Michael Davis
Shrooms and weed have long been two of the most popular recreational drugs, with both gaining traction in the 1960s and 70s and appearing in art, music, and movies. As a result, many people who have tried one have either come in contact with or have tried the other. In recent years, the legalization of marijuana in several states has brought psychedelics into the spotlight, with psilocybin-producing mushrooms (or magic mushrooms) being approved for therapeutic use in Oregon. With both substances becoming increasingly accessible, it is important to understand their effects, both on their own and when used together. While some sources claim that shrooms are safer than weed, others argue the opposite.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency of use | Weed can be consumed daily, while mushrooms should be consumed with a gap of at least a week between each use |
| Side effects | Weed can make you paranoid, while mushrooms can cause confusion, panic attacks, flashbacks, and short-lived disorientation |
| Medical treatment | 0.2% of mushroom users sought medical treatment, while 0.6% of weed users did the same |
| Addiction | Physical addiction to both substances is rare, but psychological addiction is more common |
| Legality | Weed is legal in 17 states, while mushrooms are decriminalized in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Denver, Colorado; Oakland, California; Santa Cruz, California; and Washington, D.C. |
| Interactions | Combining weed and mushrooms does not pose serious health risks but can lead to an uncomfortable experience |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Magic mushrooms are the safest recreational drug
According to a few sources, magic mushrooms are the safest recreational drug. The Global Drug Survey, which polled about 12,000 people who took magic mushrooms in 2016 out of a total of 120,000 participants in 50 countries, found that only 0.2% of them said they needed emergency medical treatment. This rate is five to six times lower than other drugs like LSD, cocaine, MDMA, and alcohol, and three times lower than weed. Synthetic weed, in particular, had a higher emergency medical treatment rate of 3.2%.
Adam Winstock, a consultant addiction psychiatrist, noted that "magic mushrooms are one of the safest drugs in the world," and that "death from toxicity is almost unheard of". He also highlighted that the bigger risk with mushrooms is accidentally consuming the wrong type of mushroom or consuming them in risky settings. Winstock's statements are supported by brain scans showing that psychedelic drugs do not induce a "heightened state of consciousness".
Magic mushrooms have also been found to be beneficial in treating severe clinical depression, major social anxiety, and addiction. However, it is important to note that magic mushrooms are not completely harmless. Combining them with alcohol or using them in unfamiliar settings can increase the risk of harm, including accidental injury, panic attacks, flashbacks, and short-lived confusion.
Overall, while magic mushrooms may be the safest recreational drug in terms of toxicity and emergency medical treatment rates, it is important to approach their use with caution and be aware of the potential risks involved.
Mushroom Varieties: A Diverse and Delicious World
You may want to see also
Weed makes you less functional
While the effects of cannabis vary from person to person, it is a well-known fact that weed can make you less functional. The main psychoactive ingredient in weed, THC, travels into your bloodstream to your brain. Once there, it connects to tiny receptors on your nerve cells called cannabinoid receptors, which help control various functions such as hunger, memory, and alertness.
THC bypasses the cannabinoid receptors, and if you vape or smoke weed, it could get into your bloodstream quickly enough for you to get high in seconds or minutes. The high usually peaks in about 30 minutes and its effects may wear off in one to three hours. However, if you drink THC-infused drinks or eat THC edibles, it may take much longer for you to sober up.
Studies have shown that getting high can harm cognitive function, including problems with memory, concentration, and coordination. It can also affect your ability to make decisions, control emotions, plan, organize, and solve problems. These effects may last well beyond the initial high, especially for adolescents. Regular cannabis users are often portrayed as "lazy stoners," and while more recent studies don't support this stereotype, previous research suggests there may be some truth to it, especially in young people.
In high doses, weed can cause psychosis, making you paranoid or causing you to lose track of what's real and what's not. You might hear or see things that aren't there and have long-lasting odd thoughts. Psychosis is a symptom of schizophrenia, a serious mental condition that affects the way you understand what's real and includes other symptoms such as trouble with speech and not being able to focus or show emotions. Research suggests that starting to use marijuana at a young age and using it frequently for a long period could increase the risk of developing schizophrenia or other mental conditions involving psychosis.
While some people feel more focused and productive after consuming cannabis, others report being utterly useless for the rest of the day if they smoke at any point during the day. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of how cannabis affects your individual functioning and to ensure that your substance use enriches your life rather than impairs it.
Mushroom Hunting: Best Containers for Foraging
You may want to see also
Shrooms can cause confusion and memory loss
When comparing the effects of mushrooms and weed, one of the key concerns is the potential impact on cognitive function, particularly in terms of confusion and memory loss. While both substances can induce altered states of consciousness, they differ in the ways they affect the brain and behaviour.
Mushrooms, or more specifically, psilocybin mushrooms, contain psychoactive compounds that can induce a range of effects, including hallucinations, altered perception of time and space, and distorted senses. One of the most commonly reported side effects of mushroom use is confusion and disorientation. This can manifest as a sense of detachment from reality, difficulty in focusing and understanding one's surroundings, and impaired decision-making abilities. The severity and duration of confusion can vary depending on the dosage, the individual's physiology and psychological state, and the environment in which the mushrooms are consumed. In some cases, mushroom-induced confusion may lead to risky behaviour, poor judgment, and even accidental injuries.
