Driven by rising demand, emerging medical research and small but significant changes to federal drug policy, stores that sell hallucinogen-inducing mushrooms are cropping up across Canada. Shops with names like Fun Guyz, Shroom City and House of Mush display paintings of colorful fungus on their storefronts, welcoming passersby to walk into a new reality.Learn more:https://www.shroomhub.io/magic-mushroom-montreal/
Hours after opening, the Montreal branch of the chain FunGuyz was raided by police and four people were arrested. The raid was part of a larger investigation, with police searching apartments and other locations in the area.
Exploring the Magic Mushroom Scene in Montreal
Despite the raid, customers continued to flock to the tiny store, which is one of 11 franchises in Ontario owned by FunGuyz. Some were buying a variety of mushroom strains, which are categorized by their color, shape and place of origin. Others were picking up psychedelic drinks such as the TikTok-famous Psychedelic Water, which Insider’s Andrea Michelson tried, along with soothing drinks made from kava root and damiana leaf.
Psilocybin, the main active ingredient in magic mushrooms, can cause a range of mood-altering effects, including altered perceptions and an enhanced sense of well-being. It can also induce a sense of spirituality and euphoria, as well as self-discovery and improved creativity. But the drug can cause unpleasant side effects, including lightheadedness, muscle spasms or convulsions, numbness, sweating and loss of coordination. These symptoms make it unsafe to work certain jobs, especially those involving high risk trades or driving motorized vehicles.