Emily Johnson
Magic mushrooms, or shrooms, are a type of mushroom that contains the hallucinogenic drugs psilocin and psilocybin. They are considered illegal drugs in most parts of the world due to their mind-altering effects, which can include hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and distorted senses of time, place, and reality. Despite the restrictions, magic mushrooms are one of the most widely used psychedelic drugs, with a long history of use in various cultures. The effects of magic mushrooms can vary widely and depend on factors such as dosage, individual physiology, and environment. While physical addiction is rare, regular use can lead to tolerance and the risk of a 'bad trip' increases with higher doses or feelings of anxiety. It is important to exercise caution when consuming magic mushrooms due to the potential for adverse side effects and the difficulty in identifying poisonous mushrooms, which can have severe consequences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Magic mushrooms, shrooms, psilocybin mushrooms |
| Active substances | Psilocybin, psilocin, psilocyn |
| Effects | Hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, nervousness, distorted sense of time, place, and reality, perceptual changes, yawning, nausea, drowsiness, relaxation |
| Duration of effects | 4-6 hours |
| Time to onset of effects | 30-45 minutes |
| Administration | Oral (eaten, mixed with food, brewed as tea, covered in chocolate) |
| Legality | Illegal to possess, sell, or give away in most places; decriminalized in a few cities |
| Risks | Poisoning from similar-looking poisonous mushrooms, overdose, flashbacks, negative experiences ('bad trips'), withdrawal effects, tolerance development |
| Benefits | Potential treatment for psychiatric, behavioral, and mood disorders, drug dependence, and anxiety |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Legality of magic mushrooms
The legality of magic mushrooms varies across the world. Psilocybin and psilocin are listed as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with a "high potential for abuse" and "no recognized medical uses". However, the convention does not explicitly mention mushrooms containing the drug due to pressure from the Mexican government.
In the United States, psilocybin mushrooms are Schedule I drugs, making it illegal to possess, sell, or give away. However, there is a growing movement to decriminalize psilocybin, with cities like Denver, Oakland, Santa Cruz, and some on the East Coast, such as Washington, D.C., Somerville, Cambridge, and Northampton, decriminalizing the drug. In November 2020, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize and legalize psilocybin for supervised non-medical use. Colorado followed suit in 2022.
Other countries have also decriminalized or legalized psilocybin. Jamaica does not have laws surrounding psilocybin, and in Nepal, psilocybin is not mentioned in the country's Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act. Switzerland has had an exceptional use program in place since the 1980s, and Israel approved the therapeutic use of MDMA in 2019. In 2023, Australia allowed authorized psychiatrists to prescribe psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.
While the legality of magic mushrooms is changing in some places, it is important to note that the use, possession, and sale of these substances remain illegal in many jurisdictions.
Mushroom Munchies: The Ultimate Snack Inducer?
You may want to see also
Methods of consumption
It is important to note that psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as \"magic mushrooms\" or \"shrooms\", are illegal to possess and sell in many places. In the United States, for example, they are classified as a Schedule I drug, which means it is illegal to have, sell, or give away psilocybin mushrooms. Despite this, there is advocacy to change this legislation, and in a few cities across the US, possession of psilocybin mushrooms has been decriminalized.
With that being said, here are some methods of consuming psilocybin mushrooms:
Eating Fresh Mushrooms
Fresh psilocybin mushrooms can be eaten directly. Some people cover them in chocolate to mask the bitter taste. However, it is important to be cautious as some mushrooms that look similar to psilocybin mushrooms are extremely poisonous and can cause severe illness or even death.
Mixing with Food
Psilocybin mushrooms can also be mixed with food to make them more palatable. This method involves chopping or blending the mushrooms and adding them to a dish. Again, caution is advised to ensure the mushrooms are correctly identified and not mistaken for poisonous varieties.
Brewing Tea
Another method is to brew the mushrooms into a tea. This involves steeping the mushrooms in hot water, which extracts the psilocybin. The tea may be consumed hot or cold. This method is faster-acting than simply eating the mushrooms, with effects typically occurring within 5-10 minutes.
Dried Mushrooms
Psilocybin mushrooms can also be consumed in their dried form. Dried mushrooms can be eaten directly, mixed with food, or brewed into tea, similar to their fresh counterparts.
Regardless of the consumption method, it is important to remember that psilocybin mushrooms can have varying effects on individuals, and caution should be exercised. The effects of psilocybin mushrooms typically begin within 30 to 45 minutes and can last up to 6 hours. Early effects may include nausea and excessive yawning, followed by a \"trip\" that can induce hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and a distorted sense of time, place, and reality.
Mushrooms: Low-Calorie Superfood?
You may want to see also
Effects of the drug
The effects of magic mushrooms can vary from person to person and can depend on the dose and type of mushroom used. The drug can cause perceptual changes, such as visual and auditory hallucinations, and distort how people perceive objects and individuals in their environment. It can also alter a person's sense of time, place, and reality.
The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin within 15-45 minutes of consumption and can last approximately four to six hours. Early effects typically include nausea and excessive yawning. After these initial effects, the "trip" begins. A trip might be mild, leaving a person feeling drowsy or relaxed. However, higher doses or stronger mushrooms can bring on hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and nervousness.
