Magic mushroom packages anger B.C. MLA
Posted January 3, 2024 9:30 am.
Last Updated January 3, 2024 7:06 pm.
A B.C. politician says she is left angry and disappointed after receiving a package containing illegal drugs from a legalization activist.
Surrey South MLA Elenore Sturko, who is also the BC United critic for Mental Health and Addictions, says she was sent magic mushrooms, a coca leaf, an information and use guide, and a Christmas card by activist and dispensary owner Dana Larsen over the holidays.
She says she first learned about the packages from West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Karin Kirkpatrick, noting all MLAs received these “gifts.”
“After I learned that Karin had gotten it, I actually checked my mail at work and I also received it,” Sturko said.
“My first reaction, honestly, was I felt angry about it. I can understand from his point of view he wants to try to continue to raise awareness for his goal of legalizing illicit drugs. But it’s irresponsible, it’s unlawful, it’s still illegal to mail drugs, to traffic illicit drugs, and I think that it’s unacceptable that someone would be putting elected officials in a position where they would become in possession of illegal drugs.”
Sturko says she immediately called Vancouver police, who advised her to report the package to her police of jurisdiction.
After reporting the drugs to the Surrey RCMP, she says Mounties took the package.
Larsen confirms he sent packages to every B.C. MLA, including Premier David Eby.
He tells CityNews he sent the mushrooms to the politicians after his Medicinal Mushroom Dispensary and Coca Leaf Café was raided by the VPD on Nov. 1, 2023.
“We reopened soon after but I feel that this raid was largely the result of pressure and controversy in the provincial level … and so for Christmas, I sent every single one of the British Columbia MLAs … a single gram of Golden Teacher mushroom — a psychoactive mushroom — and one single coca leaf as well. Coca leaf is what cocaine is made out of, but the whole leaf has got millennia of social, cultural, spiritual use across South America, and we provide that in our café,” he explained.
Larsen says the goal of the packages was for the politicians to look at the products and learn more about them.
The production, sale, and possession of psilocybin and psilocin mushrooms — commonly referred to as magic mushrooms — remain illegal in Canada.
The federal government notes while some clinical trials studying the potential therapeutic uses of magic mushrooms and of psilocybin “have shown promising results,” there are currently no approved therapeutic products containing psilocybin in Canada.
Despite this, Larsen says many people come to his business in search of magic mushrooms for their therapeutic uses. He’s hopeful the legalization of these drugs will eventually come, comparing the situation to the legalization of cannabis.
“We have folks coming in all the time, they use these mushrooms to help deal with addiction issues and drug-use issues, as well as issues like PTSD or trauma or depression or people who just want to have a pleasant weekend and prefer to use mushrooms instead of getting drunk on alcohol. There’s absolutely nothing to be afraid of when it comes to a magic mushroom or a coca leaf,” he said.
Sturko questions where Larsen is getting the drugs he’s selling from, noting he’s “buying those from illegal sources,” given you can’t legally obtain coca leaves or psilocybin here.
“When individuals are engaged in buying drugs from the dark web or other illegal sources, they are fueling gangs in B.C. They’re putting money and guns into the hands of people that commit shootings and kill people across B.C. So I have a fundamental issue with the manner in which these types of things are taking place. Mr. Larsen says he’s approved for a health service — which is drug checking — through Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), so here we have an example again of our government being in cahoots, being in partnership with drug traffickers,” the MLA said.
However, Larsen refutes claims that he’s putting money and guns in the hands of gangsters.
“The mushroom and coca leaf trade is not controlled by gangs, that’s kind of ridiculous. I’m the only person selling coca leaf in North America, and we get it direct from South America. There’s no gangs or weapons or anything like that involved. And mushrooms also, it’s really a cottage industry here. It’s not something controlled by organized crime or anything like that. I think her comments are quite absurd,” he told CityNews.
“I find her reaction is just way over the top.”
Province has alerted authorities about packages
Meanwhile, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth isn’t mincing words about the packages sent by Larsen to the B.C. politicians.
“The irresponsible act of sending illegal substances to MLA offices in British Columbia is reprehensible and wrong,” a statement from Farnworth reads.
“Government has alerted law enforcement (and) they have provided instructions to MLA offices on the appropriate actions to take. MLA offices provide essential work and services for people in B.C., and this action has disrupted access to these important services.”
Just last month, Larsen invited Sturko and B.C. Minister for Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside to visit the Get Your Drug Tested centres he operates.
However, Sturko noted she would not be taking Larsen up on his offer, as she continues to raise her concerns about his operations and work.
Larsen has told CityNews his sites have been approved by VCH as overdose prevention sites. He previously said there’s no official partnership with VCH, adding the sites are entirely funded by proceeds from his illicit drug storefronts that were raided in November by the VPD.
-With files from Cole Schisler and Monika Gul
