Montreal police conducted a raid on a shop selling illegal magic mushrooms and made multiple arrests on July 11. However, despite the arrest, the store, FunGuyz, has expressed its intention to reopen. FunGuyz spokesperson Edgras Goban criticized the police for their actions and stated that the store will reopen the next day.
FunGuyz opened its first location in Montreal on July 11 and offered dried mushrooms, pills, and chocolate bars containing psilocybin, the substance responsible for the hallucinogenic effects of magic mushrooms. However, just four hours after opening, the Montreal police conducted an operation against the store, arresting four individuals and confiscating the store’s merchandise. No response was received from the police before publication.
Magic mushrooms are classified as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in Canada, making their sale, distribution, and possession illegal. The police response to such stores varies across different jurisdictions in the country.
In a previous statement to The Epoch Times, Mr. Goban mentioned that out of their ten dispensary locations in Ontario, the police had taken enforcement action against only one store in Toronto. He attributed the police actions to complaints and their obligation to respond to them.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante’s office reaffirmed the city’s support for decriminalizing drug possession but emphasized that the sale of psilocybin remains illegal. The Montreal police will continue to enforce the law.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged the variation in enforcement of magic mushroom laws across different provinces, stating that while the Criminal Code is consistent throughout the country, provinces have the flexibility to respond to specific local needs and priorities.