Michael Davis
Microdosing is the act of consuming very small amounts or low doses of a psychedelic substance on a regular basis. Psilocybin mushrooms are the most popular psychedelic in the US, and many people are opting to microdose, taking a fraction of the usual dose. Psilocybin is classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which means that it is deemed to have no medicinal benefit and a high potential for abuse. As a result, the use, sale, and possession of psilocybin are illegal under federal law in the United States. However, the legal status of psilocybin varies at the state level, with some states decriminalizing or legalizing its use for medicinal or therapeutic purposes. Outside of the US, the legal status of psilocybin also varies, with some countries prohibiting it and others allowing its use for medicinal purposes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Legal status of microdosing mushrooms in the US | Illegal under federal law, but some states have decriminalized it or made enforcement the lowest priority |
| Legal status of psilocybin mushrooms worldwide | Varies, but it is illegal in many countries, including Russia, India, and South Africa |
| United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances | Requires members to prohibit psilocybin, but mushrooms containing the drug were not specifically included due to pressure from Mexico |
| Examples of national drug laws reflecting the UN Convention | UK Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, US Psychotropic Substances Act of 1978, Australian Poisons Standard (Oct 2021), Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 1996, Japanese Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law of 2002 |
| Psilocybin classification in the US | Schedule I controlled substance, deemed to have no medicinal benefit and high abuse potential |
| Legality of psilocybin spores | Legal to sell and possess in some jurisdictions, but possessing spores could be considered illegal paraphernalia or intent to cultivate psilocybin mushrooms |
| Legality of cultivating psilocybin mushrooms | Considered drug manufacture in most jurisdictions and is often severely penalized |
| US states where psilocybin is legalized | Oregon and Colorado |
| US states where psilocybin is decriminalized | California, the District of Columbia, and potentially others |
| Reasons for microdosing psilocybin | Believed to improve mental health, increase productivity, and reduce stress |
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What You'll Learn
- Microdosing is illegal under US federal law
- Some US states have legalised or decriminalised psilocybin
- Psilocybin is a Schedule I drug under the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances
- Magic mushrooms are the most popular psychedelic in the US
- Microdosing is consuming small amounts of psychedelics regularly
Microdosing is illegal under US federal law
Microdosing is the practice of consuming very small amounts or low doses (sub-hallucinogenic) of a psychedelic substance on a regular basis. Psilocybin, which is found in "magic mushrooms", is one such substance that people may choose to microdose.
Psilocybin is classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in the United States. This means that it is deemed to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule I drugs are designated as those with a high potential for abuse and serve no legitimate medical purpose in the United States. As a result, the use, sale, and possession of psilocybin in the United States are illegal under federal law. Psilocybin is also listed as a Schedule I substance under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which requires its members to prohibit the drug outside of medical and scientific research under controlled conditions.
Because psilocybin is currently placed under Schedule I of the federal CSA, microdosing with this psychedelic substance is also illegal under US federal law. This means that even the possession of psilocybin spores could be considered illegal paraphernalia or an intent to cultivate psilocybin mushrooms, which can be punishable by federal law. Under federal law, violations involving psilocybin can result in large fines and prison sentences.
However, it is important to note that the enforcement of psilocybin-related offenses often occurs at the state level, and state laws vary. While psilocybin remains illegal in some states, several states and cities in the US have passed legislation to decriminalize or deprioritize the enforcement of psilocybin-related offenses. For example, in 2020, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize psilocybin and legalize its supervised use, and in 2022, Colorado followed with a similar measure. Additionally, cities like Denver, Oakland, Santa Cruz, and Ann Arbor have also taken steps to decriminalize or deprioritize the enforcement of psilocybin possession and use.
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Some US states have legalised or decriminalised psilocybin
Psilocybin is a Schedule 1 controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, which means that it is illegal under federal law in the United States. However, some US states and cities have passed legislation to decriminalize or legalize psilocybin for certain purposes.
In November 2019, Denver, Colorado, became the first city in the US to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms. This was followed by Santa Cruz, California, in January 2020, and the City Council of Ann Arbor, Michigan, in September 2020. In November 2020, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize psilocybin and legalize its supervised non-medical use. The District of Columbia also passed a similar initiative in November 2020, allowing the possession and non-profit distribution of psilocybin mushrooms.
In 2022, Colorado became the second state to legalize medical psilocybin treatments and decriminalize the possession, growing, and sharing of psilocybin for personal use. As of November 2022, several other states and cities, including Washington, California, and Michigan, have also loosened regulations on psilocybin use or are actively moving towards decriminalization.
While the use of psilocybin remains illegal under federal law, these state and local laws represent a shift in the legal landscape surrounding psilocybin and other psychedelic substances. The decriminalization and legalization efforts are often driven by advocates who cite the therapeutic and medicinal potential of psilocybin, as well as the low risk of its use compared to other illegal drugs.
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Psilocybin is a Schedule I drug under the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances
The legal status of unauthorised actions with psilocybin mushrooms varies worldwide. Psilocybin and psilocin are listed as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse or drugs that have no recognised medical uses. However, this classification is at odds with the historical and contemporary use of psilocybin mushrooms.
