Sarah Brown
Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are mushrooms that contain the drug psilocybin. When psilocybin is ingested, it is converted to psilocin in the body, which is the chemical with psychoactive properties. Psilocybin and psilocin are hallucinogens that produce effects similar to LSD and are regulated under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions. The legal status of unauthorised actions with psilocybin mushrooms varies worldwide, with some countries and cities decriminalising the possession and use of these mushrooms for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. However, in most places, the sale, possession, and production of magic mushrooms are illegal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Active ingredients | Psilocybin and psilocin |
| Controlled under | United Nations Drug Control Conventions, United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), and, in Canada, under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) |
| Effects | Hallucinations, heightened emotions and senses, laughter, giggles, sense of mental and emotional clarity, altered state of consciousness, perceptual changes, distorted senses, altered thinking, altered sense of time, altered emotions |
| Time to onset of effects | 15-45 minutes |
| Duration of effects | 3 to 6 hours |
| Safety | No approved therapeutic products in Canada or elsewhere; safety, efficacy, and quality of products have not been assessed by Health Canada or undergone rigorous scientific review |
| Legality | Varies worldwide; banned in most jurisdictions; specifically prohibited in some US states (California, Georgia, and Idaho); decriminalized in some cities and in the US state of Colorado; regulated and allowed for medicinal use in the Canadian province of Alberta |
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What You'll Learn
Magic mushrooms are illegal in most countries
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are illegal in most countries. They are classified as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which requires its members to prohibit psilocybin. The treaty allows the use of the drug only for medical and scientific research under strict control. While the convention did not specifically include magic mushrooms due to pressure from the Mexican government, most national drug laws have been amended to reflect the terms of the convention. These include the UK Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the US Psychotropic Substances Act of 1978, and the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
The legal status of unauthorised actions with psilocybin mushrooms varies worldwide, with some countries having full legalisation, while others have legalised it only under specific contexts or decriminalised it. Decriminalisation generally implies that people can possess or use a small amount of the substance, although it remains illegal. In some jurisdictions, Psilocybe spores are legal to sell and possess because they do not contain psilocybin or psilocin, the active ingredients in magic mushrooms. However, in other jurisdictions, they are banned because they are used in drug manufacturing.
The cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms is often considered drug manufacturing and is penalised severely. However, some countries and one US state (New Mexico) have ruled that growing psilocybin mushrooms does not qualify as "manufacturing" a controlled substance. The possession and use of psilocybin are prohibited under almost all circumstances and often carry severe legal penalties. There is an active underground economy involved in the sale of spores and cultivation materials, taking advantage of the legal loopholes and ambiguity surrounding the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms.
Despite the illegal status of magic mushrooms in most countries, there is ongoing research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin in treating various mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and problematic substance use. As of 2024, some countries and territories that have legalised or decriminalised certain psychedelics include parts of Central Africa (Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and the Republic of the Congo), South Africa, Australia, the Bahamas, Brazil, the British Virgin Islands, Canada, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Samoa, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States.
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The active ingredients in magic mushrooms are psilocybin and psilocin
Magic mushrooms are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom and a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. The active ingredients in magic mushrooms are chemicals called psilocybin and psilocin. As psychoactive substances, psilocybin and psilocin are controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions. Psilocybin and psilocin are hallucinogens that produce effects similar to LSD. Individuals using magic mushrooms experience hallucinations and an altered state of consciousness. Effects appear within 15-45 minutes and usually last for four to six hours.
The most potent species are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens. However, psilocybin has also been isolated from over a dozen other genera, including Panaeolus, Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina. The principal component is psilocybin, which is converted into psilocin to produce psychoactive effects. Besides psilocin, norpsilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, and aeruginascin may also be present, which might result in an entourage effect and modify the effects of magic mushrooms.
Recreational doses of psilocybin mushrooms are typically between 1.0 and 3.5–5.0 g of dry mushrooms and 10 to 50 g of fresh mushrooms. This corresponds to a dosage of psilocybin of about 10 to 50 mg. Usual doses of the common species P. cubensis range around 1.0 to 2.5 g, while about 2.5 to 5.0 g of dried mushroom material is considered a strong dose, and above 5.0 g is considered a heavy dose. A 5.0 g dose of dried mushroom is often referred to as a "heroic dose". In terms of psilocybin and psilocin equivalence, psilocin is about 1.4-fold more potent than psilocybin (i.e., 1.4 mg psilocybin equals about 1.0 mg psilocin).
There is little evidence that people can become physically or psychologically dependent on magic mushrooms. However, it is possible to become tolerant of the drug's effects with regular use. This may occur over several days of continued use. There aren't many known withdrawal effects for magic mushrooms, apart from some potential mild psychological effects or feeling tired.
