VANCOUVER, B.C. — Vancouver City Council has defeated a motion brought forward by Green Councillors Pete Fry and Adriane Carr that would have directed staff to explore a regulatory framework for the retail sale of psilocybin and other entheogens, in response to the rapid growth of unlicensed mushroom dispensaries operating openly across the city.

The motion sought to examine whether Vancouver could use its existing land use and business licensing powers to bring an unregulated market into a safer, more transparent framework — similar to the approach the City took with medical cannabis dispensaries prior to federal legalization.

“This was about harm reduction, not endorsement,” said Fry. “These stores already exist, they’re operating in the open, and enforcement has clearly not eliminated them. The question Council faced was whether we continue to look the other way, or whether we take responsibility for public safety.”

A Public Health and Safety Lens

Fry’s motion cited growing evidence that entheogens such as psilocybin are generally considered non-addictive and lower-risk than many other substances, alongside emerging clinical research into their therapeutic use for depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders. It also referenced Vancouver’s ongoing toxic drug emergency and the need to reduce reliance on a poisoned, unregulated supply.

The motion did not seek to regulate the substances themselves, which fall under federal jurisdiction, but rather asked staff to report back on whether a municipal regulatory framework for businesses could reduce harms, improve accountability, and protect public safety.

Learning from Vancouver’s Own History

Vancouver was the first Canadian city to regulate medical cannabis dispensaries in 2015, using zoning and licensing powers to impose age restrictions, distance requirements, and operational standards at a time when federal law had not yet caught up with reality. That framework was later rendered obsolete by legalization, but upheld by the courts as a valid exercise of municipal authority.

“We’ve been here before,” Fry said. “In 2015, regulation was controversial. In hindsight, it helped reduce harms while governments worked toward broader policy reform.”

A Motion Defeated, a Debate Not Settled

Council ultimately voted against the motion. Fry noted that the defeat does not resolve the underlying issue of unregulated entheogen retailers operating across Vancouver, nor the broader conversation about evidence-based drug policy.

“Doing nothing is still a decision, and it comes with consequences,” Fry said. “This issue isn’t going away, and neither are these shops. Vancouver will be forced to confront this again.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor Adriane Carr and supported by a majority of speakers who addressed Council.