It is important to note that the strength of magic mushrooms can vary greatly, and it is difficult to know how strong they are. The risk of a bad trip may increase if a person takes higher doses or has feelings of anxiety before taking the drug. Being in a good state of mind, with trusted friends, and in a safe environment before taking magic mushrooms can reduce the risk of having a bad trip.
Regular use of magic mushrooms may cause individuals to become tolerant to the effects of the drug, and cross-tolerance may occur with other drugs, including LSD and mescaline. Tolerance develops rapidly with continued use, resulting in the drug having little to no effect over time. However, discontinuing use for a week or so will return people to their normal tolerance level.
Long-term effects of magic mushroom use include flashbacks, which can happen weeks, months, or even years after the drug was last taken. These are usually visual distortions that involve changes in emotions or perception. Flashbacks can be brought on by using other drugs, stress, tiredness, or exercise and usually last a minute or two.
Mushroom's Hymenium: The Magical Spores' Factory
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Risks and side effects
While magic mushrooms are known for their hallucinogenic effects, there are several risks and side effects associated with their use. Firstly, it is important to distinguish between hallucinogenic mushrooms and poisonous mushrooms, as some mushroom species can cause severe illness or even death. Even with accurate identification, the potency of hallucinogenic mushrooms can vary, and consuming a large amount or a strong batch can lead to adverse reactions.
The effects of magic mushrooms can vary widely, and users may experience perceptual changes, such as visual and auditory hallucinations, distorted senses, and altered thinking, emotions, and sense of time. While these effects are typically sought after by those consuming mushrooms, they can also lead to negative experiences, commonly known as a "bad trip". Feelings of anxiety, paranoia, and nervousness may occur, and in some cases, higher doses or stronger mushrooms can induce short-term psychosis. Additionally, the risk of a bad trip is heightened by factors such as pre-existing stress or anxiety, unfamiliar surroundings, and the presence of strangers.
Another notable side effect of magic mushroom consumption is the potential for flashbacks, where individuals relive a previous mushroom experience. These flashbacks can occur without warning and may manifest as visual distortions or changes in emotions or perception. While flashbacks typically last only a minute or two, they can be disturbing, especially if they recall a frightening experience. In rare cases, individuals may develop hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder, experiencing persistent and distressing alterations in their perception for weeks, months, or even years after mushroom use.
While magic mushrooms are not considered physically addictive, regular use can lead to rapid tolerance development, requiring higher doses to achieve the desired effects. Cross-tolerance with other drugs, such as LSD and mescaline, has also been observed. Furthermore, combining mushrooms with certain psychiatric medications can lead to a relapse or worsening of the underlying condition. Although not considered physically addictive, some individuals may experience mild psychological withdrawal effects, such as tiredness, upon discontinuing mushroom use.
In terms of legal considerations, it is important to note that psilocybin mushrooms are classified as a Schedule I drug in the United States, making it illegal to possess, sell, or distribute them. However, there is ongoing advocacy for removing these restrictions due to the potential health benefits of psilocybin in treating psychiatric and behavioral conditions. As of now, possession has been decriminalized in a few cities, but it is essential to stay informed about the specific regulations in your area.
Mellow Mushroom: Buffet or Not?
You may want to see also
Addiction and withdrawal
While psilocybin mushrooms are considered to have a low risk of addiction, some people may develop a psychological dependence on them. Tolerance to the drug develops rapidly, and discontinuing use for a week or so will return people to their normal tolerance level. However, some people may experience withdrawal symptoms within 24 to 48 hours of stopping their use, such as headaches, mood changes, and cravings to use again.
There are not many known withdrawal effects from magic mushrooms, and they do not typically cause physical dependence. However, some people may experience mild psychological effects or feelings of tiredness. In addition, some people who regularly use magic mushrooms may experience flashbacks, which are visual distortions that involve changes in emotions or perception. These flashbacks can be triggered by stress, tiredness, or exercise, and they can be disturbing, especially if a frightening experience is recalled.
People who are detoxing from extended periods of psilocybin mushroom abuse may take longer to fully rid their bodies of the drug, as the long-term effects of hallucinogens are primarily psychological. Those taking antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), should not take psilocybin mushrooms, as the presence of SSRIs in the body can make the detox and withdrawal process much more unpleasant and may even result in serotonin syndrome, which can be fatal.
Psilocybin mushrooms are illegal in most countries, including most states in the United States, where they are classified as a Schedule I drug. However, there is advocacy for removing some of the longstanding legal restrictions on mushroom possession due to their potential health benefits. Research has shown that psilocybin mushrooms could be beneficial in treating psychiatric and behavioral conditions such as depression, anxiety, and addiction.
Coral Mushrooms: Reproduction and Growth Secrets
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Magic mushrooms are mushrooms that contain the drug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. They are also known as shrooms.
People take magic mushrooms by eating them, mixing them with food to mask the bitter taste, or brewing them in tea.
The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin within 30 minutes to an hour and can last approximately four to six hours. The effects include perceptual changes, such as hallucinations, and distorted senses of time, place, and reality.
Magic mushrooms affect everyone differently, and it is important to be careful when taking any type of drug. The main risk is that some magic mushrooms look very similar to poisonous mushrooms, which can make people violently ill or even kill them. In very rare cases, taking a huge amount of magic mushrooms can cause death.
