PremiumEva de JongMultimedia journalist·NZ Herald·31 Jul, 2026 05:00 PM12 mins to read‌Gillian Francis uses magic mushrooms to treat her cluster headaches: “I’m not a drug seeker. I’m not a criminal”.

Photo / Corey FlemingWhat would you do if you discovered a tiny mushroom helped soothe your excruciating headaches or crippling anxiety, but that fungus was illegal? For the people facing this choice, they say they are being pushed into underground options. Eva de Jong reports.

Behind a neat walled garden in inner-city Auckland,