Michael Davis
Amanita muscaria, also known as fly agaric, is a mushroom that contains the psychoactive compounds ibotenic acid and muscimol. It is often marketed as a magic mushroom gummy and sold in gas stations, smoke shops, and online marketplaces. Amanita mushroom gummies are not authorized for consumption by the FDA due to safety concerns and adverse health effects, including hallucinations, gastrointestinal upset, agitation, seizures, and even deaths. While the FDA has taken action against companies selling these products, the lack of federal regulation and accurate labelling has made it challenging to ensure consumer safety in this growing industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Effects | Hallucinations, altered perceptions of sight, sound, time, and space, gastrointestinal upset, agitation, and seizures |
| Legality | Amanita muscaria is not a controlled substance and is legal for US consumers to possess except in Louisiana |
| Safety | The FDA has warned that Amanita muscaria does not meet safety standards and is not authorized for use in food |
| Marketing | Gummies are often marketed as "nootropics" or microdosing" blends, with trippy-looking packaging |
| Hospitalizations | There have been reports of people requiring hospital evaluation after ingesting Amanita muscaria gummies, including one child |
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What You'll Learn
Amanita muscaria is a hallucinogenic mushroom
Amanita muscaria, commonly known as fly agaric or fly amanita, is a hallucinogenic mushroom. It is a large white-gilled, white-spotted mushroom with a bright red cap covered with distinctive white warts. It is one of the most recognizable fungi in the world.
The use of Amanita muscaria as a popular legal alternative to hallucinogens has grown exponentially in recent years. It is often marketed as "magic mushroom gummies" or nootropics (substances taken to enhance cognitive function). However, it is important to note that Amanita muscaria is not the same as psilocybin or magic mushrooms, which are considered Schedule 1 drugs in the US. Unlike psilocybin mushrooms, Amanita muscaria contains ibotenic acid and muscimol, which are generally unregulated.
Amanita muscaria has a long history of use in various cultures, particularly in Siberia. It has been used for intoxicating and religious purposes, with reports of its use dating back to ancient texts such as the Vedas, where it was believed to be the hallucinogenic sacrament Soma. The mushroom's common name, Fly Agaric, comes from its traditional use as an insecticide, as pieces of the mushroom were added to milk to ward off and kill flies.
While Amanita muscaria is known for its hallucinogenic effects, it can also cause undesired symptoms, including gastrointestinal upset, agitation, and seizures. In recent years, there have been reports of people requiring hospital evaluation after ingesting mushroom gummies labeled to contain Amanita muscaria. These products may contain undisclosed ingredients and have been linked to severe illness. As a result, health authorities have issued warnings about the use of Amanita muscaria and its constituents in food products, stating that they do not meet safety standards and may be harmful.
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Amanita mushroom gummies are marketed as nootropics
Amanita muscaria is a hallucinogenic mushroom that contains ibotenic acid and muscimol. It is used as a hallucinogen less commonly than psilocybin-containing mushrooms because it can cause undesired symptoms, including gastrointestinal upset, agitation, and seizures. It can also cause hallucinations, a feeling of weightlessness, visual and auditory hypersensitivity, space distortion, unawareness of time, and coloured hallucinations.
Psilocybin is an antidepressant that primarily binds to serotonin receptors, activating a neural pathway that mediates happiness and optimism. It is a Schedule 1 substance, making its manufacture, distribution, import/export, possession, and use illegal. Amanita muscaria, on the other hand, is not a controlled substance and is currently legal.
There is a growing market for Amanita muscaria products, which may be due to emerging clinical research supporting the safety and efficacy of psilocybin as a treatment for depression. However, there is essentially no clinical evidence supporting the use of Amanita muscaria as a therapy. There is also concern that manufacturers are not disclosing what mushroom their products contain or making it clear that Amanita muscaria is a different mushroom than psilocybin.
It is important to note that Amanita muscaria products can be dangerous. From September 2023 to June 2024, five people, including one child, required hospital evaluation after ingesting gummies labelled to contain Amanita muscaria. Three of the five brands of gummies analysed contained unlabelled Schedule I substances psilocybin and psilocin. As such, health care providers and the public should be aware that edible products marketed as mushroom-containing nootropics might contain undisclosed ingredients and have been linked to severe illness.
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Amanita muscaria is not a controlled substance
Amanita muscaria is a hallucinogenic mushroom that has gained popularity in recent years. It is often marketed as a "magic mushroom" or "legal psychedelic" and has been consumed in various forms, including gummies. Despite its growing popularity and known psychotropic effects, Amanita muscaria is not currently listed as a controlled substance under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act. This means that it is not illegal to manufacture, distribute, import, export, possess, or use this substance.
