UPDATE | Fontana pulls magic mushrooms after health ministry warning
Published:Saturday | August 24, 2024 | 11:56 AM
Pharmacy chain Fontana has reportedly pulled magic mushrooms from its shelves, hours after the ministry of Health and Wellness said it did not approve the sale of the drugs locally.
In-store visits by The Gleaner on Friday revealed the product was not available. A formal statement from Fontana is still pending.
Fontana recently started selling the product. But other establishments sell the product across the island.
There are over six mushroom brands that sell the product islandwide. The products are generally restricted by age, and require ID, and in-store approval.
The ministry in a release on Friday night stated "emphatically" that it has not approved psilocybin mushroom products for use on the Jamaican market.
READ MORE: Full Text | Health ministry warns against magic mushrooms
“It is never the intention of the ministry to erect a barrier to access to healthcare products. However, the ministry must ensure that any product offered to the public for use must meet the established
standards within the respective legislative framework," according to Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie in a release.
Psilocybin is the active ingredient in such mushrooms. The ministry under its Standards and Regulation Division has the authority to regulate healthcare products "including psilocybin containing products" the ministry stated.
Additionally, Jamaica is signature to the 1971 Psychotropic Convention and is required to regulate the psilocybin and related substances, the ministry added.
- Steven Jackson
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