Legality of Psychedelic mushrooms in Canada
Psychedelic mushrooms, also known as psilocybin mushrooms, have been used for centuries in traditional spiritual and medicinal practices. In Canada, the possession, sale, and distribution of psilocybin mushrooms is illegal, but the enforcement of these laws has been inconsistent.
In Canada, psilocybin and psilocin, the psychoactive compounds found in psilocybin mushrooms, are listed as Schedule III controlled substances under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This means that it is illegal to possess, produce, sell, or distribute psilocybin mushrooms without a prescription. However, the enforcement of these laws has been inconsistent, and possession and use of psilocybin mushrooms have largely been tolerated by law enforcement.
The inconsistency in the enforcement of laws regarding psilocybin mushrooms is partly due to the fact that the possession and use of these mushrooms are not considered to be high-priority issues for law enforcement. Additionally, the possession of small amounts of psilocybin mushrooms for personal use is often considered to be a low-level offense and is not typically enforced by law enforcement.
The lack of enforcement of laws regarding psilocybin mushrooms has led to the growth of a vibrant underground market for these mushrooms, particularly in cities such as Toronto and Vancouver.
Recently, there has been a renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelic mushrooms, particularly in the use of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in these mushrooms. This has led to calls for the decriminalization or legalization of psilocybin mushrooms in Canada. Supporters of decriminalization argue that it would allow for the safe and regulated use of psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic purposes, and would also reduce the harm associated with the underground market for these mushrooms.
In 2019, the City of Victoria in British Columbia passed a motion to “explore options to decriminalize the possession of entheogenic plants and fungi”, and similar motions have been considered by cities such as Vancouver and Toronto. However, it’s important to note that these motions are non-binding and it’s still up to the federal government to change the laws regarding psilocybin mushrooms.
In 2020, the Canadian Minister of Health announced that the government will be launching a process to develop regulations for the possession, production, and distribution of psilocybin for medical and scientific purposes and to initiate a review of the classification of psilocybin and psilocin under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
In conclusion, the possession, sale, and distribution of psilocybin mushrooms is illegal in Canada, but the enforcement of these laws has been inconsistent. The lack of enforcement has led to the growth of an underground market for these mushrooms, but there have been calls for the decriminalization or legalization of psilocybin mushrooms to allow for safe and regulated use for therapeutic purposes. The Canadian government has announced that they will be launching a process to develop regulations for the possession, production, and distribution of psilocybin for medical and scientific purposes and to initiate a review of the classification of psilocybin and psilocin under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.