Laura Smith
Magic mushrooms, or mushrooms containing psilocybin, are hallucinogens that have been used for thousands of years. They are currently illegal in many places, but there is ongoing research into their potential therapeutic benefits. In 2023, Australia reclassified psilocybin to allow authorised psychiatrists to prescribe it for treatment-resistant depression. This reclassification acknowledges the lack of options for patients with specific treatment-resistant mental illnesses. While there are risks associated with psilocybin use, it has shown promising results in treating depression and anxiety in people who are terminally ill, and in helping longtime smokers quit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Active ingredients | Psilocybin and psilocin |
| Type of drug | Psychoactive, psychedelic, hallucinogen |
| Effects | Hallucinations, heightened emotions and senses, happiness, laughter, mental and emotional clarity, altered state of consciousness, perceptual changes, reduced senses of self or ego, feelings of connectedness |
| Negative effects | "Bad trip", paranoia, loss of boundaries, distorted sense of self, heightened risk for certain conditions like personality disorders and schizophrenia, negative side-effects for those with heart and liver disease |
| Use | Eaten fresh, cooked, brewed into tea, dried whole mushrooms, powder, tablets, capsules |
| Legality | Illegal in Canada unless authorized by Health Canada, will be prescribed by authorised psychiatrists in Australia from July 1, 2023, for treatment-resistant depression |
| Ongoing research | Potential to treat various mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, problematic substance use, nicotine and alcohol dependence, and terminal illness |
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What You'll Learn
- Magic mushrooms are hallucinogens that produce effects similar to LSD
- There is little evidence of physical or psychological dependence on magic mushrooms
- Magic mushrooms are being studied for their potential in treating mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and addiction
- Magic mushrooms can be eaten fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea
- Magic mushrooms are controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions
Magic mushrooms are hallucinogens that produce effects similar to LSD
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, are naturally occurring hallucinogens that have been used for thousands of years. They are consumed for their psychedelic effects, which can include heightened sensory awareness, impaired judgment, and hallucinations. The active ingredients in magic mushrooms are the chemicals psilocybin and psilocin, which are both controlled substances internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions. When psilocybin is ingested, it is converted in the body to psilocin, which is the chemical with psychoactive properties.
LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide, on the other hand, is a mind-altering chemical made from lysergic acid. It is typically synthesized in a laboratory and sold illegally in the form of small tabs of paper that dissolve in the mouth, or as a tablet or capsule. Like psilocybin, LSD is also a hallucinogen that can cause a person to lose touch with reality and experience things like visions or a blending of the senses.
While magic mushrooms and LSD are both hallucinogens that produce similar effects, they can also produce very different experiences. For example, mushrooms produce more of a whole-body experience, while an LSD trip is largely cerebral. Additionally, the onset time and duration of the effects of these substances differ. The effects of magic mushrooms usually appear within 15-45 minutes and last for around four to six hours. LSD, on the other hand, typically takes about an hour to kick in and can last for up to 12 hours.
It is important to note that the use of any drug, including magic mushrooms and LSD, can have risks. While there is little evidence that people can become physically or psychologically dependent on magic mushrooms, there is a risk of experiencing a "bad trip," which can be frightening and include negative effects such as paranoia, loss of boundaries, and a distorted sense of self. Similarly, LSD trips can also result in negative experiences, with reports suggesting that the higher potency and longer duration of LSD trips may contribute to a higher likelihood of "bad trips."
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There is little evidence of physical or psychological dependence on magic mushrooms
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, are hallucinogens that produce effects similar to LSD. They have been used for thousands of years and there are over 200 species of them. The active ingredients in magic mushrooms are chemicals called psilocybin and psilocin, which are controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions. While the use of magic mushrooms is illegal in many places, there is a growing interest in their potential therapeutic uses.
Magic mushrooms can cause hallucinations and an altered state of consciousness. They can also lead to heightened emotions and senses, making people feel happy and creative, and experience a sense of mental and emotional clarity. However, they can also cause a "bad trip", which may include paranoia, loss of boundaries, and a distorted sense of self.
While magic mushrooms can have therapeutic benefits, there are also risks associated with their use. They may worsen the symptoms of certain conditions like personality disorders and schizophrenia. Additionally, people with physical health conditions like heart and liver disease have an increased chance of experiencing negative side effects. It is important to note that psychedelic therapy should always take place under professional supervision to reduce these risks.
Despite the risks, there is little evidence that people can become physically or psychologically dependent on magic mushrooms. However, it is possible to become tolerant to the drug's effects with regular use. This means that even high amounts of the drug may no longer produce the desired effect. At this time, there are no approved therapeutic products containing psilocybin in Canada or elsewhere, and further research is needed to fully understand the effects and potential benefits of magic mushrooms.
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Magic mushrooms are being studied for their potential in treating mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and addiction
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, are hallucinogens that produce effects similar to LSD. They have been used for thousands of years, including by Indigenous communities around the world. In the 1950s, an American mycologist, R. Gordon Wasson, participated in a ritual using psychedelic mushrooms in Mexico, introducing them to Western societies. Since then, magic mushrooms have been studied for their potential therapeutic benefits in treating mental health disorders.
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic found in certain types of mushrooms. It is the key ingredient in magic mushrooms and is converted in the body to psilocin, which has psychoactive properties. Magic mushrooms can be eaten fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea. The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin within 15-45 minutes and can last for approximately four to six hours.
