Emily Johnson
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are hallucinogenic fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. They are commonly ingested by being 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 approximately four to six hours. The effects of magic mushrooms include perceptual changes, such as visual and auditory hallucinations, and an altered state of consciousness. The legality of magic mushrooms varies across the world, with countries like Canada criminalizing their production, sale, and possession, while US states like Oregon and Colorado have decriminalized their use.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Psilocybin and psilocin are listed as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. However, the mushrooms containing the drug were not specifically included in the convention due to pressure from the Mexican government. |
| Legal status in the US | Psilocybin (and psilocin) were first subjected to federal regulation by the Drug Abuse Control Amendments of 1965. Most US state courts have considered the mushroom a "container" of illicit drugs, and therefore illegal. However, the spores of psilocybin mushrooms are legal to possess in many areas, creating a loophole. |
| Legal status in other countries | Many countries have some level of regulation or prohibition of psilocybin mushrooms, including the UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan. In 2022, Colorado became the second US state to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms, and in 2023, Australia approved their use in prescription medications for PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. |
| Effects | Hallucinations, perceptual changes, altered thinking, sense of time, and emotions. Can cause nausea, excessive yawning, anxiety, paranoia, and nervousness. May lead to long-term mental health conditions, such as psychosis. |
| Risks | Poisoning: some mushrooms are extremely poisonous and can make people violently ill or even kill them. It's hard to know how strong mushrooms are, and they can affect everyone differently. |
| Flashbacks | Some users experience flashbacks involving previous mushroom experiences, usually visual distortions with changes in emotions or perception. These can happen weeks, months, or even years after the drug was last taken and can be triggered by stress, tiredness, or exercise. |
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What You'll Learn
- Magic mushrooms are made up of psychoactive substances called psilocybin and psilocin
- They are illegal in Canada and the US (except Oregon and Colorado)
- They are eaten fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea
- They can cause hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and nervousness
- There is ongoing research into their potential to treat mental health disorders
Magic mushrooms are made up of psychoactive substances called psilocybin and psilocin
Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are mushrooms that contain hallucinogens, usually the psychoactive substances psilocybin and psilocin. Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic chemical in certain mushrooms known as magic mushrooms. Eating mushrooms that contain psilocybin can lead to a range of effects, from euphoria to hallucinations. Some people use psilocybin as a recreational drug, while others use it to self-treat a medical disorder such as depression or anxiety.
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, current research does not consider psilocybin addictive, and there is little evidence that people can become physically or psychologically dependent on magic mushrooms. Still, the use of magic mushrooms can lead to short-term mental and physical effects, such as heightened emotions and senses, hallucinations, and distorted senses of reality.
When a person takes psilocybin, their body converts it to another substance, psilocin. Psilocin attaches to and activates receptors, or binding sites, for the brain chemical serotonin, primarily the serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5HT2a) receptor. Psilocin activity at the 5HT2a receptor affects how the brain works and how different brain regions communicate with each other. These altered patterns of brain activity contribute to a person’s profound change in consciousness.
The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin within 15-45 minutes when eaten, or within 5-10 minutes when taken as a soup or tea, and can last approximately four to six hours. It's important to note that the effects of magic mushrooms can vary widely, and adverse side effects may occur. While magic mushrooms have a low risk of addiction, there is a potential risk of poisoning from picking the wrong types of mushrooms, as they may resemble poisonous mushrooms that can cause illness or even death.
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They are illegal in Canada and the US (except Oregon and Colorado)
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, are illegal in Canada and the US (except Oregon and Colorado). In Canada, activities involving magic mushrooms, such as their sale, possession, and production, are prohibited under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). The CDSA allows for exemptions, for instance, Health Canada approved the first Quebec patient for magic mushroom therapy in May 2022. Despite the drug's illegal status, psilocybin stores are popping up across Canada, mirroring the country's earlier experience with cannabis before its legalization.
In the US, magic mushrooms are listed as a Schedule 1 drug, which means that they are not currently accepted for medical use and have a high potential for abuse. However, in 2020, Oregon became the first state to legalize magic mushrooms for therapeutic use. Since then, several other states, including Colorado, have followed suit.
The active ingredients in magic mushrooms are psilocybin and psilocin, which are hallucinogens that produce effects similar to LSD. When consumed, the effects of magic mushrooms can vary from person to person, and the strength of the mushrooms can differ greatly. The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin within 30 to 45 minutes when eaten and can last approximately four to six hours. While some people experience positive effects such as heightened emotions and senses, others may have a "'bad trip,"' involving paranoia, anxiety, and a distorted sense of self.
Due to the varying effects of magic mushrooms and the difficulty in identifying different species of mushrooms, the use of magic mushrooms can be risky. It is possible to accidentally consume poisonous mushrooms, which can result in serious health consequences, including death.
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They are eaten fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea
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 key ingredient in magic mushrooms is psilocybin, and it is this chemical that gives the mushrooms their psychoactive properties.
Magic mushrooms are often eaten fresh or brewed into a tea. They can also be cooked or mixed with food to mask their bitter taste. When preparing magic mushrooms as tea, it is important to know what type of mushrooms you are using, as some mushrooms are extremely poisonous and can cause serious illness or even death.
