Emma Wilson
Mushrooms containing psilocybin, commonly known as 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. Psilocybin is a Schedule I substance, meaning that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) believes it has a high potential for abuse and serves no legitimate medical purpose. However, psilocybin mushrooms have had numerous medicinal and religious uses in dozens of cultures throughout history and have a significantly lower potential for abuse than other Schedule I drugs. Psilocybin is being studied as a possible medicine in the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance use disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other conditions such as cluster headaches.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Magic mushrooms, shrooms |
| Active ingredient | Psilocybin, which converts to psilocin in the body |
| Effects | Hallucinations, sensory distortion, euphoria, anxiety, panic, flashbacks, enhanced self-awareness, a sense of contact with a "Transcendent Other", a mystical experience |
| Use | Recreational, spiritual, medical |
| Forms | Fresh, cooked, brewed into tea, dried material in capsules, chocolate-covered |
| Dosage | 5-40 mg orally, with 5-10 mg considered a low dose, 20 mg a "good effect" dose, and 30-40 mg a high or ego-dissolution dose |
| Legality | Outlawed in most countries, classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances. However, some countries have different regulations, and some cities in the US have decriminalized magic mushrooms. |
| Risks | Bad trips, poisoning from picking the wrong type of mushroom, disturbing flashbacks, withdrawal effects such as tiredness |
| Benefits | Used in therapy for psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance use disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and cluster headaches. Also being studied for opioid dependence, PTSD, and anorexia nervosa. |
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What You'll Learn
Magic mushrooms are classified as a Schedule I controlled substance
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are classified as Schedule I controlled substances under the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse and no recognised medical uses. Psilocybin is the key ingredient in magic mushrooms, and when ingested, it is converted to psilocin in the body, which is the chemical responsible for its psychoactive properties.
Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic and can cause perceptual changes, such as visual and auditory hallucinations, and alter a person's thinking, sense of time, and emotions. They are consumed fresh, cooked, or brewed into tea, with effects typically lasting four to six hours. While magic mushrooms have been associated with negative experiences like bad trips and flashbacks, they have also been used for recreational, spiritual, and medicinal purposes.
The classification of magic mushrooms as Schedule I substances has been a subject of debate. While they are outlawed in most countries, some jurisdictions allow the sale and possession of Psilocybe spores, which do not contain psilocybin or psilocin. Additionally, psilocybin mushrooms have had numerous medicinal and religious uses in various cultures throughout history, and some researchers argue that they have a significantly lower potential for abuse than other Schedule I drugs.
In 2018, researchers from Johns Hopkins University suggested that if psilocybin clears phase III clinical trials, it should be reclassified from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule IV drug, similar to prescription sleep aids, but with tighter control. They emphasised the need for conversation around psilocybin classification to facilitate its clinical use while minimising logistical hurdles. The researchers also recommended that psilocybin, when used for clinical reasons, should be administered in a healthcare setting by trained personnel to minimise potential abuse or harm.
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Mushrooms are used in therapy and microdosing
Psilocybin, the active compound in hallucinogenic "magic mushrooms", has been used for centuries by indigenous peoples. It is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound that can be eaten fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea. The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin within 30 minutes when eaten, or within 5–10 minutes when taken as a soup or tea, and can last for approximately four to six hours.
The use of magic mushrooms has been studied for its medicinal potential in treating psychiatric disorders, including depression, substance use disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and cluster headaches. Psilocybin is also being studied for its therapeutic potential in treating opioid addiction, Alzheimer's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, anorexia nervosa, and alcohol use disorder.
In the United States, psilocybin and other psychedelic drugs have been heavily criminalized since the 1960s and are classified as Schedule I substances, indicating a high potential for abuse and no recognized medical uses. However, the classification of psilocybin as a Schedule I substance is inconsistent with scientific and medical research, and there is growing interest in exploring its therapeutic potential.
Microdosing is the practice of consuming small amounts of psychedelics, typically about 1/5 to 1/20 of a recreational dose. People who microdose with psilocybin may take a dose of around 0.3 grams of dried mushrooms, although the potency of mushrooms can vary. Advocates of microdosing believe that it can enhance mood, creativity, concentration, productivity, and empathy. However, the evidence regarding the benefits of microdosing is mixed, and more research is needed to determine its effectiveness and safety.
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Mushrooms have been used for spiritual experiences
Mushrooms, specifically psilocybin mushrooms, also known as "magic mushrooms", have been used for spiritual experiences. They are consumed for their hallucinogenic and psychedelic effects. Psilocybin is the key ingredient in magic mushrooms and is converted to psilocin in the body, which is the chemical with psychoactive properties.
