Magic Mushroom Dispensery in Portland, Ore.
In a shop that looks like a TikTok pop-up bar, shoppers can choose from a variety of mushroom-infused drinks. The selection includes relaxing ones such as chamomile lavender tea, and fruity ones including acai blueberry buzz. Customers can buy one of four drink sizes — from 500 milligrams to up to four grams of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound found in magic mushrooms. Find out magicmushroomsdispensary.ca
The store’s owner, a man who would only give his first name, says he operates a “medical protest.” He and his staff have no plans to shut up shop or comply with the law. They’re taking a cue from the cannabis industry and promoting the benefits of psilocybin for depression and anxiety, as well as end-of-life distress.
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But legalizing psilocybin may be a long shot. The regulated marijuana market faces a massive oversupply and decriminalization hasn’t led to more addiction treatment or reduced overdoses, the AP reports. In Oregon, which has the first legal mushroom service center, people can get mushrooms for a fee only after they undergo preparation sessions and stay at a service center while they take the drug.
The owners of Magic Mushroom dispensery say they’re hoping regulators and law enforcement see their operation the same way they view weed cafes, which have opened in cities such as Toronto and Vancouver. They’re also betting that consumers will embrace what they call a safer alternative to the risky “bad trip” that can occur at high doses.