A shrooms store is the latest entry into a grey market for legal drugs that are still illegal in many places. The Toronto shop sells fungi that contain the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin, and it is among dozens of new sites across Canada. Until now, people looking to buy mushrooms for medicinal or recreational purposes had to order from online retailers and arrange pickups. The stores are designed to look like grocery stores and feature large jars of different types of mushrooms.

Which is the best mushroom to eat?

The owner, whose first name is not being used to protect his identity, says he operates the business as a form of civil disobedience against drug policy that he believes is outdated, incorrect and wrong. He also hopes to contribute to research into psilocybin and its effects.

He and a nurse staff the store, which sells more than 180 products including dried mushrooms and kits to grow your own. The nurse helps customers decide what type of mushrooms are best for them, explaining how some varieties can boost energy levels and others provide relaxation.

Some people also use mushrooms to help manage pain, anxiety and depression, according to medical experts who have studied their effects. Others use them to help with sleep problems and to treat addictions, such as alcohol and heroin.

The Toronto store is one of several that have opened in recent months, as mushroom sales become more mainstream and governments relax laws around the drugs. But the long arm of the law could catch up to these new businesses. Those that do not follow the rules risk facing criminal charges.