Emily Johnson
Magic mushrooms, or mushrooms that cause hallucinations when ingested, are often referred to as psilocybin mushrooms. Psilocybin and psilocin are the psychoactive chemicals in the fungi that can make people feel high. While the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances requires its members to prohibit psilocybin, the mushrooms containing the drug were not specifically included in the convention. As a result, the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms varies worldwide, with some countries and US states decriminalizing or legalizing their use. However, in places like Texas, it is illegal to possess, distribute, carry, use, or grow magic mushrooms, and doing so can result in felony-level criminal charges.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Active ingredients | Psilocybin and psilocin |
| Other names | Magic mushrooms, psychedelic mushrooms |
| Effects | Hallucinations, heightened emotions and senses, distorted sense of reality, altered state of consciousness |
| Legal status | Illegal in most jurisdictions, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Decriminalised in some US states and the District of Columbia. |
| Form | Dried whole mushrooms, powder, tablets, or capsules |
| Risks | No evidence of physical or psychological dependence, but possible to develop tolerance with regular use. May contain harmful substances if produced illegally. |
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What You'll Learn
- Psilocybin and psilocin are Schedule I drugs, but spores may be legal
- Magic mushrooms are illegal in Texas, even in small amounts
- In some places, growing them is considered drug manufacture
- They are regulated differently worldwide, with some places decriminalising
- Mushroom gummies may contain illegal hallucinogens
Psilocybin and psilocin are Schedule I drugs, but spores may be legal
Psilocybin and psilocin, the psychoactive chemicals in certain mushrooms, can induce a high and cause hallucinations when ingested. These substances are classified as Schedule I drugs by the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the US Food and Drug Administration. Schedule I drugs are defined as substances with a high potential for abuse and no recognised medical uses. Psilocybin and psilocin are also controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions.
Despite the illegal status of psilocybin and psilocin, the spores of mushrooms containing these substances may be legal in certain jurisdictions. Spores do not contain psilocybin or psilocin and are therefore not regulated by the same drug laws. For example, in the United States, the cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms is often considered drug manufacture and can result in severe penalties. However, the state of New Mexico has ruled that growing psilocybin mushrooms does not constitute the "manufacturing" of a controlled substance.
The legality of psilocybin mushrooms and their spores varies worldwide and is subject to ongoing change. In the United States, the Drug Abuse Control Amendments of 1965 first subjected psilocybin and psilocin to federal regulation. While psilocybin mushrooms remain illegal in most US states, some states like California, Georgia, and Idaho have specifically prohibited the sale and possession of psilocybin mushroom spores. On the other hand, Colorado has decriminalised psilocybin mushrooms, and the District of Columbia has passed a bill allowing the possession and non-profit distribution of these substances.
In Canada, activities involving psilocybin mushrooms, psilocybin, and psilocin are generally illegal under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). However, there have been moves towards regulating and allowing the use of psilocybin for medicinal purposes. For example, the province of Alberta has recently announced that it will regulate and permit the use of psilocybin in drug-assisted psychotherapy. Similarly, Australia has approved the use of psilocybin in prescription medications for treating PTSD and treatment-resistant depression.
While the legal landscape surrounding psilocybin and psilocin is complex and evolving, it is essential to note that the possession, distribution, and use of these substances remain illegal in many places, with severe legal penalties for unauthorised actions.
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Magic mushrooms are illegal in Texas, even in small amounts
Magic mushrooms, also known as psilocybin mushrooms, are illegal in Texas. This means that possessing, distributing, carrying, using, or growing these mushrooms is considered a criminal offence. Texas law classifies magic mushrooms as a Penalty Group 2-A substance, similar to other serious drugs such as MDMA, ecstasy, and most illegal amphetamines.
The active ingredients in magic mushrooms are chemicals called psilocybin and psilocin, which are controlled substances under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions and the US Psychotropic Substances Act. Psilocybin mushrooms are also specifically banned in several US states, including California, Georgia, and Idaho. These mushrooms are considered to have a high potential for abuse and are often penalized similarly to other controlled substances.
In Texas, the penalty for possessing magic mushrooms ranges from state-level felony to first-degree felony, depending on the amount of the substance involved. Even a small amount of magic mushrooms, such as a tiny bag of mushroom crumbs, is considered a felony-level offence and can result in up to two years of imprisonment. Larger amounts can lead to sentences of 5 to 99 years of incarceration. These penalties are at the prosecutor's discretion, and rural county prosecutors tend to recommend harsher punishments.
While magic mushrooms are illegal in Texas, there are legal alternatives such as Amanita Muscaria, also known as fly agaric. This mushroom species contains psychoactive compounds but is not classified as a controlled substance. It has a rich history of use in various cultural practices and rituals worldwide.
It is important to note that drug laws are evolving, and while some US states have decriminalized or legalized mushrooms, Texas has not. As such, possessing, using, or distributing magic mushrooms in Texas can result in serious legal consequences.
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In some places, growing them is considered drug manufacture
The legal status of unauthorised actions with psilocybin mushrooms varies worldwide. Psilocybin and psilocin, the active ingredients in magic mushrooms, are controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions. Psilocybin mushrooms are often referred to as "magic mushrooms". While the mushrooms themselves were not specifically included in the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the convention requires its members to prohibit psilocybin and restrict its use to medical and scientific research under strictly controlled conditions.
The cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms is considered drug manufacture in most jurisdictions and is often severely penalised. However, some countries and one US state (New Mexico) have ruled that growing psilocybin mushrooms does not qualify as "manufacturing" a controlled substance. In the United States, federal regulation of psilocybin and psilocin was first enacted through the Drug Abuse Control Amendments of 1965. Since then, several US states have specifically prohibited the sale and possession of psilocybin mushroom spores, including California, Georgia, and Idaho.
