Psychedelics stores, their regulation and public health: knowledge, perceptions, attitudes and opinions of Canadians.
The International journal on drug policy July 9, 2026 François Gagnon, Anne Philibert, Benjamin Carignan et al.
Most Canadian adults are unfamiliar with the proliferation of illegal psychedelic retail stores selling psilocybin, DMT, and related substances, with 79.1% unaware of the stores and 80.3% unaware of the products sold. Among those with some familiarity, perceptions of risks and benefits coexist, with ambivalence being the most common stance. Respondents were equally divided between closing the stores and maintaining the current unregulated status quo. However, 66.6% supported authorizing sales under a regulatory framework, even among those with no direct exposure to psychedelics. Large majorities favored public health protections over fiscal considerations, product restrictions, promotion limits, and caps on store numbers. Public support for legal regulation appears receptive but not fixed, potentially shaped by the regulatory framework's features.