Psilocybin, the component of magic mushrooms, has become more widely available in establishments across the nation due to growing interest in and improvements in medical research.
In 2023 alone, almost two dozen physical storefronts appeared, along with a few internet dispensaries that offered magic mushrooms. Prominent chains have already begun to discuss strategies for additional growth and reach as a result of this trend.
As you explore a magic mushroom dispensary, you’ll discover diverse options akin to cannabis. Much like the variety available in cannabis, these dispensaries offer an assortment of strains and product forms. The increasing number of people reporting positive experiences with shrooms explains the growing availability of shroom products.
Key Takeaways:
- Research into the medicinal properties of the active compound found in mushrooms has been instrumental in fueling the increasing fascination with shrooms.
- Numerous theories abound regarding the mechanisms through which shrooms’ active compounds operate.
- The microdosing trend has gained significant traction in how individuals consume shrooms and explore their effects.
The Shroom Boom of Dispensaries
A mounting body of medical research highlights psilocybin’s potential in treating anxiety, depression, and addiction, albeit without conclusive results. This made certain provinces take a further step in considering the compound.
Alberta took a pioneering step in January 2023. They became the first province to control the use of psychedelics for medical conditions. Last year, Canada allocated $3 million to fund clinical research investigating the effectiveness of psilocybin.
Why Shroom Interest is Growing
Many individuals seek out shrooms for their recreational effects, frequently experiencing sensations of euphoria and a spiritual high. These experiences extend beyond mere entertainment. Research indicates that a shroom trip can yield numerous noteworthy benefits, even for individuals not suffering from any particular conditions.
Filament Health, a clinical-stage natural psychedelic drug development company, focuses on crafting products with carefully standardized doses aimed at transforming medicine. Filament offers a range of three distinct psilocybin capsules, each carefully measured at one milligram (for microdosing), five milligrams, and 25 milligrams (for enhanced experiences). They provide these doses for clinical trials exploring the impact of shrooms.
Clinical trials examining the impacts of shrooms represent a significant stride toward unravelling the mysteries of magic mushrooms. This research brings hope to individuals for whom conventional treatments have proven ineffective or inaccessible.
Professor of psychology at UBC Okanagan Zach Walsh believes that psilocybin therapy can open up new channels of communication in the brain, effectively allowing for the development of new neural connections.
The formation of novel neural pathways may help in conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Medical Benefits of Psilocybin That’s Driving Shroom Boom in Canada
With an expected 1 billion individuals impacted by mental health and drug use, these illnesses pose a significant worldwide challenge.
Scientist Henry Lowe and colleagues looked into various studies exploring how active substances in shrooms work.
Major Depressive and General Anxiety Disorders
Shroom’s active compound interacts with serotonin receptors and triggers hallucinatory experiences that foster anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects by normalizing the hyperactivity of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC).
It also affects brain plasticity and its complex implications on emotional processing, most notably by lowering the amygdala hyperactivity linked to depression.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) exert their anti-depressant effects by moderating the overreactivity of the amygdala towards fearful emotional stimuli, thus tempering negative emotions. This heightened amygdala response is commonly associated with depression. SSRIs alleviate this heightened reactivity to emotional triggers, whereas psilocybin enhances amygdala activation in response to positive emotional stimuli. Psilocybin treatment also has an impact on treating anhedonia.
Schizophrenia
The imbalance or dysregulation of serotonin and dopamine may be a characteristic of schizophrenia. Shrooms may treat schizophrenia and other related mental diseases because serotonergic receptors modulate striatal dopamine release.
Addiction
Shrooms could enhance brain neuroplasticity by elevating Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels. Psychologically, the possibility of having a mystical experience while taking shrooms contributes to the substance’s long-term therapeutic effects. This psychological mechanism is essential for treating SUD patients since these experiences cause people to change how they behave.
Safer Alternative
In general, shrooms stand out for their notably favourable safety profiles among psychedelics. It boasts low physiological toxicity, minimal abuse potential, and induces safe psychological responses.
There are no documented adverse physiological or psychological effects associated with its use. Instances of psilocybin overdose are infrequent. For example, a single reported case involved a 24-year-old female who experienced cardiac arrest approximately 2–3 hours after ingesting psilocybin. The victim of this terrible event had received a heart transplant ten years prior for end-stage rheumatic heart disease.