Additionally, mushroom use has been associated with short-term memory loss. The distortion of perception and thought processes during a mushroom trip can result in gaps in memory, particularly during the peak of the experience. Some users report a sense of "mind-blanking" where they struggle to recall specific events or conversations that occurred while under the influence of mushrooms. While these memory lapses may be temporary and resolve within a few hours or days, there is also evidence to suggest that frequent and prolonged mushroom use may contribute to more persistent memory impairments, particularly in those who start using at a young age or who have a pre-existing vulnerability to mental health issues.
The memory loss associated with mushroom use is believed to be linked to the way psilocybin interacts with the brain's serotonin receptors, particularly in the hippocampus, a region crucial for memory formation and retrieval. While the exact mechanisms are still being studied, it is thought that the disruption of normal serotonin activity during a mushroom trip can interfere with the brain's ability to encode and consolidate new memories, leading to temporary amnesia or more lasting memory deficits with frequent use.
In contrast, while weed can also cause some cognitive impairments, the research suggests that the impact on memory and confusion is generally milder and less consistent compared to mushrooms. THC, the primary psychoactive compound in weed, can indeed affect memory function, particularly short-term and working memory, leading to what is commonly referred to as "weed fog" or "stoner memory." However, the evidence suggests that these effects are typically temporary and tend to wear off within a few hours of consumption, especially with occasional and moderate use. Chronic and heavy weed use, particularly starting at a young age, may pose a higher risk of more persistent cognitive impairments, but the evidence is still mixed and varies depending on individual factors and the specific patterns of use.
Mushrooms' Magical Sensory Experience: A Journey
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Combining shrooms and weed is common but risky
While magic mushrooms are considered one of the safest recreational drugs, combining them with weed is common but risky. Magic mushrooms are a fungus that produces a hallucinogenic substance called psilocybin, which induces a "heightened state of consciousness". They are typically ingested orally, either by eating them whole, crushing them into a powder, brewing them into tea, or taking them in capsule form.
Weed, or cannabis, contains compounds such as cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which have various effects on the body and mind. Some strains of cannabis and shrooms work similarly, as consuming products with high levels of THC can mimic the effects of magic mushrooms.
Combining these two substances is risky due to the intensified and unpredictable effects they can produce. When weed is used around the time the mushroom's effects are peaking, it can add to the overall intensity of the experience. This combination may increase the risk of a "'bad trip', characterised by extreme anxiety, panic, paranoia, and a sense of losing control, which can have lasting psychological effects. Additionally, the effects of shrooms typically last several hours, and adding weed to the mix may further extend the duration of the experience, potentially leading to exhaustion.
While physical addiction to cannabis and mushrooms is rare, psychological addiction and dependence can occur. It is important to understand the benefits and risks associated with these substances and to be aware of the degree to which substance use enriches or impairs one's life. Given the potential for unpredictable and adverse effects, it is generally recommended to avoid mixing weed and shrooms.
Where to Buy Enoki Mushrooms: A Shopping Guide
You may want to see also
Physical addiction to either is rare, but psychological addiction is common
While the effects of cannabis and hallucinogenic mushrooms differ, physical addiction to either substance is rare. However, the risk of psychological addiction is more common.
Magic mushrooms contain psilocybin, a hallucinogenic substance. They are often referred to as shrooms and can be fresh or dried. They are usually eaten, steeped as tea, or ground into a powder that is cooked into food. While magic mushrooms are considered one of the safest drugs in the world, they are not completely harmless. The effects of a magic mushroom trip can include hallucinations, distortions of reality, and a heightened state of consciousness.
Mushrooms have a low addiction potential and are not typically addictive by nature. They do not lead to compulsive drug-seeking behaviour or physical dependence. However, regular use can lead to psychological dependence and withdrawal symptoms. This is when an individual feels cognitive or emotional withdrawals from a substance. High levels of stress, childhood trauma, a personal history of addiction, and easy access to mushrooms can increase the risk of problematic drug use and addiction.
Cannabis, also known as weed, can be smoked or vaporized. Its effects vary widely and can include increased focus and productivity or relaxation. While it is possible to use weed daily and still be a functioning adult, some people may find it renders them useless for the rest of the day.
Cannabis is also not typically associated with physical addiction. However, psychological addiction is possible. This can involve substance use disorder (SUD) and, in some cases, physical withdrawals.
Psilocybin Prohibition: Why Are Magic Mushrooms Illegal?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
It is generally considered that the hallucinogenic effects of mushrooms are far more dangerous than those of weed. However, a study by the Global Drug Survey found that out of 120,000 participants, only 0.2% of mushroom users reported needing emergency medical treatment, compared to 0.6% of weed users.
There is a risk of physical and psychological addiction to mushrooms, as well as the possibility of experiencing panic attacks, flashbacks, accidental injury, confusion, disorientation, and paranoia.
Weed can cause paranoia and cognitive issues, and there is a risk of physical and psychological addiction.
There is no evidence of serious health risks from combining mushrooms and weed, but it may lead to an uncomfortable experience. It is advised to stick to one substance if you are inexperienced.
