Are you interested in studying psychedelic mushrooms? Grow kits and spores are legal in many places, but growing or possessing the psilocybin-containing mushroom often isn’t
It depends on where you live. There are places in the world where psilocybin-containing mushrooms are legal and common. In fact, it is a very ingrained part of various traditional cultures around the world. However, since it is illegal in many places, we would like to offer a disclaimer. We do not encourage you to grow or possess psilocybin-containing mushrooms if it is not lawful to do so in your area. This article addresses the developing interest in psychedelic mushrooms: grow kits, spores, modern research and legality included.
A brief background on psychedelic mushrooms
Newsweek provides a worthy outline of psychedelic mushrooms. It reads:"Psilocybin mushrooms have been used by human societies for thousands of years, and are featured in prehistoric art in both Europe and Mesoamerica. The use of hallucinogenic mushrooms in America was partially stamped out by Catholic missionaries during the Spanish conquest, but continued to be used in indigenous ceremonies in Mexico. In 1957, Life magazine published the account of two ethnomycologists, who participated in just such a ceremony (it was revealed in 2016 that their expedition was funded by the CIA's Project MKUltra). A year later, Albert Hoffman, the Swiss chemist who first synthesized LSD, isolated the psychedelic compound psilocybin. Magic mushroom was popularized through the 1960s by researchers and psychedelic gurus, including Timothy Leary, Terence McKenna and Robert Anton Wilson."
The interesting thing that we are witnessing today is the growing acceptance of these mushrooms in western society. Many other countries around the world have a decriminalized status for psilocybin-containing mushrooms, including Austria, Czech Republic, and Portugal. In the United States, both Denver, CO and Oakland, CA have decriminalized these mushrooms. According to Entheonation, it is legal to grow psilocybin mushrooms in New Mexico. There are only three U.S. states that prohibit the sale of psychedelic mushroom spores. These include California, Georgia, and Idaho.
Take a look at Entheonation’s rundown on countries where mushrooms are legal
The following four entries come from Entheonation and its research on countries where psilocybin-containing mushrooms are legal.
In Brazil, it is legal to possess, consume, and sell magic mushrooms – even though the substance psilocybin is technically illegal. Brazilian law requires that illegal activities have specific laws written about them, and there are none related to fresh mushroom cultivation or sale.
Although the British Virgin Islands prohibits the sale and transport of magic mushrooms, possession and personal use is legal. You may even notice vendors selling them to tourists without apparent consequences.
Jamaica doesn’t seem to have a problem with magic mushroom use, and there are even a number of shroom retreats in the country.
In the Netherlands, although psilocybin mushrooms are illegal, a loophole in the law allows for the cultivation, purchase, and use of “magic truffles.” Truffles are just a different stage of development of a mushroom, and truffles of psilocybin mushroom species still contain hefty quantities of psilocybin.
Other places where mushrooms are legal that were left off that list include Samoa and the Bahamas. It is legal to possess spores or psychedelic mushrooms growing kits In many places where it is legal or decriminalized. This is so because the spores found in the kits do not contain psilocybin. It is the mycelium and the fruited body of the mushroom that does. However, as mentioned above, be very clear about the legalities in your area if you have an interest in these mushrooms. In many of the countries where mushrooms are legal or decriminalized, there are still often restrictions associated with selling or transporting. Many of the countries allow the mushrooms for personal use only.
Psychedelic mushrooms, grow kits, and spores: Understanding the nuances
Spores of psychedelic mushrooms come in syringes that are simply water and the mushroom spore together that make a slurry. Grow kits involve a substrate, often some kind of grain, and the substrate is inoculated with the spores. Spores do not contain psilocybin, which is the illegal constituent found in psychedelic mushrooms. This is why it is legal to buy spores of psychedelic mushrooms in many places. Psilocybin does not start developing until germination takes place and the mycelium starts to form. Depending on the design and nature of a psychedelic mushroom grow kit, it may be legal or illegal. If the kit includes a syringe with spores and an empty filter-patch bag, then it will most likely be legal.
However, if the kit involves fully-colonized mycelium and it is ready to fruit immediately upon arrival, then it would likely contain psilocybin-containing mycelium -- which is illegal to use in most places other than the ones listed above. You can obtain psychedelic mushrooms growing kits from a variety of places. They involve a syringe of spores, which is legal in most areas. These kits do not have fully-colonized mycelium, which would make them illegal. These spores are sold for microscopy purposes, for those who are interested in looking at some very interesting cells up close. One final disclaimer: We do not condone illegal activity. Be very aware of the laws for your area when it comes to psilocybin-containing mushrooms.