About magic mushrooms in Canada at a gathering and chances are people will start reminiscing about their “hippie” days when they first tried them. But while these fungi aren’t available at the grocery store and don’t contain real magic, they are powerful hallucinogens that can cause changes in perception, memory and judgment, as well as anxiety, fear, muscle twitching, nausea and a false sense of self. These are called “bad trips” and can last for hours or even days, leaving behind lingering memories that may be difficult to discuss.

But despite the increased awareness about magic mushrooms and a growing number of mushroom pickers (for both fun and profit), psilocybin remains strictly prohibited under Schedule III of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. And if you’re caught, you could face a criminal charge that carries penalties up to 10 years in jail for an indictable offence or 18 months with a summary conviction.

Navigating the Legal Landscape: Magic Mushrooms in Canada

In the wild, there are two main types of psilocybin-containing mushrooms in Canada. One is the common psychedelic mushroom known as a Liberty Cap (Psilocybe baeocystis), found in forest habitats in western Canada and on the northeastern coast of the country. The other is the Psilocybe cynanescens mushroom, also known as the Psilocin-containing mushroom or Psilocybe semilanceata. This mushroom is found in grasslands that are associated with grazing livestock. It is thought that this mushroom was introduced to the northwest of the continent with livestock and fodder grass species, from temperate Europe, when those species were brought to this part of the world in the early 1900s.