Mushroom Lovers: How Many Of Us Are There?

Mushrooms are a type of fungus that comes in many varieties, some of which are edible and others that are poisonous. They are consumed by people all over the world, either for culinary or recreational purposes. In the United States, the average consumption of fresh Agaricus mushrooms, which include the common White Button mushrooms, portobello, and crimini mushrooms, is about 3 pounds per person per year. Additionally, there is a growing trend of using psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, for their psychoactive effects, with an estimated 32 million lifetime users in the US as of 2010.

Consumption of magic mushrooms in the US

Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin. When ingested, psilocybin is converted into the psychedelic compound psilocin, which produces psychoactive effects. While the consumption of magic mushrooms is primarily associated with recreational use, they have also been used in spiritual and religious contexts in various cultures.

In the United States, the use, sale, and possession of psilocybin are illegal under federal law, and it is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. Despite this, there have been growing movements to decriminalize psilocybin, and several states and cities have taken steps toward this goal.

In 2019, Denver, Colorado, became the first city in the US to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms, followed by other cities in California, Michigan, and Massachusetts. In 2020, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize psilocybin and legalize it for supervised therapeutic use. However, in 2024, much of the decriminalization measure was repealed, effectively recriminalizing the substance. Colorado followed suit in 2022, decriminalizing psilocybin and legalizing its medical use.

While the consumption of magic mushrooms rarely results in life-threatening symptoms, there are risks associated with their use. One of the main risks is the possibility of consuming poisonous mushrooms by mistake, as some toxic species closely resemble edible ones. Additionally, magic mushrooms can cause negative experiences, such as ""bad trips,"" which can lead to emotional distress and, in rare cases, trip-induced psychosis. It is also recommended that individuals taking psychiatric medications refrain from consuming magic mushrooms, as it may trigger a relapse or worsen their condition.

Despite the risks, advocates for decriminalization cite research suggesting that psilocybin is non-addictive and causes a relatively low number of emergency visits compared to other illegal drugs. Additionally, there is potential for the therapeutic use of psilocybin in treating treatment-resistant depression and nicotine dependence. As the movement for decriminalization gains momentum, it remains to be seen whether more states and cities in the US will follow suit in changing their policies regarding the consumption of magic mushrooms.

Edible mushrooms and their dangers

Edible mushrooms are the fleshy fruit bodies of several macrofungi species. They are consumed for their nutritional and culinary value. Mushrooms, especially dried shiitake, are sources of umami flavour.

The act of consuming mushrooms, or mycophagy, dates back to ancient times. Edible mushroom species have been found in association with 13,000-year-old archaeological sites in Chile. The Chinese have long valued mushrooms for their supposed medicinal properties as well as for food. Ancient Romans and Greeks, particularly the upper classes, used mushrooms for culinary purposes.

Today, mushrooms are cultivated in at least 60 countries, with China leading the world in mushroom production. Agaricus bisporus dominates the edible mushroom market in North America and Europe. Other edible mushrooms include:

• Hen-of-the-woods, oyster, and sulphur shelf mushrooms
• Lion's mane mushroom
• Sweet tooth fungus, hedgehog mushroom or hedgehog fungus, urchin of the woods
• Saffron milk cap, consumed around the world and prized in Russia
• Morels, usually found in open scrub, woodland or open ground in late spring
• Beech mushroom
• Wine cap mushroom
• Bamboo mushrooms
• Boletus edulis or edible Boletus, native to Europe

However, there are dangers associated with consuming mushrooms. Some mushrooms are edible for most people but can cause allergic reactions in others. Old or improperly stored mushrooms can go rancid and cause food poisoning. Even normally edible species may be dangerous if they grow in polluted locations, as they can absorb chemicals, accumulating pollutants and heavy metals, including arsenic and iron, sometimes in lethal concentrations.

Deadly poisonous mushrooms that are frequently confused with edible mushrooms include several species of the genus Amanita, particularly A. phalloides, the death cap. Other poisonous mushrooms include:

• False morels, which resemble edible true morels but are not completely hollow when cut
• Coprinopsis atramentaria (Coprinus atramentarius, common inkcap), which is edible without special preparation, but toxic when consumed with alcohol
• Magic mushrooms, which are psychedelic drugs that can affect all the senses, altering a person's thinking, sense of time and emotions.

