Emma Wilson
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin when ingested. They are often used as recreational drugs and can induce hallucinations, alter perceptions, and change mood and cognition. While they have been used for centuries in some cultures for spiritual and medicinal purposes, their consumption and possession are illegal in many places due to their psychoactive effects and potential health risks. Psilocybin mushrooms grow in various habitats, including forests, pastures, and sometimes even in people's backyards. They are particularly prevalent in the Pacific Northwest, where they thrive in wood chips.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Psilocybe Mushrooms |
| Common Name | Magic Mushrooms, Shrooms |
| Active Ingredient | Psilocybin |
| Effects | Hallucinations, altered perceptions, changes in mood and cognition, loss of touch with reality, disassociation, risk of poisoning and psychological distress |
| Appearance | Conical or bell-shaped cap with a brown, blue, or grayish hue |
| Identification | Turns deep purplish-blue when crushed or bruised due to the presence of purple spores |
| Occurrence | Grow in forests, pastures, and backyard settings; found in wood chips, fallen trees, and other materials with high carbon content |
| Distribution | Found in various locations, including the Pacific Northwest, California, Ohio River Valley, Europe, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and more |
| Legality | Classified as Schedule I controlled substance by the US DEA; decriminalized or legalized for therapeutic use in some states and municipalities |
| Risks | Potential for fatal overdose is uncommon, but poisoning and psychological risks exist |
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What You'll Learn
How to identify psilocybin mushrooms
Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as "magic mushrooms", are a group of fungi that contain the hallucinogenic compound psilocybin. They are classified under the genus Psilocybe, with famous species like Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe semilanceata, and Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata. While psilocybin was decriminalized in Oregon in 2020, it is important to be aware of any legal restrictions around their use, as they are currently a controlled substance and can lead to harmful effects and health risks.
Identifying psilocybin mushrooms can be tricky, and it is crucial to distinguish them from poisonous varieties to avoid adverse health consequences. Here are some key features to look out for:
Cap Color and Shape: Psilocybin mushrooms often have caps that are golden brown, wavy, or bell/cone-shaped. The cap color can vary from white to brown, and the size can range from 1 to 10 cm in diameter.
Spore Color and Print: Psilocybin mushrooms typically have dark purple spores. To make a spore print, remove the stem from a mature mushroom with a fully opened cap and place it gills-down on a piece of foil. After at least six hours, check for a purplish-black color, which is indicative of psilocybin mushrooms.
Gill Attachment and Color: The gills of psilocybin mushrooms are usually thin and delicate, packed tightly, and located on the underside of the cap, pointing towards the stem. The color can vary from off-white to deep brown.
Blue Bruising: When damaged and exposed to oxygen, psilocybin mushrooms may turn a bluish color due to oxidation. However, this is not a definitive indicator, as some poisonous mushrooms also exhibit this characteristic.
When identifying psilocybin mushrooms, it is essential to exercise caution and use multiple sources of identification, such as field guides, magnifying glasses, cameras, and expert opinions. Do not consume any mushrooms that you cannot confidently identify as safe.
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Where psilocybin mushrooms grow
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. They are not commercially cultivated due to their psychoactive properties and legal status. Instead, they are grown in small amounts at home or foraged from the wild.
Psilocybin mushrooms grow in most regions of the world, but the majority of species are found in subtropical humid forests. They can be found in meadows and woods in the subtropics and tropics, usually in soils rich in humus and plant debris. They grow most dependably in the damp, chill Pacific Northwest of the United States, where they can be found on excess carbon deposits like wood chips near urban spaces. They have been documented in most of the U.S., throughout Europe, in South Africa, and in New Zealand and Australia.
In the wild, psilocybin mushrooms can be found growing in forests, urban parks, and even gardens. They can even be found near garbage or shooting out of damp cracks on paths. However, it is important to note that picking mushrooms growing on contaminated grounds is not advisable. Psilocybin mushrooms grow from the late spring through late autumn months but are easiest to harvest from September through October.
Some of the most potent species of psilocybin mushrooms include P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens. P. ovoideocystidiata is another species that grows wild in the Ohio River Valley. P. cubensis, the most popular species, grows naturally in tropical and subtropical conditions, often near cattle due to the ideal conditions they provide.
It is important to accurately identify psilocybin mushrooms before consuming them, as some mushrooms have poisonous look-alikes. Most psilocybin-containing mushrooms turn blue when bruised, but this is not always a reliable indicator. It is also important to be aware of the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms in your jurisdiction, as they are considered Schedule I controlled substances in the United States and remain illegal at the federal level, despite being decriminalized or legalized in some states and municipalities.
