London police lay trafficking charges in magic mushroom store bust
CTV News has learned that three people associated with an illegal magic mushroom dispensary in London, Ont. were charged with drug related offences more than a month ago.
London Police Const. Sandasha Bough told CTV News that on June 6, the London Police Service (LPS) Guns and Gangs section executed a search warrant at a business in the 200 block of Richmond Street.
“The drugs that were seized were illegal,” she said. “We can say that we seized a number of psilocybin eatables, a number of packages of psilocybin in dried mushroom form, as well as pills, and psilocybin in drink powder form.”
In all, about $20,000 worth of product was seized, along with $635.00 in cash.
The three people charged, ages 23, 26, and 30, all reside in London.
Each is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking a Schedule III substance.
One of the men was also charged with trafficking a controlled substance.
Police said they did not release the information at the time because the individuals involved were charged by way of summons.
When CTV News last spoke with the Fun Guyz London store a couple of months ago, they had been operating without a business license. While they wouldn’t speak with us on Friday, the store was open for business as normal.
The City of London declined an interview request, but provided the following statement regarding Fun Guyz, “As this is an open and active file, and because the contents of investigations are subject to provincial privacy legislation, we cannot provide any further information. We continue to work collaboratively with our partners at London Police Service.”
Toronto based criminal lawyer Alex Karapancev has dealt with similar cases, and he likens what’s going on with magic mushroom dispensaries to what transpired with marijuana dispensaries before legalization.
He said until legislation is changed, this scenario of illegal openings followed by police busts will keep repeating itself.
“Many may say the writing’s on the wall. We saw what happened with marijuana, leading up to its decriminalization. Throughout the western world, we’re seeing more research being done on psilocybin. There’s more public advocacy for its decriminalization. So we may see a shift in our laws as it relates to the substance,” said Karapancev.
The three individuals charged in the London Fun Guyz bust are scheduled to appear in court July 21.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976871.1721873052!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
DEVELOPING Jasper updates: 'Significant loss' within Jasper townsite
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park has reached the townsite.
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.