtown magic mushroom shop is now a wanted man: Windsor police". CBC News. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  7. ↑ Donnini, Alessio. "London's 1st magic mushroom store, the latest in Ontario, could test limits of authorities' tolerance". CBC News. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  8. ↑ To, Michael. "Magic mushroom shop shut down by police one day after opening in Hamilton". CBC News. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  9. 1 2 O'Neill, Natasha (26 April 2023). "Can psychedelics aid Canada's mental health crisis? One expert says yes". CTV News. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  10. ↑ Dubinski, Kate. "Some doctors, therapists get Health Canada permission to use magic mushrooms". CBC News. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  11. ↑ Petrovich, Curt. "Health Canada dragging feet on approving magic mushrooms for therapeutic use, patients and advocates say". CBC News. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  12. ↑ Elsluffi, Rachelle. "This Ottawa store is selling magic mushrooms to protest 'unjust' laws". CBC News. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "Australia legalises psychedelics for mental health". BBC News. 30 June 2023. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  14. ↑ Gibson, Shawn (6 July 2023). "Police deem Barrie shop 'illegal' but Fun Guyz still selling". Collingwood Today. Archived from the original on 2023-07-07. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  15. ↑ Baker, Jennifer. "Magic mushroom dispensary opens in Cambridge". CTV News. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  16. ↑ "Magic mushroom store in Windsor raided by police a week after opening". Yahoo!Life. 6 July 2023. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  17. ↑ MacDonald, Thomas. "FunGuyz magic mushroom dispensary to reopen after police raid, experts doubt it'll advance drug policy". CityNews Everywhere. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  18. ↑ Deland, Maxime; Robitalle, Audrey. "Une troisième perquisition en un mois à la boutique de champignons magiques FunGuyz". TVA Nouvelles (in French). Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  19. ↑ "St. Catharines Detectives Seize Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms) During Search Warrant". Niagara Regional Police Service. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  20. ↑ Betts, Matt. "New magic mushroom shop in Preston raises legal, moral concerns". Cambridge Today. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
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