Ottawa magic mushroom shops keep a low profile as police crack down in other cities

Ottawa magic mushroom shops openly selling the illegal drug say they're hoping police have more pressing matters than cracking down on their stores, as retailers in other municipalities are raided and shut down.

The production, sale and possession of magic mushrooms is against the law in Canada, but the shops have been sprouting up across the country regardless.

Walking into The Golden Teacher in Ottawa's Lowertown, shoppers are met with soft music, wood furnishings, coffee table books and, of course, fungi imagery everywhere.

It brands itself as a mushroom-based wellness store that aims to alter people's perception of the drug, and the experience of buying it.

"With all of our products, you're never going to leave here with a Ziploc," said Daniel, who helps manage the store's branding and communication.

CBC has agreed to use Daniel's first name only, due to his concern that his connection to the store could affect his other sources of income.

The Golden Teacher was the first mushroom retailer to open in Ottawa, but it shut down in the latter half of 2023 after police issued a letter warning its landlord to cease illegal activities. This month, the shop was preparing to reopen down the street, with the same name and logo.

Those behind the store say they never expected to be the one and only magic mushroom dispensary to open in Ottawa.

"There's someone who needs to be the first to do something and take a step, and it's easier for someone to follow," Daniel said.   

At a Micro Zoomiez location in Bells Corners, employees say that while they seek to destigmatize psilocybin use and meet a need, they've also been keeping a low profile since opening in March.

"We've had a lot of success just kind of keeping quiet [in] little suburban communities and not causing a ruckus or being near the ruckus of heavy-populated areas," said clerk Shane Webster. 

"And I think that's worked out to our benefit at least a little bit because, in the end, we're just trying to be a net positive to the community."

Webster didn't want to disclose whether police had visited the store, but said Micro Zoomiez aims to keep complaints to an "absolute minimum."

"We're not trying to be in your face or take over the community or draw more attention than that needs to be, right? We're just like any other shop, essentially."

FunGuyz, a chain with the majority of its 30 locations in Ontario — including three in Ottawa — announced in November it will close them all, citing crackdowns in other jurisdictions. 

"We give up. Thank you, and you guys accomplished your task," FunGuyz spokesperson Chris Stewart told CBC, directly addressing the police officers involved in raids across the country.

Letters to landlords

Still, these shops know the risks involved in running an illegal dispensary. 

In a statement to CBC, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) said it handles complaints on an individual basis to determine appropriate courses of action. That could include sending letters to landlords to inform them "they are knowingly allowing illegal businesses to operate from their properties and that may come with legal consequences."

Landlords and shop owners should realize they are operating illegally, and new enforcement measures will come at our discretion and timing.- Supt. Jamie Dunlop, Ottawa Police Service

"OPS has conducted operations to close these shops and we are also working to address other priorities that include the opioid crisis and recent large arrests and amounts seized," wrote Supt. Jamie Dunlop of the force's serious and organized crime directorate.

"Landlords and shop owners should realize they are operating illegally, and new enforcement measures will come at our discretion and timing."

Similar to cannabis scene before 2018

Eugene Oscapella, an Ottawa-based lawyer who specializes in drug policy, agreed police ultimately have the final say on enforcement. 

"Police have the discretion the same way they may get somebody for jaywalking. They may let the next person go," he explained.

Oscapella likens the current landscape to the cannabis market prior to legalization in 2018, when dispensaries popped up everywhere and were met with a range of responses by police. 

"[Police] have a lot of issues on their plate," Oscapella said. "I think in the past 15, 20 years we've seen a bit of a shift away from just going after people because they're using drugs to saying, 'Look, what harm is this? Should we be devoting our resources to something more problematic like drug overdoses?'"

Oscapella said issuing letters to landlords is "a bit softer than direct law enforcement." 

"It puts the burden on the landlord to be the initial enforcer and it avoids dragging people directly into the criminal process," he told CBC in an email. "It also saves police resources."

John Gilchrist, communications manager for TheraPsil, a national organization advocating for expanded access to psilocybin for therapeutic uses, says — while the stores are illegal — they also reflect clear public demand.

He says for people suffering from debilitating conditions like severe depression, the drug's promised benefits often feels like one of the few avenues still available.

But Gilchrist says they also come with issues.

"There's a lack of medical oversight for people who may be using it for medical purposes," he said. "Not to mention, psilocybin is a very powerful substance."

On the other hand, he says magic mushrooms wouldn't be the first substance sold in a store to come with risks, adding the current situation is also difficult for police.

"Cops do not want to deal with psilocybin mushroom stores. They have far bigger fish to fry," he said.