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The history of psilocybin mushrooms
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom and a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin. When ingested, psilocybin turns into the psychedelic compound psilocin. Psilocybin mushrooms have been used for thousands of years and are known to have been consumed by indigenous cultures in ritual ceremonies.
One of the earliest depictions of hallucinogenic mushroom use comes from a 4000 BCE cave painting in Spain, which illustrates what appear to be Psilocybe hispanica, a species with hallucinogenic properties. Further evidence of early psilocybin mushroom use includes Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe, and pre-Columbian sculptures and glyphs seen throughout the Americas.
In Mesoamerica, psilocybin mushrooms were consumed in spiritual and divinatory ceremonies before being documented by Spanish chroniclers in the 16th century. The South American Aztec Indians referred to these mushrooms as teonanacatl, meaning "god's flesh," and they were used in religious and healing rituals. Spanish missionaries in the 1500s attempted to destroy all records and evidence of mushroom use, but despite their efforts, the use of teonanacatl persisted in some remote areas.
In the 1950s and 1960s, psilocybin mushrooms gained popularity in the United States as American researchers studied their healing properties and potential medical applications. Timothy Leary, a psychology professor at Harvard University, played a significant role in introducing magic mushrooms to popular culture in the US. After reading a Life magazine article about R. Gordon Wasson's experience with mushrooms in Southern Mexico, Leary became interested in the effects of psilocybin and began experimenting with the drug himself and with others in his labs.
Despite the promising research in the 1960s, increasingly restrictive drug laws in the following decades curbed scientific research into the effects of psilocybin. However, in recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, with several FDA-approved clinical studies indicating its potential value in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for various conditions.
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The legality of psilocybin mushrooms
In the United States, psilocybin and psilocin are federally regulated as Schedule I substances under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which means they are deemed to have no medicinal value and a high potential for abuse and addiction. However, some US states, such as Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, have decriminalized or legalized psilocybin for medicinal or therapeutic purposes. In Oregon, for example, psilocybin-assisted therapy is legal for mental health treatment in supervised settings administered by licensed professionals. Similarly, in the District of Columbia, the Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020 allows the possession and non-profit gifting or distribution of psilocybin mushrooms.
Outside of the US, the legality of psilocybin mushrooms also varies. In Canada, the province of Alberta has announced plans to regulate and allow the use of psilocybin for medicinal purposes in drug-assisted psychotherapy. Psilocybin is also legal for medicinal use in countries like Australia, Denmark, and Peru. In contrast, countries like Germany and some US states, including California, Georgia, and Idaho, have specifically prohibited the sale and possession of psilocybin mushroom spores, considering them illegal paraphernalia or evidence of intent to cultivate psilocybin mushrooms.
The legal status of psilocybin mushrooms continues to evolve as research into their therapeutic benefits progresses and attitudes towards their use change. While they remain illegal in many places, there is a growing trend towards decriminalization and regulated legalization for therapeutic and medicinal purposes in certain jurisdictions.
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The effects of psilocybin mushrooms
Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, 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.
When psilocybin is ingested, it is converted in the body to psilocin, a chemical with psychoactive properties. Psilocin binds to and activates serotonin receptors in parts of the brain such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which affect mood, cognition, and perception. The effects of psilocybin mushrooms typically begin within 30 minutes when eaten, or within 5-10 minutes when taken as a soup or tea, and can last approximately 4 to 6 hours.
While the effects of psilocybin mushrooms can be positive and enlightening for some, they can also be unpleasant or distressing for others. Some people may experience what is known as a "bad trip", which can be influenced by factors such as dosage, anxiety, and setting. Additionally, regular use of psilocybin mushrooms can lead to tolerance, and there is a risk of accidental poisoning from misidentifying and consuming poisonous mushrooms. It is important to note that the use of any drug carries risks, and it is always advisable to exercise caution.
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Frequently asked questions
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin when ingested.
Psilocybin mushrooms grow in various habitats, including forests, pastures, and sometimes in backyards. They are often found in soils rich in humus and plant debris.
Psilocybin mushrooms typically have a characteristic conical or bell-shaped cap with a brown, blue, or grayish hue. Many species exhibit a blue bruising reaction when damaged, which can indicate the presence of psilocybin.
Psilocybin mushrooms are not typically associated with fatal overdoses, but they do carry risks. There is a potential for poisoning, especially if the wrong type of mushroom is consumed, and psychological distress. They can cause hallucinations, altered perceptions, and changes in mood and cognition.
Psilocybin mushrooms are classified as a Schedule I controlled substance by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). While a few states and municipalities have legalized or decriminalized their use, federal law still prohibits their possession and consumption in many countries.