However, this does not mean that Amanita muscaria is safe for consumption. On the contrary, there have been several published case studies of hospitalizations and even deaths resulting from its consumption. The mushroom contains the substances ibotenic acid and muscimol, which can cause adverse effects such as hallucinations, agitation, gastrointestinal upset, and seizures. In addition, there have been reports of Amanita muscaria products being mislabeled or containing undisclosed substances, posing further risks to consumers.
In recognition of these risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken steps to address the issue. The FDA has issued warnings to food manufacturers, stating that Amanita muscaria and its extracts are not authorized for use as ingredients in conventional food due to safety concerns. The agency has also prohibited the use of certain compounds found in the mushroom, including muscimol, ibotenic acid, and muscarine.
While Amanita muscaria is not a controlled substance, there are ongoing discussions and recommendations from experts and authors about regulating it. Some suggest placing it on the Controlled Substances list, while others propose commonsense precautions such as age restrictions, accurate dosing, childproof packaging, and marketing aimed at adults. These precautions are already in place for legal recreational cannabis sales and could help address the concerns surrounding the sale and consumption of Amanita muscaria products.
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Amanita mushroom gummies may contain undisclosed ingredients
Amanita mushroom gummies are marketed as "nootropics" or psychedelics. They are sold in gas stations, smoke shops, and online marketplaces. These gummies are labelled to contain Amanita muscaria or proprietary mushroom nootropic blends.
Amanita muscaria is a mushroom that contains the psychoactive but non-scheduled compounds muscimol and ibotenic acid. It is not a controlled substance, and unlike psilocybin, it is currently legal. However, consuming components of Amanita muscaria can lead to psychedelic effects, including hallucinations and altered perceptions of sight, sound, time, and space.
There have been concerns about the safety of Amanita mushroom gummies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned food manufacturers that Amanita muscaria and its constituents are not authorized for use as ingredients in conventional food because they do not meet safety standards. The FDA has received reports of adverse events, including hospitalizations and suspected deaths, associated with the consumption of mushroom edibles containing Amanita muscaria.
Furthermore, there are concerns about inaccurate labelling of these products. In some cases, Amanita mushroom gummies have been found to contain undisclosed, potentially harmful substances, including Schedule I substances like psilocybin and psilocin. This has led to severe illnesses and hospitalizations among consumers.
The lack of federal regulation of Amanita muscaria and the inaccurate labelling of food products containing this mushroom are concerning. Consumers may not be fully informed about the ingredients in these products and their potential risks. It is essential for consumers to be cautious and aware of the potential presence of undisclosed ingredients in Amanita mushroom gummies.
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Amanita mushroom gummies can be harmful to health
Avery Michienzi, a DO at the University of Virginia, has also warned about the dangers of these gummies. According to Michienzi, A. muscaria can cause hallucinations, agitation, gastrointestinal upset, and seizures. In one case, five people, including one child, required hospital evaluation after ingesting gummies labeled to contain A. muscaria. The gummies were found to contain unlabeled and potentially harmful substances, including the Schedule I substances psilocybin and psilocin.
Eric Leas, an assistant professor at UC San Diego, has expressed concern about the marketing of Amanita muscaria products. He states that manufacturers are calling these products "magic mushroom gummies" without disclosing what mushroom they contain or making it clear that A. muscaria is different from psilocybin, which has clinical evidence supporting its therapeutic use. Leas and his co-authors emphasize the substantial risks associated with using Amanita muscaria products and the lack of accurate information available to consumers.
Given the potential harm caused by these gummies, it is essential to exercise caution and be aware of the risks involved. The recommendations made by Leas and his co-authors include commonsense precautions such as age restrictions, accurate dosing standards, childproof packaging, and marketing aimed at adults.
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Frequently asked questions
Amanita mushroom gummies are a type of edible that contains Amanita muscaria, a psychoactive mushroom. They are often marketed as "nootropics" or "microdosing" blends and sold in trippy-looking packaging.
Amanita mushroom gummies are not considered safe by the FDA due to safety concerns and adverse event reports. There have been several cases of hospitalizations and even deaths linked to the consumption of these gummies. The FDA has warned food manufacturers that Amanita muscaria and its compounds are not authorized for use in food.
Amanita muscaria is not a controlled substance and is currently legal in most states. However, it is important to note that the FDA has taken action against its use in edibles, and its legal status may change in the future.
Consuming Amanita mushroom gummies can lead to psychedelic effects, including hallucinations and altered perceptions of sight, sound, time, and space. The effects can also be similar to intoxication from alcohol, including potential blackouts at high doses.
