Gray market psilocybin sales proliferating across Canada
Newly published study findings showed that as of May 2024, 57 psilocybin stores were operating in more than a third (35.7%) of major Canadian urban centers. The majority (96.5%) were located in two provinces: Ontario and BC, whose residents collectively make up 52.5% of the nation’s population. “Our goal was to provide scientific evidence that these stores do exist, identify where they are located, and evaluate the types of health claims and health warnings they were making on their websites,” she explained.
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.
Original Article (Jama Network):
Gray market psilocybin sales proliferating across Canada
Artwork Fair Use: Dietmar Rabich
Recent Comments