John Miller
Magic mushrooms, or mushrooms containing psilocybin and psilocin, are considered drugs. They are controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions and, in Canada, under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). The use of magic mushrooms can lead to hallucinations, an altered state of consciousness, and perceptual changes such as visual and auditory hallucinations. The effects of magic mushrooms typically begin within 15-45 minutes and can last for up to six hours. While there is little evidence of physical or psychological dependence on magic mushrooms, regular use can lead to tolerance, and there are potential risks and negative effects associated with their consumption.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How are mushrooms consumed? | Eaten fresh, cooked, brewed into tea, or mixed with food |
| How do mushrooms affect people? | Hallucinations, heightened emotions and senses, anxiety, paranoia, nervousness, distorted sense of time, place and reality, nausea, excessive yawning, drowsiness, relaxation, mystical experiences, flashbacks, headaches |
| What are the risks? | Poisoning, adverse reactions, "bad trips", long-term mental health conditions, physical harm from intravenous injection |
| Are mushrooms addictive? | No evidence of physical or psychological dependence |
| Are mushrooms illegal? | Controlled under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions; illegal in many Western countries such as the UK, Australia, and some U.S. states |
| Are mushrooms being researched for therapeutic use? | Yes, for conditions like depression, PTSD, addiction, pain, and neurodegenerative disorders |
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What You'll Learn
Magic mushrooms are classified as a drug
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, are classified as a drug. They are naturally occurring and are consumed for their hallucinogenic effects. They are psychedelic drugs, which means they can affect all the senses, altering a person's thinking, sense of time, and emotions. They can cause hallucinations, where individuals see or hear things that are not there or are distorted. Magic mushrooms can be eaten fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea. They can also be dried and powdered.
The key ingredient in magic mushrooms is psilocybin, which is converted in the body to psilocin—the chemical with psychoactive properties. The mushrooms have a long history of use, with evidence of their consumption by indigenous people in Central America for healing and spiritual rituals dating back to 3000 B.C. Today, psilocybin is being studied for its potential to treat various mental health disorders.
The effects of magic mushrooms can vary depending on individual factors such as personality, expectations, surroundings, and the amount consumed. They typically cause shifts in how a person perceives reality and can induce hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and a distorted sense of time, place, and reality. While the use of magic mushrooms rarely results in life-threatening symptoms, there are risks associated with their consumption, particularly when taken in an unsupervised or unfamiliar environment.
One notable risk is the potential for misidentification, as magic mushrooms can look very similar to certain types of poisonous mushrooms. Additionally, there is a risk of negative experiences, known as "bad trips," which can be influenced by factors such as stress, anxiety, or combining magic mushrooms with other drugs. Some regular users may also experience flashbacks, where they relive previous magic mushroom experiences, even long after the drug was last taken.
Overall, while magic mushrooms have a long history of use and potential therapeutic benefits, they are classified as a drug due to their hallucinogenic and psychoactive effects, and their consumption carries certain risks that individuals should be cautious about.
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The effects of magic mushrooms
Magic mushrooms are considered a drug due to their hallucinogenic effects. They contain the psychoactive substances psilocybin and psilocin, which are controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions. The effects of magic mushrooms are varied and can be highly unpredictable, depending on factors such as dosage, individual tolerance, and environment.
One of the most significant risks associated with magic mushrooms is the possibility of a "bad trip". This can be influenced by factors such as dosage, individual mood, and expectations. A bad trip may involve frightening hallucinations, paranoia, loss of boundaries, and a distorted sense of self, which can lead to risk-taking behaviours and, in rare cases, traumatic injuries or death. It is important to note that the only way to eliminate the risk of a bad trip is to refrain from consuming magic mushrooms.
In addition to the immediate effects, magic mushrooms can also have long-term consequences. Regular users may experience flashbacks or "revivals" of previous mushroom experiences, which can be disturbing, especially if they recall frightening hallucinations or intense emotions. These flashbacks can be triggered by various factors, such as stress, tiredness, or the use of other drugs, and they can occur weeks, months, or even years after the last mushroom use.
Another important consideration is the potential impact on individuals with pre-existing psychiatric conditions. While there is little evidence of physical or psychological dependence on magic mushrooms, those with psychiatric conditions may face an elevated risk of adverse side effects. Additionally, the combination of magic mushrooms with certain psychiatric medications can lead to a relapse or worsening of the condition.
It is crucial to exercise caution when considering the consumption of magic mushrooms due to the potential risks involved. The effects can vary widely, and there is always the possibility of a negative experience or adverse health consequences.
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The risks of taking magic mushrooms
Mushrooms that contain the compound psilocybin, often referred to as "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms," can induce a range of effects, including hallucinations and an altered sense of perception, mood, and time. These effects have led to their classification as a drug, with potential risks and benefits that are the subject of ongoing research and debate.
Psychological Risks:
Taking magic mushrooms can lead to a range of psychological risks, with the effects being highly variable across individuals and dependent on the specific context and setting in which they are consumed. Negative psychological experiences can include anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, and psychotic episodes. These adverse reactions are often referred to as "bad trips," during which individuals may experience intense fear, lose their sense of self, and perceive distortions in their body image. In extreme cases, individuals may engage in harmful or risky behaviour under the influence, endangering themselves or those around them. The risk of a negative experience is heightened in individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia, and can potentially trigger the onset of these conditions in those who are susceptible.