Magic mushrooms have been used for spiritual experiences in Indigenous American cultures and continue to be used in religious, divinatory, or spiritual contexts. They are revered as powerful spiritual sacraments that provide access to sacred worlds. Typically used in small group community settings, they enhance group cohesion and reaffirm traditional values.
Psilocybin mushrooms have been depicted in Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe and are represented in pre-Columbian sculptures and glyphs seen throughout the Americas. They are also used in contemporary religions as a sacrament, and many psychedelic users report having deeply spiritual and mystical experiences outside of a structured religious context.
In a carefully controlled study, about one-third of volunteers had a "complete" mystical experience after taking psilocybin, with half of them describing their encounter as the single most spiritually significant experience in their lifetimes. However, it's important to note that psilocybin use has been associated with side effects such as severe paranoia, nervousness, and unwanted flashbacks, so experts warn against experimentation.
Psilocybin is being studied for its potential therapeutic use, such as helping people come to terms with challenging news like a cancer diagnosis. It is also being investigated as a possible treatment for psychiatric disorders, including depression, substance use disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and cluster headaches.
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Mushrooms are not addictive, but can cause 'bad trips'
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are not considered to be addictive. They do not exhibit the same addictive properties as commonly abused substances like opioids or stimulants. There is also no significant physiological dependence associated with the drug, and there are no known withdrawal effects apart from some mild psychological effects or feelings of tiredness. However, people who use mushrooms may continue to do so to attain pleasurable feelings, which can lead to problematic and compulsive patterns of use.
Mushrooms are classified as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which defines Schedule I drugs as drugs with a high potential for abuse and no recognized medical uses. However, psilocybin mushrooms have been used medicinally and religiously in various cultures throughout history and have a significantly lower potential for abuse than other Schedule I drugs.
While mushrooms are not considered addictive, they can cause what is known as a "bad trip". A bad trip refers to a negative psychedelic experience, which can include hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, mood swings, and disturbing or confusing thoughts and memories. Bad trips can be frightening and emotionally disturbing, and their effects can persist even after the trip is over, including anxiety, panic attacks, existential struggles, and social disconnection.
The likelihood of experiencing a bad trip on mushrooms can be influenced by various factors, such as one's mood, environment, stress, or anxiety. Additionally, consuming a large amount or a strong batch of mushrooms can increase the risk of a bad trip. It is important to be cautious when taking mushrooms, as their effects can vary from person to person and can sometimes lead to negative experiences.
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Magic mushrooms are illegal in most countries
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are hallucinogenic fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. They are consumed for their ability to alter a person's thinking, sense of time, emotions, and senses, often resulting in hallucinations.
While the use of magic mushrooms has been recorded in various cultures throughout history for medicinal, recreational, and spiritual purposes, they are illegal in most countries today. 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. As a result, many countries have some level of regulation or prohibition in place for psilocybin mushrooms. For example, the US Psychotropic Substances Act, the UK Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act all regulate or prohibit the use of psilocybin mushrooms.
However, there is ambiguity in the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms in some jurisdictions. While the possession and use of psilocybin are generally prohibited, the mushrooms containing the drug were not specifically included in the 1971 UN Convention due to pressure from the Mexican government. This has led to a legal loophole where the sale, possession, and consumption of magic mushrooms are allowed in certain places, such as the Bahamas, Belgium, and Jamaica. In addition, some jurisdictions have specifically amended laws to criminalize the possession of psilocybin mushroom spores, while others have ruled that growing psilocybin mushrooms does not qualify as "manufacturing" a controlled substance.
The legal landscape surrounding magic mushrooms is evolving as research progresses on the potential mental and physical health benefits of psychedelics in therapeutic contexts. As of 2024, some form of legalisation or decriminalisation of psychedelics, including psilocybin, has been observed in parts of Central Africa, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, and the United States, among others. These changes reflect a growing recognition of the potential therapeutic benefits of substances like magic mushrooms.
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Frequently asked questions
Psychotropic mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, contain the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin. This prodrug converts to the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion, causing altered sensory, emotional, and cognitive experiences.
People consume psychotropic mushrooms in various forms, including eating them fresh, cooking them, brewing them into tea, or crushing them into capsules. They are often used recreationally, but some also seek spiritual or transcendent experiences.
The effects of psychotropic mushrooms vary widely and can range from euphoria and sensory distortion to hallucinations and anxiety. The experience may be positive or negative, commonly known as a "good trip" or "bad trip."
While psychotropic mushrooms are not considered physically addictive, they can cause disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, and panic. Accidental ingestion of poisonous mushrooms can also lead to severe gastrointestinal issues or even death.
Psilocybin and psilocin are classified as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, indicating a high potential for abuse and no recognized medical use. However, many countries have their own regulations, with some decriminalizing or facilitating research and therapeutic use.
