The owner of FunGuyz, Montreal’s first magic mushroom shop that opened Tuesday morning, is eagerly awaiting SPVM police officers. If his merchandise is seized, he says he is ready to reopen the next day.
“We know it’s going to happen, we just don’t know when,” says Hector Hernandez, the co-owner of FunGuyz, which officially opened Tuesday morning on Ontario Street East, despite the fact that its products are illegal in Quebec. “We want it to be legal. We will pursue a constitutional challenge,” he said.
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) confirmed Monday that it is ready to intervene, while specifying that it would wait for products to be sold to do so.
Three store employees turned on the FunGuyz neon sign as early as 9 a.m. and began stocking the store’s shelves with small bags of psilocybin edibles and dried mushrooms. A television fixed to the wall displays the menu as well as the prices of the various products available, sold between $25 and $60.
“Astral” chocolate bars, gummies microdose, dry mushrooms with varieties like Penis Envy, Blue Meanie, and Golden Teacher, among others, are available.
A large number of customers
“It’s beneficial, it helps a lot of people. Anxiety, PTSD [syndrome de stress post-traumatique]depression, for all that,” claims the co-owner.
Several dozen customers showed up at the scene on Tuesday morning. The people met by The duty requested confidentiality since the sale of magic mushrooms is illegal. Some have specified that they appreciate receiving advice in store in order to consume “responsibly”. FunGuyz also offers all of its products on its website, but some consumers are not comfortable receiving illegal drugs in the mail.
“I don’t have a computer, someone delivers it to me. I don’t have a credit card,” a man pointed out just after buying 14 grams of dried mushrooms. “I do that from time to time,” he adds, specifying that he simply takes it for fun. ” It relaxes me. Three, four days later, I feel very comfortable. »
A woman in her 60s plans to use magic mushrooms this week. It will be the first time since his twenties.
“When I was young, I used them for fun. I didn’t know it was good for depression,” shares the first customer to step onto the shop floor at 10:30 a.m. “I have suffered for a long time. I hope that helps. »
Although the sale and possession of magic mushrooms remains illegal in Canada, their consumption has been permitted since last year for therapeutic purposes, through a Health Canada program. However, there are only a few specialist clinics that are able to offer this kind of therapy, made available after decades of scientific research into the benefits for mental health issues. Science has not yet decided whether long-term use could be harmful to health.
Decriminalization
Mayor Valérie Plante’s office declined to comment on the opening of this new business. The Plante administration openly positions itself for the decriminalization of the possession of this psychedelic substance, while specifying that it understands that the police have the responsibility to enforce the law.
“From a public health perspective, decriminalizing simple possession of drugs for personal use saves lives through harm reduction. This is also a position that is shared by Montreal, while a statement to this effect was adopted by the city council, “said Catherine Cadotte, a spokesperson for the mayor.
This store is the twelfth opened by FunGuyz in Canada, but the first in Quebec. In Ontario, where all of the brand’s other magic mushroom stores are located, arrests have been made at every store. According to Mr. Hernandez, all employees know the possible consequences.
“We plan to expand throughout Montreal, that’s our goal. We try to help anyone who doesn’t have access to psilocybin,” he says.