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Magic mushrooms are classified as Schedule I drugs
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are classified 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 and no recognised medical uses. The classification also includes synthetic marijuana, methaqualone, and bath salts, among others.
The active ingredients in magic mushrooms are the chemicals psilocybin and psilocin, which are hallucinogens that produce effects similar to LSD. They can cause heightened emotions and senses, as well as hallucinations and an altered state of consciousness. The effects typically last for four to six hours and there is little evidence of physical or psychological dependence. However, regular use can lead to tolerance, where even high amounts of the drug will no longer produce the desired effect.
While magic mushrooms have been used medicinally and religiously in various cultures throughout history, they are currently illegal in many countries. In the United States, for example, the possession, manufacture, and sale of magic mushrooms are prohibited under federal law, although there are some state-level variations. Similarly, in Canada, activities related to magic mushrooms are illegal unless authorised by Health Canada.
Despite the Schedule I classification, there have been recent moves to re-evaluate the status of psilocybin. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University have suggested that psilocybin should be reclassified as a Schedule IV drug, similar to prescription sleep aids, if it clears phase III clinical trials. This reclassification would acknowledge the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin while still imposing tight controls on its use.
In addition, some jurisdictions have begun to relax restrictions on the use of psilocybin mushrooms. For example, in 2020, the District of Columbia passed a bill allowing the possession and non-profit distribution of psilocybin mushrooms for entheogenic purposes. Similarly, the Canadian province of Alberta has allowed the use of psilocybin for medicinal purposes in drug-assisted psychotherapy. These developments highlight a growing recognition of the potential benefits of psilocybin mushrooms in certain contexts.
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The effects of magic mushrooms vary from person to person
Magic mushrooms, or mushrooms containing psilocybin, are illegal in many countries. They are listed as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which defines Schedule I drugs as substances with a high potential for abuse and no recognised medical uses. However, the mushrooms themselves were not specifically included in the convention, and their legal status varies worldwide. For example, in 2020, the District of Columbia passed a bill allowing the possession and non-profit distribution of psilocybin mushrooms, and in 2022, Colorado became the second US state to decriminalise them.
The effects of magic mushrooms typically begin within 15 to 30 minutes when ingested and can last between four to six hours. The mushrooms induce hallucinations, sensory distortion, and an altered state of consciousness. Users may experience heightened emotions and senses, euphoria, and a sense of mental clarity. However, adverse effects can include disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and confusion.
While magic mushrooms are not considered addictive, tolerance can develop with regular use, requiring higher doses to achieve the desired effects. Additionally, there is a risk of mistaking poisonous mushrooms for magic mushrooms, which can have dangerous consequences.
Research into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin is ongoing, with studies suggesting it may be effective in treating depression, anxiety, nicotine and alcohol addictions, and other substance use disorders. However, it is important to note that these studies are conducted in controlled research and medical settings under professional supervision.
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The legality of magic mushrooms is changing in some places
The legality of magic mushrooms is a complex issue that varies across different countries and jurisdictions. While the active ingredients in magic mushrooms, psilocybin and psilocin, are classified as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the legality of possessing, consuming, and cultivating magic mushrooms themselves is less clear-cut and has been subject to recent changes in some places.
In the United States, for example, the federal government classifies psilocybin as a Schedule I drug, making it illegal to possess, sell, or grow under federal law. However, there have been recent shifts towards decriminalization and regulated use at the state and local levels. Notably, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize psilocybin and legalize its supervised non-medical use in November 2020. Colorado followed suit in 2022, becoming the second state to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms. Additionally, cities like Denver, Oakland, Santa Cruz, Ann Arbor, and Somerville have passed resolutions to deprioritize enforcement or decriminalize psilocybin possession and use. These changes reflect a growing trend towards recognizing the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin and magic mushrooms in treating mental health disorders.
In Canada, the possession, sale, and production of magic mushrooms are generally illegal under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). However, the province of Alberta has taken a progressive approach by announcing regulations to allow the use of psilocybin, along with other substances like LSD and MDMA, for medicinal purposes in drug-assisted psychotherapy. This move positions Alberta as a pioneer in exploring the therapeutic potential of these substances.
Outside of North America, Australia has also made strides in recognizing the medicinal value of psilocybin. In February 2023, Australia approved the use of psilocybin and MDMA in prescription medications for the treatment of PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. This decision reflects a shift in perspective, considering the potential benefits of substances that were once strictly prohibited.
While the trend towards decriminalization and regulated use of magic mushrooms is gaining momentum, it's important to note that the legal landscape varies greatly across different regions. Some jurisdictions, like California, Georgia, and Idaho in the United States, have specifically prohibited the sale and possession of psilocybin mushroom spores. The cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms is often considered drug manufacturing, leading to severe penalties in many areas. Therefore, it is crucial to refer to the specific laws and regulations in each jurisdiction to understand the legal status of magic mushrooms.
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