For the first time since prohibition, mushroom pickers are at work on the B.C. coast, without fear of arrest or prosecution for the illicit harvest. These mushrooms, called psilocybe mushrooms or simply magic mushrooms, contain psilocybin, which interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain and causes altered perception and mood. The experience can range from mild euphoria to spiritual introspection.

What country has the most mushrooms?

A small handful of buying shrooms in Vancouver BC stores continue to openly sell mushrooms in a way that would land them in jail in many other parts of the world. The shops generally offer a variety of entheogenic mushrooms (psilocybin, LSD and DMT, for example), with one also selling peyote, a psychoactive cactus valued by Indigenous cultures for its consciousness-altering properties.

At Dana Larsen’s Medicinal Mushroom Dispensary and Coca Leaf Cafe on East Hastings Street, customers can choose from a wide selection of mushrooms displayed inside glass displays, a menu that includes various strains of psychedelic plants like coca and kratom, and a spring special on peyote and san pedro (“buy any peyote and get a free san pedro”). The store also carries a number of analogs like 4-ACO-DMT (“synthetic shrooms”) and herbal remedies including tinctures of holy basil and ginger.

While buying shrooms in Vancouver BC is legal, you should always start with a low dose, especially if it’s your first time, and make sure to take the mushrooms in a safe setting with a trusted trip sitter. It’s important to prioritize your safety when using psilocybin, as it can have intense effects that can be difficult to handle without guidance.