While the use of magic mushrooms is primarily associated with recreational purposes, there is a growing body of research indicating that controlled psilocybin therapy may be beneficial in treating mental and behavioral health disorders. This includes treatment-resistant depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other mental health disorders. For example, a recent phase 2 double-blind trial found that a single 25 mg dose of synthetic psilocybin administered with psychotherapy significantly reduced depressive symptoms after three weeks. Additionally, psilocybin has been found to ease fear and anxiety in people with terminal cancer and may be effective in managing alcohol use disorder and substance use disorders.
In 2023, Australia recognized the medicinal qualities of psilocybin and allowed authorized psychiatrists to prescribe medicines containing psilocybin to treat depression and PTSD. This change reflects the increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs, with the Australian government investing $15 million in grants for researchers studying the mental health benefits of psychedelics. However, it is important to note that the use of psilocybin outside of controlled settings carries risks, and it is not recommended to take psilocybin without medical supervision.
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Magic mushrooms can be eaten fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea
Magic mushrooms, also known as psilocybin mushrooms, have been used for thousands of years. They contain the psychoactive substances psilocybin and psilocin, which are controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions. While the consumption of magic mushrooms is illegal in many parts of the world, some places like Canada, Austria, Portugal, and parts of the US have decriminalized their recreational use.
If you choose to eat magic mushrooms fresh, it's important to properly identify them, as they can resemble poisonous mushrooms, which may lead to organ damage, severe illness, or even death. Fresh mushrooms are more perishable, so they should be consumed within a few days and stored at room temperature to maintain their potency and safety.
Cooking with magic mushrooms is also an option. Some people believe that cooking enhances the effects of the mushrooms and makes the experience more enjoyable and ritualistic. However, one of the main dangers of cooking with magic mushrooms is dosage control. It's crucial to do your research and be cautious when adding mushrooms to your dish to avoid accidentally consuming too much.
Alternatively, you can brew magic mushroom tea, also known as shroom tea. To make this tea, dried mushrooms are ground into a fine powder and added to a pot of boiling water for about 20 minutes before being strained. Shroom tea is known to provide the effects of the drug more quickly and with less chance of nausea. However, it's important to be cautious with dosage and be aware of potential side effects, both positive and negative, that may occur.
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Magic mushrooms are controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, are hallucinogenic fungi that have been consumed for their psychoactive effects for thousands of years. They are often eaten fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea, and they induce an altered state of consciousness, including hallucinations. The active ingredients in magic mushrooms are chemicals called psilocybin and psilocin. Psilocybin is converted into psilocin in the body, and psilocin is the chemical with psychoactive properties.
While magic mushrooms have been used medicinally and religiously by dozens of cultures throughout history, they are currently controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions. The United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, signed in 1971, requires its members to prohibit psilocybin and restrict its use to medical and scientific research under strictly monitored conditions. Psilocybin was placed in Schedule I, the highest level of control, for drugs deemed dangerous, with no therapeutic value and a serious risk to public health.
However, the 1971 Convention did not specifically include the mushrooms containing psilocybin, due to pressure from the Mexican government. This has led to ambiguity in many national, state, and provincial drug laws regarding the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms. While the possession and use of psilocybin are prohibited under almost all circumstances, the legal status of unauthorised actions with psilocybin mushrooms varies worldwide.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the therapeutic potential of psilocybin in treating mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance use. As a result, a global coalition is now seeking to reschedule psilocybin under the 1971 Convention, which would provide a more permissive environment for governments to change their domestic regulatory controls. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended reclassifying cannabis, which was initially categorized as a dangerous substance with no medicinal benefit. Following this recommendation, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs accepted the proposal to change the drug's scheduled status.
In 2023, Australia approved the use of psilocybin in prescription medications for the treatment of PTSD and treatment-resistant depression, marking a significant step forward in the recognition of the medicinal qualities of psilocybin. Additionally, the Australian government has provided grants to researchers studying the mental health benefits of psychedelic drugs, and the country is now home to the Psychae Institute, a global psychedelic research institute. These developments highlight the shifting landscape surrounding the control and perception of magic mushrooms internationally.
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Frequently asked questions
Magic mushrooms are a group of drugs called psychedelics. They are naturally occurring and are consumed for their hallucinogenic effects. The key ingredient in magic mushrooms is psilocybin, which is converted in the body to psilocin, the chemical with psychoactive properties.
The effects of magic mushrooms vary from person to person. They can include heightened emotions and senses, hallucinations, and an altered state of consciousness. The effects usually appear within 15-45 minutes and can last for four to six hours.
Magic mushrooms are controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions. In Canada, for example, activities with magic mushrooms, such as sale, possession, and production, are illegal unless authorized by Health Canada. However, in Australia, from July 1, 2023, medicines containing psilocybin can be prescribed by authorized psychiatrists to treat specific mental health conditions.
There is a risk of confusing magic mushrooms with poisonous mushrooms, which look very similar. Magic mushrooms may also cause a "'bad trip," which can be frightening and include paranoia, loss of boundaries, and a distorted sense of self. There is also a risk of negative side effects for those with physical health conditions like heart and liver disease, or certain mental health conditions like personality disorders and schizophrenia.