Physiological Risks:
Physically, magic mushrooms can induce a range of effects on the body, including an increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, nausea, muscle weakness, and loss of coordination. In rare cases, more severe physical reactions can occur, such as seizures or an acute psychotic break, which may require medical intervention. Mixing mushrooms with other substances, including alcohol or other drugs, can also lead to unpredictable and dangerous physical reactions.
Long-Term Risks:
Regular and prolonged use of magic mushrooms may lead to long-term changes in brain function and structure, particularly in individuals who start using at a young age. Research suggests that frequent use can result in persistent cognitive impairments, including issues with memory, attention, and problem-solving abilities. Additionally, there are potential long-term effects on mental health, with some individuals experiencing ongoing anxiety, depression, or flashbacks of previous "bad trips" long after they have stopped using mushrooms.
Legal and Social Risks:
In many places, the possession and consumption of magic mushrooms are illegal due to their classification as a controlled substance. As such, there are legal risks associated with their use, including potential criminal charges and penalties. Socially, the use of magic mushrooms may carry stigma and negatively impact an individual's relationships, career, or educational opportunities.
It is important to approach the consumption of magic mushrooms with caution and to be well-informed about the potential risks and effects. While some advocate for the therapeutic potential of psilocybin in controlled settings, further research is needed to fully understand the benefits and risks associated with their use.
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The legality of magic mushrooms
However, the mushrooms containing the drug were not specifically included in the convention, and there has been ambiguity about the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms in many national, state, and provincial drug laws. While the possession and use of psilocybin are prohibited under almost all circumstances in most countries, some jurisdictions permit the sale and possession of psilocybe spores as they do not contain psilocybin or psilocin. Examples include Germany and some US states like California, Georgia, and Idaho.
In the United States, psilocybin is federally classified as a Schedule I controlled substance and is illegal under federal law. However, some US cities and states have decriminalized psilocybin mushrooms and, in some cases, legalized their supervised use. For instance, in 2019, Denver, Colorado, became the first city in the US to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms, and in 2020, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize and legalize psilocybin for supervised non-medical use. Other cities that have followed suit include Washtenaw County, Michigan; Somerville, Massachusetts; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Oakland, California.
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Therapeutic potential of magic mushrooms
Magic mushrooms, or mushrooms that contain psilocybin, have been used by humans for thousands of years, including in religious rituals. Today, some people use magic mushrooms for a unique, interesting, enlightening, and/or spiritual experience. Others take very small amounts of the substance regularly, a practice called microdosing, to improve their mental state and productivity.
Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic chemical found in certain mushrooms, known as magic mushrooms. Eating mushrooms that contain psilocybin can have a variety of effects, ranging from euphoria to hallucinations. Some people use psilocybin as a recreational drug. It can provide feelings of euphoria and sensory distortion that are common to hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD.
The therapeutic potential of magic mushrooms has been a growing area of interest for researchers. Psilocybin has a low level of toxicity, which means that it has a low potential for causing fatal events like breathing problems or a heart attack. However, there are health risks associated with taking psilocybin, particularly when unsupervised and outside of a research context. The effects of psilocybin vary widely, and adverse side effects are often mild or moderate and may resolve with time. However, some people may require medical treatment.
A growing body of research suggests that, when administered in controlled conditions with supportive therapy, psilocybin may be useful for treating various psychiatric disorders, like depression, substance use disorders, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. For example, a 2023 study found that adults who took a single 25-milligram dose of psilocybin with psychological support experienced a clinically significant reduction in depressive symptoms compared to adults who took a placebo. Another 2024 review suggests that psilocybin may have short-term and long-term antidepressant effects.
Despite the promising research on the therapeutic potential of magic mushrooms, there are still challenges and questions that need to be addressed. Clinicians are still learning about how psilocybin works, who it works for, and when and how often it should be used. Obtaining funding for such studies is difficult due to the stigmatization of psilocybin, which has prompted governmental funding bodies to avoid projects involving the compound.
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Frequently asked questions
Magic mushrooms are mushrooms that contain psilocybin and psilocin, which are hallucinogens that can alter a person's state of consciousness. They are often eaten fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea.
The effects of magic mushrooms vary from person to person. Early effects typically include nausea and excessive yawning. A trip may then follow, which can be mild, leaving a person feeling drowsy or relaxed, or more intense, leading to hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and nervousness.
Psilocybin and psilocin, the active compounds in magic mushrooms, are controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions. In Canada, they are illegal unless authorized by Health Canada. In the US, the sale and possession of psilocybin mushroom spores are prohibited in some states, while other states do not consider growing them as "manufacturing" a controlled substance.
There is little evidence that people can become physically or psychologically dependent on magic mushrooms. However, it is possible to develop a tolerance to their effects with regular use.
The main risk of taking magic mushrooms is the possibility of misidentifying them and consuming a toxic or poisonous mushroom instead. Additionally, there is a risk of experiencing a bad trip, which can include extreme fear, anxiety, panic, or paranoia.
