Microdosing mushrooms Toronto is having a moment. Elon Musk does it, Gwyneth Paltrow sends her employees to Jamaica for psilocybin retreats, and the mushroom has even been found to treat treatment-resistant depression. But there’s a gap between the buzz and what scientists know about the drug. And some experts are concerned that microdosing might be leading people astray.

For the uninitiated, “microdosing” refers to taking very low doses — not enough to cause hallucinations or highs — of psychedelic drugs like LSD and mushrooms or the sedative ketamine on a regular basis to improve mood, focus, creativity, and sex drive. The practice has become popular with the “mood hacker” community and is now touted by celebrities like Joe Rogan as a tool for productivity. It’s also gained traction with mainstream business folk like the founder of the tech incubator Therapsil, who says she microdoses psilocybin to help her and her team focus and boost morale.

Microdosing Mushrooms in Toronto: Where to Start

Microdose Mushroom Canada has been selling mushrooms at its Vancouver store Mush Luv for two years. His gray exterior belies the psychedelia that lies inside: the walls are lined with murals of Incan gods, and there are shelves full of hemp lip balm and stoner-centric comic books. His store is one of more than a dozen across Canada that are peddling the magic fungus illegally, fuelled by demand and a crackdown on federal drug law enforcement.

The legal battles are complex. Although the government has made it easier to get exemptions for psilocybin-containing mushrooms by requiring that they have a medical need, Therapsil’s Lewin says it’s still unclear how exactly to apply for a permit. And the black market is fraught with questions over purity, dosage accuracy, and supply.