Emma Wilson
Magic mushrooms, or shrooms, are fungi with psychedelic properties that can induce hallucinations. While they can be eaten fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea, they can also lead to harmful effects and health risks. It is important to exercise caution when attempting to identify and pick these mushrooms, as ingesting a wild mushroom without a mycologist's opinion could be deadly. In the United States, magic mushrooms can be found in the landscaped urban environments of the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, as well as Vermont, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. They are also commonly found in herbivore dung and near cattle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Magic mushrooms, shrooms, mushies, blue meanies, golden tops, liberty caps |
| Scientific name | Psilocybin mushrooms |
| Active ingredients | Psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, aeruginascin, norpsilocin |
| Effects | Hallucinations, perceptual changes, hilarity, lack of concentration, muscular relaxation, mystical states, flashbacks, heightened anxiety, panic reactions, psychosis, inability to discern fantasy from reality |
| Duration of effects | 4–6 hours, depending on dose |
| Dose | Subthreshold or microdose ( < 2.5 mg), low dose (5–10 mg), intermediate or "good effect" dose (20 mg), high or ego-dissolution dose (30–40 mg) |
| Preparation | Eaten fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea |
| Time to take effect | 30 minutes when eaten, 5–10 minutes when taken as a soup or tea |
| Legality | Possession of psilocybin-containing mushrooms is covered under various laws; foraging for psilocybin-containing mushrooms is likely illegal in most places |
| Safety considerations | Ingesting a wild mushroom without a mycologist's opinion could be deadly and produce adverse health consequences; taking with other drugs, including over-the-counter or prescribed medications, can be unpredictable and dangerous |
| Where to find | Commonly found in herbivore dung and near cattle; landscaped urban environments in the Pacific Northwest, including San Francisco, California, Oregon, and Washington; Vermont, Ohio, and Pennsylvania; coastal dune grasses and along creeks in Northern California |
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What You'll Learn
- Picking spots in the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, Oregon, and Northern California
- Zones with a humid continental climate, like Vermont, Ohio, and Pennsylvania
- Near cattle, where the fungi grow in ideal conditions
- In landscaped urban areas, like gardens and office buildings
- In dung, where the mushrooms get nutrients from
Picking spots in the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, Oregon, and Northern California
While it is important to note that I do not encourage illegal activities, including the picking and consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms, here is some information that answers your request.
In the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, there are a few spots where one might find hallucinogenic mushrooms. However, it is essential to be aware of the legal status and potential risks associated with their consumption.
In Washington, cities like Seattle have decriminalized magic mushrooms, and statewide efforts to legalize them are ongoing. The Washington Psilocybin Services Act, signed in 2023, aims to research, analyze, and regulate the potential benefits of psilocybin for medicinal purposes. Additionally, an underground network of advocates and activists is growing, and psychedelic societies are spreading across the state. Washington's abundant forests are known to naturally grow these mushrooms.
Oregon has also made strides in legalizing psilocybin. In 2020, the state implemented a regulatory framework for the production and sale of hallucinogenic mushrooms, and in 2021, Measure 109 authorized the creation of psilocybin service centers. However, the sale of psilocybin is restricted to licensed service centers, and it is not available for retail purchase. Portland, Oregon's largest city, offers legal psilocybin sessions, but rural and more conservative parts of the state have opted out of the program.
As for Northern California, cities like Oakland, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz have decriminalized magic mushrooms. Oakland was one of the first cities in the US to do so, and it is also home to the grassroots nonprofit Decriminalize Nature, which started in 2019. While the focus is primarily on decriminalization and community access, there may be opportunities to find hallucinogenic mushrooms within these communities.
When it comes to specific picking spots, it is essential to exercise caution and discretion. Some areas may have microclimates or conditions conducive to mushroom growth, but these locations are often closely guarded by those who know about them. It is always important to properly identify mushrooms before consuming them, as misidentification can lead to serious health risks.
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Zones with a humid continental climate, like Vermont, Ohio, and Pennsylvania
While magic mushrooms can be found on every continent except Antarctica, there are certain climatic zones where distinct shroom species thrive. Zones with a humid continental climate, like Vermont, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, provide growing conditions for species such as Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata and Psilocybe caerulipes. These species tend to favour growing in open grasslands, sandy soil, or manure-rich soil, and can be found in urban parks, wetlands, and forests.
In Vermont, there has been a grassroots push for the legalization of psychedelic drugs, including magic mushrooms. A petition with over 260 signatures cites research highlighting the safety and mental health benefits of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms. The petition urges Vermont to follow other parts of the country that have decriminalized psychedelics, such as Oregon, Denver, and Washington, D.C.
In Ohio, the legalization of weed has sparked discussions about the potential decriminalization and legalization of psychoactive mushrooms in the state. Erik Vaughan, the founder of Epiphany Mushroom Co., believes in the healing properties of psilocybin for mental health issues and is working towards its legal status. However, city councils in Akron, Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati are not currently leaning towards decriminalization, and it may take a few years for any policy changes to occur.
While there is no specific information about the prevalence of hallucinogenic mushrooms in Pennsylvania, the state likely shares similar growing conditions to Vermont and Ohio due to its humid continental climate. Foragers should be aware of local laws and regulations regarding the picking and consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms, as they may vary across different states and municipalities. It is essential to stay informed about the legal status and potential risks associated with hallucinogenic mushroom use.