In Canada, activities involving magic mushrooms, psilocybin, and psilocin, such as sale, possession, and production, are illegal unless authorised by Health Canada. Similarly, in Texas, it is illegal to possess, distribute, carry, use, or grow magic mushrooms, and possession of any amount is considered a felony-level offence. However, in Travis County, possessing one gram or less of mushrooms may not result in a felony arrest.
While the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms is evolving, with some US states decriminalising or legalising their use, it is important to note that in many places, the cultivation and possession of these mushrooms are still considered drug manufacture and are subject to severe legal penalties.
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They are regulated differently worldwide, with some places decriminalising
Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, are regulated differently worldwide, with some places decriminalising their use. The active ingredients in magic mushrooms are the chemicals psilocybin and psilocin, which are classified as Schedule I drugs by the US Food and Drug Administration. This means they are considered to have no medical use and a high potential for abuse. Psilocybin and psilocin are hallucinogens that can cause an altered state of consciousness and distort an individual's senses and sense of reality.
While the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, adopted in 1971, requires its members to prohibit psilocybin, the mushrooms containing the drug were not specifically included in the convention. This has resulted in varying regulations worldwide. Many countries have some level of regulation or prohibition, such as the US Psychotropic Substances Act, the UK Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. However, some jurisdictions allow the sale and possession of psilocybin mushroom spores, as they do not contain psilocybin or psilocin.
In the United States, the possession, distribution, and use of magic mushrooms are generally illegal at both the federal and state levels. However, some states, like California, Georgia, and Idaho, have specifically prohibited the sale and possession of psilocybin mushroom spores. On the other hand, New Mexico has ruled that growing psilocybin mushrooms does not qualify as "manufacturing" a controlled substance. In November 2020, the District of Columbia passed the Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act, allowing the possession and non-profit gifting or distribution of psilocybin mushrooms. In 2022, Colorado became the second US state to decriminalise psilocybin mushrooms.
Outside of the US, the regulation of psilocybin mushrooms varies. For example, in Canada, activities with magic mushrooms are illegal unless authorised by Health Canada. However, in January 2023, the province of Alberta became one of the first places to regulate and allow the use of psilocybin for medicinal purposes in drug-assisted psychotherapy. In the UK, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 prohibits psilocybin mushrooms, while in Australia, psilocybin was approved for prescription medications for PTSD and treatment-resistant depression in February 2023.
It is worth noting that drug laws are evolving, and some places are moving towards decriminalisation or legalisation of psilocybin mushrooms. This is partly due to ongoing research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin in treating various mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, it is important to be aware that the safety and efficacy of products containing psilocybin have not been fully assessed or authorised for sale in many places.
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Mushroom gummies may contain illegal hallucinogens
Mushroom gummies, which are often sold to promote brain function, may contain illegal hallucinogens, according to experts at UVA Health. After five people, including a 3-year-old child, were sickened after consuming mushroom gummies, researchers at UVA Health analysed the products and found that three out of five brands contained psilocybin or psilocin, which are illegal hallucinogens. These substances are classified as Schedule I drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, meaning they have no medical use and a high potential for abuse. Psilocybin and psilocin are the active ingredients in magic mushrooms and are controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions.
Psilocybin and psilocin are hallucinogens that can cause hallucinations and an altered state of consciousness. They are also known as magic mushrooms or psychedelic mushrooms and have been used by people for their psychoactive effects. The mushrooms themselves are also sometimes sold illegally in the form of dried whole mushrooms or powder. However, it is important to note that the sale, possession, and production of magic mushrooms are illegal in many places unless authorized by the appropriate regulatory body.
While the use of psilocybin mushrooms is prohibited under most circumstances, there have been some recent changes in drug laws. For example, in November 2020, the District of Columbia passed the Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act, which allows for the possession and non-profit gifting or distribution of psilocybin mushrooms. Additionally, in 2022, Colorado became the second US state to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms, and Australia has approved the use of psilocybin in prescription medications for the treatment of PTSD and treatment-resistant depression.
It is important to exercise caution when consuming mushroom gummies or any other substance that may contain undisclosed or illegal ingredients. The researchers at UVA Health warn that these products are not regulated and can contain unlabeled substances that can cause undesired symptoms. They also urge doctors to be vigilant and look out for patients who may have fallen ill after consuming these gummies, especially children.
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Frequently asked questions
Magic mushrooms are mushrooms that cause hallucinations when ingested. The active ingredients in magic mushrooms are chemicals called psilocybin and psilocin, which are classified as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions.
The legal status of magic mushrooms varies by jurisdiction in the US. While federal and state laws prohibit the possession, distribution, and use of magic mushrooms, some states, such as Colorado, have decriminalized them. In Texas, for example, it is illegal to possess, distribute, carry, use, or grow magic mushrooms, and possession of any amount is considered a felony.
In Canada, activities with magic mushrooms, psilocybin, and psilocin, such as sale, possession, and production, are illegal unless authorized by Health Canada. However, in January 2023, the province of Alberta became the first to regulate and allow the use of psilocybin for medicinal purposes in drug-assisted psychotherapy.
Yes, there are potential risks associated with the use of magic mushrooms. While there is little evidence of physical or psychological dependence, regular use can lead to tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the desired effects. Additionally, magic mushrooms can cause short-term mental and physical effects, including heightened emotions, senses, and hallucinations. They may also lead to serious health issues, as in the case of intravenous injection, which has been linked to septic shock and multi-system organ failure.