- Start by identifying the type of mushroom you have and ensuring it is safe for consumption. Do not consume wild mushrooms unless you are absolutely certain of their identity, as some mushrooms that grow in the wild are extremely poisonous.
- Clean the mushrooms and remove any dirt or debris.
- Boil a cup of water in a kettle or pot.
- Place the desired amount of mushrooms in a tea infuser or strainer and put it in the boiling water. You can also use dried mushroom powder or mushroom tea bags for convenience.
- Allow the tea to steep for at least 5 minutes. The longer you steep, the stronger the tea will be.
- Remove the infuser or strainer and serve the tea in a cup. You can add honey, maple syrup, lemon juice, or other ingredients to enhance the flavor if desired.
It is important to note that consuming magic mushrooms can be dangerous and may lead to negative side effects, such as nausea, anxiety, paranoia, and distorted senses of time, place, and reality. Regular users may also experience flashbacks, which can be disturbing. The effects of magic mushrooms are unpredictable and vary from person to person, so it is important to exercise caution when consuming them.
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They can cause hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and nervousness
The key ingredient in magic mushrooms is psilocybin, a hallucinogenic chemical that occurs naturally in certain mushroom varieties. When psilocybin is ingested, it is converted in the body to psilocin, which is the chemical with psychoactive properties.
Psilocybin works by binding to and activating serotonin receptors in parts of the brain such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which affect mood, cognition, and perception. It may also distort how some people who use the drug perceive objects and people in their environment. The effects of psilocybin usually begin within 30 minutes of ingestion and can last between four and six hours.
Magic mushrooms can cause users to hallucinate, seeing or hearing things that do not exist or are distorted. They can also lead to anxiety, paranoia, and nervousness. Some people experience extreme fear, panic, or paranoia as they go through the hallucinogenic effects of the drug, which is known as a "bad trip". The risk of a bad trip may be higher if the user has feelings of anxiety before taking the drug.
The length and intensity of each mushroom trip can vary depending on the user's mood, personality, and expectations. While some trips may be enjoyable, others may lead to terrifying thoughts of losing control, intense paranoia, panic attacks, and fears of death. It is very hard to predict what kind of trip each user will have, and there is no way to end a bad trip until it has run its course, which could take hours.
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There is ongoing research into their potential to treat mental health disorders
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has a high affinity for several serotonin receptors, including 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT2C, located in numerous areas of the brain, including the cerebral cortex and thalamus. The activation of 5-HT2A receptors in the thalamus, the area responsible for sensory input, leads to sensory alterations commonly referred to as hallucinations.
Due to this alteration in sensory perception and serotonergic activity, research has focused on mental health conditions with abnormalities in sensory perception, such as depressive disorders, anxiety, and anxiety-related disorders. In a small study, Johns Hopkins researchers reported that two doses of psilocybin, coupled with supportive psychotherapy, produced rapid and substantial reductions in depressive symptoms in adults with major depression. Another small double-blind study by the same institution found that a single large dose of psilocybin provided considerable relief from cancer-related anxiety and depression for up to six months.
In addition, an online survey of over 300 people with Alcohol Use Disorder reported a reduction or abstinence from alcohol use after taking psilocybin. This evidence supports further investigation of psilocybin-assisted treatment for substance abuse. Moreover, a population study of 135,095 random adults in the United States, including 19,299 psychedelic users, found no significant association between lifetime use of psychedelics and increased mental health treatment or suicidal thoughts.
Despite the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin, it is essential to approach its use with caution. While the dependence potential is low, acute toxicity is moderate, and chronic toxicity is low, high doses can lead to adverse effects, including significant fear and transient ideas of reference or paranoia. Furthermore, fatal events related to emotional distress and trip-induced psychosis can occur as a result of psilocybin mushroom overconsumption.
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Frequently asked questions
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. They are commonly referred to as "shrooms" and have been used for thousands of years in various cultures for religious, divinatory, or spiritual purposes.
The effects of magic mushrooms typically begin within 30 minutes when eaten or 5-10 minutes when taken as a tea, and can last for up to 6 hours. The effects can include heightened emotions and senses, hallucinations, distorted sense of reality, and an altered state of consciousness. It's important to note that the effects of magic mushrooms can vary from person to person and can be unpredictable.
The legality of magic mushrooms varies by jurisdiction. In some places, such as Oregon and Colorado in the United States, the use and possession of magic mushrooms have been decriminalized for personal use. However, in other places, such as Canada, the production, sale, and possession of magic mushrooms are illegal. Internationally, psilocybin and psilocin, the active ingredients in magic mushrooms, are controlled substances under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions.
While magic mushrooms are not considered physically or psychologically addictive, regular use can lead to tolerance, where higher doses are required to achieve the desired effects. Additionally, there is a risk of having a "bad trip," which can include negative effects such as anxiety, paranoia, and nervousness. In rare cases, consuming large doses of magic mushrooms can lead to trip-induced psychosis and other mental health issues. It is also important to note that mushrooms that look similar to magic mushrooms can be extremely poisonous, and consuming them can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