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Near cattle, where the fungi grow in ideal conditions
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, or "magic mushrooms", are a type of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic compound psilocin when ingested. The most potent species are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens. However, psilocybin has also been found in approximately a dozen other genera.
Psilocybe cubensis, commonly known as "magic mushroom", "shroom", "golden halo", "golden teacher", "cube", or "gold cap", is a species of psilocybin mushroom that is often found near cattle due to the ideal conditions provided for its growth. P. cubensis is found on cow (and sometimes horse) dung, sugar cane mulch, or rich pasture soil. In Asia, the species grows on water buffalo dung. The species is intimately associated with cattle ranching, and its distribution overlaps with that of the cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), a bird that walks alongside cattle, preying on insects. As the birds walk through spore-laden vegetation and cow dung, they transfer the spores to suitable habitats, even thousands of miles away during migration. This type of spore dispersal is known as zoochory.
In the northern hemisphere, P. cubensis mushrooms appear from February to December, while in the southern hemisphere, they appear from November to April. The species grows in subtropical climates, favouring open grasslands, sandy soil, manure-rich soil, or grass, and can be found directly in the dung of herbivorous animals. Cattle pastures of South and East Texas are particularly known to be a hotbed for P. cubensis. These mushrooms grow all year round, as long as there is adequate humidity and rain, and an abundance of nutrients (often dung). They tend to be more prolific after a few days of heavy rain.
If you are interested in foraging for magic mushrooms, it is important to be able to identify them correctly, as some mushrooms are toxic and can cause paralysis or even death. It is recommended to join a wild mushroom hunting course or group to gain knowledge and build contacts within the hunting community. Additionally, the laws regarding mushroom hunting vary from country to country, so make sure to be aware of the legal situation in your area.
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In landscaped urban areas, like gardens and office buildings
The Pacific Northwest is known for its abundance of psilocybin mushrooms, with species like Psilocybe cyanescens, Psilocybe allenii, and Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata growing in landscaped urban environments. These species tend to grow in wood chips, which are often used as mulch in gardens and urban landscaping. So, if you're looking for hallucinogenic mushrooms in urban areas, start by checking out the wood chips in gardens, parks, and office buildings.
Another species to look out for is Psilocybe baeocystis, also known as "Wavy Caps." This species often grows in recently landscaped areas where wood chips have been incorporated into the soil. You can find them in disused clearings with alder trees, broom, and blackberry brambles.
Psilocybe pelliculosa, or the Liberty Cap, is another species that can be found in landscaped urban areas. It grows from dead grass roots and is common in wet pastures and lawns in wet coastal areas.
When foraging for mushrooms in urban areas, it's important to exercise caution. Only a small percentage of mushrooms are poisonous, but it can be difficult to differentiate between psilocybe and poisonous species. Make sure to properly identify any mushrooms you find before consuming them, and always forage sustainably, taking only what you need and leaving some for others.
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In dung, where the mushrooms get nutrients from
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. The most potent species are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens. However, psilocybin has also been found in a dozen other genera, including Panaeolus, Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina.
In terms of where to pick them, one source suggests that corridors in the Northeast and Midwest of the United States can yield psychedelic mushrooms. Zones known as "humid continental" provide growing conditions for species such as Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata and Psilocybe caerulipes. Vermont, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are particularly known for these mushrooms, which thrive in warm and damp conditions. They are commonly found in the spring, especially after a few rainy days, in wood chips, the woody debris of maple, beech, or birch wood, or alongside streams and rivers.
Another source mentions that psilocybe cubensis grows naturally in tropical and subtropical conditions, often near cattle due to the ideal conditions they provide for the growth of the fungus.
Now, let's focus on the topic of mushroom nutrition from dung. Fungi, unlike plants, do not require light to grow and instead feed on decaying organic material in nature. The subterranean part of a fungus, called the mushroom mycelium, uses the mushroom substrate for energy and nutrition. This substrate can be prepared with various materials, including straw, wood, and manure, all of which provide a range of organic substances that mushrooms consume as they grow.
One type of substrate commonly mentioned in relation to growing mushrooms is cow dung. While it is not necessary to use cow dung, as alternative substrates like coffee grounds can be used, it is a popular option. To use cow dung as a substrate, you would typically follow a specific recipe, which involves preparing the dung and other materials and then pasteurising the mixture before introducing mushroom spores. The pasteurisation process helps eliminate unwanted microorganisms that could compete with or spoil your mushrooms, ensuring optimal growing conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
Magic mushrooms are commonly found in herbivore dung and wood chip mulch in landscaped urban environments. They are also found in coastal dune grasses and along creeks in humid areas of North America, such as Washington, Oregon, and Northern California.
One of the most reliable ways to identify a mushroom is by making a spore print. Cut the stem without damaging the gills, lay the mushroom gill-side down on a piece of paper, and in about six hours, the spores will imprint onto the paper. Local mycology organizations can help identify the mushroom. However, it is important to exercise caution as only 3% of mushrooms are poisonous, but looks can be deceiving.
The laws surrounding the legality of picking hallucinogenic mushrooms are ambiguous and open to interpretation. While the possession of psilocybin-containing mushrooms is covered by various laws, foraging for them may be illegal in some places. Oregon has decriminalized psilocybin, allowing its consumption at state-approved service centers.
