Amidst the ongoing battle between the City of Vancouver and Dana Larsen’s Magic Mushroom Dispensary, the defiant founder has vowed to keep his business operating. This follows a closure order issued by the city’s chief licensing inspector, Sarah Hicks. In a letter to Larsen, Hicks acknowledged the successful appeal of the 2023 suspension, but stated that the decision was not binding for the current year. She cited the continued sale of LSD, psilocybin, and DMT, which are prohibited under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The letter ordered the dispensary to cease operations until a valid business license is obtained.
Larsen and his lawyer, Jack Lloyd, have expressed their disappointment and condemned the decision as a blatant disregard for the rule of law. They argue that the city had the option to request a judicial review if it disagreed with the panel’s decision to reinstate the license in March 2024. Instead, the city has chosen not to comply with the order.
Despite the closure order, Larsen has vowed to keep the dispensary open, as it did following the license suspension last spring, which resulted in a police raid in November. Larsen emphasizes that his dispensaries fund two free drug-testing sites in Vancouver. When asked about Larsen’s criticisms, a city spokesperson reiterated that the panel’s decision in March 2024 pertains solely to the dispensary’s 2023 license.
Meanwhile, the odds of another approval for the dispensary’s 2024 license may be slim. The panel that oversaw Larsen’s last hearing included two Green Party councillors who supported his application, overruling the lone representative from Vancouver’s ruling ABC party. Mayor Ken Sim swiftly criticized the decision, accusing the Greens of activism beyond the jurisdiction of the city.
The dispute highlights the ongoing debate in Vancouver over the regulation of psychedelic drugs. Despite the council’s rejection of a motion to explore the regulated sale of psilocybin earlier this month, Larsen remains defiant in his mission to provide access to these substances.