Psilocybin mushrooms have been used for medicinal and religious purposes in dozens of cultures throughout history and continue to be used today. The mushrooms themselves are not controlled by the Convention, and their active principles, psilocybin and psilocin, are only listed in the Schedule I category. This means that while the drugs derived from these mushrooms are tightly restricted, the mushrooms themselves are not specifically included in the UN convention. This is due in large part to pressure from the Mexican government, which argued that wild-growing plants such as psilocybin mushrooms should not be subject to the same regulations as the production of psychotropic drugs.
The UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances requires its members to prohibit psilocybin and restrict its use to medical and scientific research under strictly controlled conditions. However, the mushrooms containing the drug are not prohibited under the convention, and their legal status varies by jurisdiction. In some places, they are banned because they are used in drug manufacture, and their cultivation is often considered drug manufacture. Nevertheless, some countries and one US state (New Mexico) have ruled that growing psilocybin mushrooms does not qualify as "manufacturing" a controlled substance.
The legal status of psilocybin mushrooms is evolving, and there have been recent moves to decriminalise or legalise their use for therapeutic purposes. For example, in 2020, the District of Columbia passed the Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act, which allows for the possession and non-profit distribution of psilocybin mushrooms. Similarly, the Canadian province of Alberta has allowed the use of psilocybin for medicinal purposes in drug-assisted psychotherapy, and Australia has approved its use in prescription medications for treating PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. Despite these changes, psilocybin remains a Schedule I drug at the federal level in the United States, making its use, sale, and possession illegal under federal law. However, some US states have decriminalised or deprioritised enforcement of psilocybin possession.
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Magic mushrooms are the most popular psychedelic in the US
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom and a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin. When ingested, psilocybin is broken down by the liver and converted into psilocin, which is responsible for the mushrooms' psychedelic effects. Magic mushrooms have been used in Mexican and Central American cultures in religious, divinatory, or spiritual contexts. They may also be depicted in Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe.
However, it is important to note that the effects of magic mushrooms are highly variable and unpredictable, and they can cause adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, panic, and psychosis. Additionally, while some US states have started to ease regulations on the recreational use of magic mushrooms, they are still illegal under federal law as a Schedule I drug, which means that their use, sale, and possession are prohibited.
Despite their illegal status at the federal level, some states have passed legislation to decriminalize or deprioritize enforcement of laws against magic mushrooms. For example, in 2020, the District of Columbia passed the Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act, which allows for the possession and non-for-profit distribution of psilocybin mushrooms. Colorado became the second US state to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms in 2022, and Oregon allows professionally supervised psilocybin use.
The popularity of magic mushrooms in the US has raised concerns about the potential impact on Indigenous groups that consider psychedelics spiritual medicines. As the federal government decides how to respond to the increasing popularity of magic mushrooms, it will need to consider the potential fallout on the medical uses of psychedelics and the rights and traditions of Indigenous communities.
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Microdosing is consuming small amounts of psychedelics regularly
Microdosing is the practice of consuming very small, sub-hallucinogenic amounts of a psychedelic substance on a regular basis. Microdosers of psilocybin, often referred to as "magic mushrooms", typically take small, measured amounts orally in the form of pure mushrooms, tea, gummies, chocolates, or capsules. While there is no universal definition of microdosing, it is generally considered to be in the range of one-tenth to one-twentieth of a full dose.
The popularity of microdosing psilocybin mushrooms has been increasing, with some people believing it can improve mental health, increase productivity, and reduce stress. However, the effects of psilocybin are unpredictable and can vary widely from person to person. While some individuals report positive experiences, others have had unpleasant "bad trips" involving extreme fear, confusion, or panic.
The legal status of psilocybin mushrooms varies worldwide. Psilocybin and psilocin are listed as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which requires its members to prohibit the substances. However, the mushrooms themselves were not specifically included in the convention. In the United States, psilocybin is classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), making it illegal at the federal level. Nevertheless, the legal status of psilocybin is evolving, and some states have decriminalized or deprioritized enforcement, with a few states legalizing its use for medicinal or therapeutic purposes.
While microdosing psilocybin is illegal under federal law in the United States, certain states and localities have loosened their laws and policies, creating a complex legal landscape. Employers, for instance, may need to navigate situations where psilocybin is decriminalized or considered therapeutic in their jurisdiction, even though it remains illegal under federal law. It is important to stay informed about the specific laws and regulations in your area regarding the legality of psilocybin and microdosing.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms is illegal under federal law in the US. Psilocybin is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which means it is deemed to have no medicinal benefit and a high potential for abuse. However, state laws vary, and some states have decriminalized or legalized psilocybin for medicinal or therapeutic purposes.
The legal status of psilocybin mushrooms varies worldwide. In some countries, such as Peru and Bolivia, psilocybin is legal, while in others, like Russia, India, and South Africa, it is illegal. In Canada, Australia, and Denmark, psilocybin has been legalized for medicinal use. In the US, the District of Columbia and the states of Oregon and Colorado have legalized or decriminalized psilocybin.
Psilocybin mushrooms are illegal in many places because they are considered to have no medicinal value and a high potential for abuse. The United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, adopted in 1971, requires its members to prohibit psilocybin, and most national drug laws have been amended to reflect this. However, there is growing interest in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, and legislation is evolving as attitudes and evidence regarding its use develop.