Microdosing: A Growing Trend
People usually find shrooms popular in small doses. Microdosing contains a carefully measured range of 50 to 300 milligrams of magic mushroom. It’s when one delves into a full dose, which is ten times that amount, that the more widely recognized psychedelic effects manifest.
Microdosing emerged from the shadows between 2018 and 2020, with pieces from the New York Times and Forbes. Interest in this unconventional practice is growing among Canadians.
Since it allows users to consume mushrooms without encountering potent hallucinogenic effects, the practice of microdosing mushrooms is gaining considerable attention. Through this approach, individuals can access the potential benefits of mushrooms, which may enhance their daily routines and overall well-being.
Mike Brodeur, a professional hockey player, once relied on painkillers and anti-depressants, which led to days spent in bed trying to make sense of his situation. Upon discovering the benefits of microdosing with psilocybin, he experienced a remarkable shift. He expressed finding newfound energy and focus, which has a transformative impact.
What’s Inside a Magic Mushroom That Makes an Effective Treatment for Mental Health Conditions
While psilocybin stands out as the foremost and most prevalent psychoactive compound/tryptamine derivative in magic mushrooms, other tryptamine derivatives like psilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, norpsilocin, and beta-carbolines, also likely contribute to enhancing effects and the effectiveness of treatment.
Dried Shrooms to Explore Their Benefits
Enthusiasts’ curiosity drives growers to create hybrid cultivars to surpass natural potency levels.
| STRAIN OF MUSHROOM | OVER-ALL POTENCY | BEGINNER- FRIENDLY (YES/NO) |
| Blue Meanies | Average | Yes |
| Golden Teacher | Average | Yes |
| Penis Envy Cubensis | Above Average | No |
| Alacabenzi | Average | Yes |
| Albino Penis Envy | Above Average | No |
| Hautla | Below Average | Yes |
| Mazatapec | Average | Yes |
| Melmac | Above Average | Yes |
| B+ Cubensis | Average | Yes |
| Trans Envy | Very Potent | No |
Conclusion
People want to explore the potential benefits of magic mushrooms, enticed by their promising effects. There seems to be less chance of addiction with magic mushrooms compared to opioids. Demand soars as interest in shroom usage increases as more studies clarify the effects of these mushrooms. This growing demand not only reflects a societal shift but also facilitates easier access to magic mushrooms than ever before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the demand for shrooms lower the price?
This depends on the mushroom’s availability. Take Golden Teachers, for instance; they’re relatively easy to cultivate, which results in a consistent supply and, thus, a stable price point. Strains that pose more challenges in cultivation tend to command higher prices due to their limited availability.
What magic mushroom products can you buy?
Magic mushrooms have expanded the traditional dried mushroom market to include intriguing products. Certain dispensaries sell chocolates and gummies with varying dosages. With these items, dose management is simple because you know the precise psilocybin content.
Capsules are another expanding product. These capsules don’t just come with magic mushrooms; the majority of them contain a combination of several ingredients. Stacking microdoses also multiplies the advantages by enhancing cognitive performance when combined with other substances like lion’s mane.
What city in Canada has the most mushroom dispensaries?
The expansion of magic mushroom dispensaries in Vancouver is notable, as these establishments are emerging from obscurity. They are spreading from downtown’s heart to the city center’s eastern fringes.
Are there any economic impact on the rise of interest in shrooms?
Yes. An increase in interest in magic mushrooms could lead to the expansion of various businesses, consequently generating more employment opportunities. It may also contribute to boosting tourism, especially for individuals unable to access mushrooms for medicinal purposes, who could explore Canada to experience the effects of shrooms. Similar to cannabis, shrooms’ popularity could enhance Canada’s economy by attracting additional investors to this emerging market.
What is the shroom boom phenomenon in Canada?
The shroom boom is the reflection of a surge of curiosity surrounding psychedelic mushrooms. For decades, these substances remained classified under Schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act. Recent cultural shifts indicate a resurgence in interest, which paves the way for shrooms to reclaim their spotlight.
