Psilocybin Dispensaries and Online Health Claims in Canada

As of May 2024, 57 psilocybin dispensaries operated in Canada, located in 15 of 42 major cities (35.7%) and concentrated in Ontario and British Columbia. Most stores (61.4%) were part of a chain, 91.2% had an online presence, and all sold dried mushrooms, with many also offering microdosing capsules, chocolates, and gummies. 65.2% sold products mimicking popular food brands. Among stores with websites, 86.4% claimed mental health benefits such as alleviating anxiety, yet warnings about driving, pregnancy, or history of psychosis were rare (9.1%, 13.6%, and 31.8% respectively). The findings suggest a need for greater regulatory measures to protect the public.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Importance There is growing societal interest in and use of psilocybin. While psilocybin in Canada is illegal outside of clinical trials, there have been anecdotal reports of increasing access via unregulated online purchases and retail dispensaries. Objective To describe access to and the characteristics of psilocybin dispensaries across Canada and the health claims and warnings made on dispensary websites. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study used systematic web searches and media reports to identify psilocybin dispensaries operating in Canada in May 2024. Data analysis was performed from June 17 to August 29, 2024. Main Outcomes and Measures Descriptive and geospatial analyses were used to identify the psilocybin dispensary characteristics, product types, and store distribution. Content analysis assessed the nature and frequency of health claims and warnings on websites. Results As of May 2024, 57 psilocybin dispensaries were identified in Canada (0.18 dispensaries per 100 000 individuals aged ≥15 years) in 15 of Canada’s 42 major urban cities (35.7%). Approximately 815 628 (2.6%) of Canadians lived within 1 km of a dispensary. Only 4 of 13 provinces and territories had a dispensary, with most in Ontario and British Columbia. Of the 57 stores, 35 (61.4%) were part of a chain (≥2 stores owned by a single company) and 52 (91.2%) had an online presence. Stores sold a wide variety of products, including dried mushrooms (100.0%), microdosing capsules (97.8%), psilocybin-infused chocolate (91.3%) and gummies (93.4%), and most stores (65.2%) sold products mimicking popular food brands. Among stores with websites, 86.4% claimed mental health benefits of psilocybin (eg, alleviating anxiety). While 86.4% of websites provided health warnings, relevant warnings, such as those about use while driving (9.1%), during pregnancy (13.6%), or in individuals with a history of psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder (31.8%) were rare. Conclusions and Relevance In this study, psilocybin retailers, who were present in over a third of major Canadian cities, made a variety of unverified health claims and lacked warnings of potential harms, suggesting the need for greater regulatory measures to protect the public.