Magic mushroom advocate fined at sentencing hearing

Fun Guyz Magic Mushrooms store on Richmond Street in London, Ont. as seen on May 11, 2023. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)

After a constitutional challenge that was rejected earlier this year, a man who operated the Fun Guyz store in downtown London was found guilty of possessing psilocybin for the purpose of trafficking.

Samer Akila was charged after London Police raided the store on Richmond Street in June of 2023.

Akila had argued that laws against the use of psilocybin, also known magic mushrooms, violated the freedom of thought.

During the sentencing hearing last month the federal Crown argued that Akila should receive a $20,000 fine with the defence asking for a $1,000 fine.

When handing down his decision via Zoom, Justice George Orsini said, “His personal view on the benefits of psilocybin do not make the offence any less serious.”

Akila, who now resides in Egypt, was then ordered to pay a fine of $10,000.