Michael Davis
Psilocybe mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are hallucinogenic mushrooms that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. They are often used as recreational drugs and are known to have psychoactive effects. While the legality of cultivating, possessing, and selling psilocybin mushrooms varies across the world, they are decriminalized in some parts of the United States, including Oregon, Colorado, and a few cities in Michigan and California. In terms of their presence in timber sales, there have been reports of Psilocybe mushrooms growing in wood chips and natural environments in certain regions of the United States, such as California, Oregon, and Washington. However, it is unclear whether these mushrooms are specifically associated with timber sales or if their presence is coincidental.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Legality of psilocybin mushrooms | The legality of psilocybin mushrooms varies from country to country. In the US, the possession and/or cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms is illegal under federal law, but some states and cities have decriminalized possession and therapeutic use. |
| Distribution | Psilocybin mushrooms are distributed among various genera, including Psilocybe (with the most species), Gymnopilus, Panaeolus, Copelandia, Pluteus, Inocybe, Pholiotina, and Galerina. They occur on all continents, but the majority of species are found in subtropical humid forests. |
| Habitat | Psilocybin mushrooms typically grow in meadows and woods in the subtropics and tropics, preferring soils rich in humus and plant debris. Some species, such as P. azurescens, have an affinity for coastal dune grasses and caespitose growth. |
| Identification | Psilocybin mushrooms are typically dark-spored and gilled. They may bruise bluish or blue-green when damaged due to the oxidation of psilocin. P. cyanescens is known for its wavy caps, which are caramel to chestnut-brown when moist and fade when dried. |
| Active Compounds | Psilocybin mushrooms contain the prodrug psilocybin, which converts to the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. Other compounds include norpsilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, and aeruginascin. |
| Effects | Psilocybin mushrooms are hallucinogenic and psychoactive, producing psychedelic effects. P. azurescens has been anecdotally linked to temporary paralysis or weakness after ingestion. |
| Commercial Value | The commercial value of psilocybin mushrooms is not explicitly mentioned, but they are sought after by recreational drug users. The value of wild mushrooms relative to timber varies by species and location, with some mushrooms having a lower value by weight than timber. |
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What You'll Learn
Legality of psilocybin mushrooms
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are hallucinogenic mushrooms that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. The legality of psilocybin mushrooms varies from country to country and even within different jurisdictions of the same country.
International Law
Psilocybin and psilocin are listed as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which requires its members to prohibit psilocybin and restrict its use to medical and scientific research under controlled conditions. However, due to pressure from the Mexican government, the mushrooms themselves were not specifically included in the convention.
United States
In the United States, psilocybin and psilocin were first regulated at the federal level by the Drug Abuse Control Amendments of 1965, with subsequent legislation, including the US Psychotropic Substances Act, classifying them as Schedule I drugs. While federal law prohibits the possession, cultivation, and sale of psilocybin mushrooms, there are several states and cities that have enacted their own legislation to decriminalize or legalize their use to varying degrees. These include Oregon, Colorado, Washington, Michigan, California, and the District of Columbia. In Oregon, for example, psilocybin has been decriminalized and legalized for therapeutic use under certain conditions, while in Colorado, consumption, growing, and sharing for personal use are permitted, but sales are prohibited.
Other Countries
Outside of the United States, the legality of psilocybin mushrooms varies widely. In Canada, for instance, the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act regulates psilocybin mushrooms, but the province of Alberta has recently announced plans to regulate and allow their use for medicinal purposes in drug-assisted psychotherapy. Similarly, in the United Kingdom, the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1971 reflects the UN convention, but there is ambiguity in the legal status of the mushrooms themselves. Other countries with varying levels of regulation or prohibition include Germany, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
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Psilocybin mushroom species
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 upon ingestion. The most potent species are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as Psilocybe azurescens, Psilocybe semilanceata, and Psilocybe cyanescens. Psilocybin has also been isolated from approximately a dozen other genera, including Panaeolus (including Copelandia), Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina.