It is important to correctly identify wild mushrooms before consuming them, and to avoid mushrooms that grow in polluted environments or are past their prime.

Commercial cultivation of mushrooms

Commercial mushroom cultivation, or fungiculture, involves growing mushrooms as a business. Mushrooms are cultivated for food, medicine, construction materials, and other products. Unlike plants, mushrooms do not rely on sunlight for growth; instead, they derive their energy and growth materials from their growth medium through biochemical decomposition processes. Mushrooms grow well at relative humidity levels of 95-100% and substrate moisture levels of 50-75%.

There are various methods of commercial mushroom cultivation, each with its advantages and suitability for different mushroom species. Here is an overview of four common techniques:

• Outdoor log-based system: This method involves growing mushrooms on logs or stumps outdoors. Shiitake mushrooms are particularly suitable for this technique as the logs can be soaked or "shocked" weekly from May/June to October to induce mushroom growth. The materials and labour to inoculate one log cost around $4.74, and a good log can yield 4-5 lbs over three seasons.
• Growing on straw: This method is commonly used for oyster mushrooms as they grow well on low-nutrient, high-carbon substrates. It offers a relatively fast crop cycle of five weeks from inoculation to harvest. However, straw logs need to be fruited indoors to prevent bugs from laying larvae in them.
• Indoor tray growing: This is the most common commercial technique, offering advantages of scalability and easier harvesting. It provides a controlled environment with consistent temperature, humidity, light, and exclusion of contaminants and pests.
• Containerized growing: This method involves using containers such as five-gallon buckets with holes drilled in a diamond pattern or filter patch bags. The spawn (grain or sawdust) is added to the container by either pouring and mixing evenly or layering it every 3-4 inches. This technique allows for precise environmental controls and year-round production.

When deciding on a cultivation method, factors such as setup, experience, time, and resources should be considered to determine the most suitable approach for a specific farm or grower.

Mushroom consumption in the US

In addition to edible mushrooms, psychedelic mushrooms are also consumed in the US. Psilocybin, the main psychoactive ingredient in over 200 species of psychedelic mushrooms, is known colloquially as "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms". An estimated 9.68% of individuals aged 18 or older reported lifetime use of psilocybin in a 2015-2018 survey. The rate of lifetime psychedelic use was greatest among people aged 30 to 34, with a total of 20% and 26% of males and 15% of females.

The use of psilocybin mushrooms has increased since the 1970s in the US. The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to an increase in societal stress, leading to a greater propensity for self-medication. Psilocybin has a benign safety profile and possible positive health effects, and its therapeutic use has been explored in recent years.

Psilocybin use among US adults

Psilocybin, the hallucinogenic chemical found in 'magic mushrooms', has seen a surge in usage across the United States in recent years. Magic mushrooms are naturally occurring psychedelic drugs that alter a person's thinking, sense of time, and emotions, causing hallucinations.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, lifetime use of psilocybin among US adults rose from 10% (around 25 million people) in 2019 to 12.1% (over 31 million people) in 2023. This increase is even more pronounced when examining recent use. From 2019 to 2023, past-year use among adults aged 18 to 29 increased by 44%, while for adults 30 and older, it jumped by a staggering 188%. By 2023, 2.1% of adults reported using psilocybin in the past year, surpassing the number of users of cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, and illegal opioids.

The rise in psilocybin usage may be attributed to several factors. One possible reason is the changing legal landscape surrounding psilocybin in the US. Since 2019, there have been significant policy changes and legalizations of psilocybin in several states, which may have influenced its increased use. Additionally, growing media attention and research have highlighted the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, particularly for individuals with mental health conditions. Studies suggest that psilocybin may be beneficial in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance use disorders.

While psilocybin use has increased, it is important to note that it rarely results in life-threatening symptoms. However, there has been a sharp rise in calls to poison control centers related to psilocybin exposures. This underscores the importance of education and understanding the risks associated with psilocybin use, especially as its legal status evolves and more people consider self-treatment.

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