Psilocybe azurescens, commonly known as the flying saucer mushroom, blue angel mushroom, or azure psilocybin mushroom, is a species of psychedelic mushroom whose main active compounds are psilocybin and psilocin. It is among the most potent of the tryptamine-bearing mushrooms, containing up to 1.8% psilocybin and 0.5% psilocin by dry weight. Psilocybe azurescens has been found in various locations in the United States, including Oregon, Washington, California, New Mexico, Ohio, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. It is also prevalent in other countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Psilocybe semilanceata is considered the world's most widely distributed psilocybin mushroom, found in temperate parts of Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand, but absent from Mexico. It is known for its small size and potent effects.
Psilocybe cyanescens, also known as wavy caps, are potent psilocybin mushrooms found in the Pacific West region of the United States and Canada. They are often smaller in size but contain higher levels of psilocybin and psilocin. Psilocybe cyanescens can be found in natural environments, such as coastal dune grasses and along creeks, and are also associated with urban areas, particularly wood chips.
Psilocybe cubensis, also known as Golden Teachers, is one of the most well-known strains of psilocybin mushrooms. It is commonly found in the southern and central regions of the United States, as well as in Mexico and Central and South America. Psilocybe cubensis is typically larger in size, with golden-yellow caps, and is known for its ability to provide users with deep insights and introspection.
The legality of cultivating, possessing, and selling psilocybin mushrooms varies from country to country and even within different states and cities in the United States. While some jurisdictions have decriminalized or legalized psilocybin for therapeutic use, it is important to be aware of the local laws and regulations regarding these mushrooms.
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Psilocybin mushroom distribution
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 upon ingestion. The most potent species are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens. Psilocybin has also been found in approximately a dozen other genera, including Panaeolus, Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina.
Psilocybin mushrooms are widely distributed and occur on all continents, although the majority of species are found in subtropical humid forests. In a 2000 review, Gastón Guzmán and colleagues identified the following genera that contain psilocybin mushrooms: Psilocybe (116 species), Gymnopilus (14), Panaeolus (13), Copelandia (12), Pluteus (6), Inocybe (6), Pholiotina (4), and Galerina (1). Guzmán increased his estimate of psilocybin-containing Psilocybe to 144 species in a 2005 review.
Psilocybe cubensis (P. cubensis) is the most common Psilocybe species in tropical areas. P. semilanceata, on the other hand, is considered the world's most widely distributed psilocybin mushroom and can be found in temperate regions of Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand, but not in Mexico. In addition to these natural environments, psilocybin mushrooms have also been found growing in urban areas, particularly in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest regions of the United States.
The legality of psilocybin mushrooms varies from country to country and even within different states and cities. For example, Oregon became the first US state to decriminalize psilocybin and legalize it for therapeutic use in 2020. Other jurisdictions in the United States where psilocybin mushrooms have been decriminalized include Seattle, Washington; Oakland and Santa Cruz, California; Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan; and Colorado. However, the sale of psilocybin without a license may still attract fines or imprisonment, and possession and/or cultivation of certain species, such as P. azurescens, are illegal in some countries, including the United States under federal law.
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Cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom. They are polyphyletic informal groups of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. The most potent species are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens. Psilocybin has also been isolated from a dozen other genera, including Copelandia, Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina.
The cultivation, possession, and sale of psilocybin mushrooms and psilocybin and psilocin vary from country to country. In 2020, Oregon became the first US state to decriminalize psilocybin and legalize it for therapeutic use. In 2022, Colorado legalized its consumption, growing, and sharing for personal use, although sales are prohibited. Other jurisdictions in the United States where psilocybin mushrooms are decriminalized include Ann Arbor and Detroit in Michigan, Oakland and Santa Cruz in California, and several others.
Psilocybe cubensis (P. cubensis) is one of the most widely recognized and cultivated psilocybin mushrooms in the world. It is characterized by a cap (pileus) that is 16-80mm wide and evolves from conic-campanulate to convex and flat, with a color change from white to ochraceous-brown. P. cubensis prefers humid environments, making subtropical regions, particularly river valleys, ideal for its growth. It is also relatively easy to cultivate in laboratory conditions and at home, and it tends to produce large fruiting bodies.
There are seven main steps to the process of growing mushrooms, which are:
- Strain Selection: The strain is similar to a plant breed, and individual species of mushrooms can have thousands of different strains or expressions of their genetic makeup.
- Substrate Preparation: The substrate is any material that serves as a food source for mushroom mycelium. Common substrates include logs, stumps, wood chips, straw, sawdust, coffee grounds, grain hulls, and other carbon-rich materials.
- Inoculation: The cultivator tries to get the desired edible mushroom mycelium established before anything else. The higher the inoculation rate or amount of spawn added to the substrate, the faster the mycelium will grow through the substrate.
- Incubation
- Initiation
- Fruiting
- Harvest
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Economic value of mushrooms vs timber
While there are no explicit mentions of psilocybe mushrooms in timber sales, there is evidence of psilocybe mushrooms growing in wood chips and sawdust. These mushrooms are also known to grow in meadows and woods in the subtropics and tropics, usually in soils rich in humus and plant debris.
When it comes to the economic value of mushrooms versus timber, both have distinct markets and values. For mushrooms, the economic value is largely driven by their culinary, medicinal, and nutritional properties, as well as their exclusivity in cultivation. Wild mushrooms, such as morels and chanterelles, can command high prices, especially in the gourmet restaurant market. The ability of mushrooms to enhance the flavour and complexity of a dish justifies their steep initial cost. Additionally, mushrooms offer health benefits and ecological significance, further contributing to their economic value.
On the other hand, the economic value of timber is primarily determined by the species, size, and volume of the trees. Timber buyers often offer landowners a lump sum for all the merchantable trees, and the value can vary based on factors such as the diameter and quality of the trees. For example, a 12-inch tree, which is the minimum size accepted for sawtimber, can contain about 70 board feet. The value of timber can also be influenced by factors such as accessibility and the potential impact of wildfires. In the case of the Alanya Forest Enterprise Directorate in Turkey, improving forest road standards led to an increase in accessible forest areas, resulting in a higher economic value of timber products worth approximately US$7,545,579 at market prices.
Comparing the economic value of mushrooms versus timber, it is evident that both have distinct markets and valuation methods. Mushrooms are valued for their culinary, medicinal, and nutritional properties, with certain wild mushrooms fetching premium prices. In contrast, the value of timber is largely based on the characteristics of the trees and the accessibility of forest areas. While wild mushrooms may have higher price points per unit, the overall economic value of timber products can be significantly higher due to the volume of trees and market demand. Therefore, the economic comparison between mushrooms and timber depends on various factors, including the specific types of mushrooms and trees, the availability, and the target market.
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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 upon ingestion.
Psilocybin mushrooms occur on all continents, but the majority of species are found in subtropical humid forests. They are often found growing in meadows and woods in the subtropics and tropics, usually in soils rich in humus and plant debris.
The legality of psilocybin mushrooms varies by jurisdiction. In the United States, for example, Oregon and Colorado have decriminalized psilocybin, while other states and cities have decriminalized possession of personal amounts. However, selling psilocybin without a license may attract fines or imprisonment.
While it is possible that psilocybin mushrooms could be present in timber sales, especially in regions where they are commonly found, there is no definitive evidence to support this claim. Wild edible mushrooms are often harvested in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, where both trees and mushrooms grow in the same landscape.
Psilocybin mushrooms are known for their hallucinogenic and psychoactive effects. They are often used as recreational drugs due to their ability to induce psychedelic experiences. However, it is important to note that consuming psilocybin mushrooms may carry risks and potential side effects, and their legality varies by region.
