In the past few years, magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, have been making headlines worldwide. Numerous researches have been conducted to study its potential benefits, although in controlled environments. Furthermore, some states in the USA, including Denver, Oakland, and Seattle, have decriminalized magic mushrooms.
With so many positive trends on the rise, many people are considering using magic mushrooms for recreational and medicinal purposes. However, to ensure a positive and safe experience ingesting magic mushrooms, you must know their chemical composition, effects, legality, and how to use them.
This article list all the details you should know about trending magic mushrooms.
What are Magic Mushrooms?
Magic mushrooms are the category of mushrooms that contain Psilocybin. This chemical is responsible for producing a hallucinogenic effect. The Psilocybin chemical binds to serotonin receptors in the brain and alters your mood and perception. Besides, Magic Mushroom psychedelic effects kick in after 20 minutes of consumption and can last up to six hours.
Magic mushrooms grow naturally in a moist environment and are found all over the world. However, the ones you are most likely to use are cultivated by the farmer.
Legality Of Magic Mushrooms
Psilocybin in magic mushrooms is federally classified as a schedule 1 controlled substance with no accepted medical use. But in May 2019, the city of Denver, Colorado, decriminalized psilocybin mushrooms. The law didn’t legalize mushrooms but prohibited prosecution of people for using or possessing magic mushrooms.
After Denver, the same pattern was followed in many other cities in the USA decriminalizing Psilocybin. The list includes the following cities:
- Oakland, California
- Santa Cruz, California
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- District of Columbia
- Washtenaw County, Michigan
- Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Seattle
- Washington
- Arcata, California
- Easthampton, Massachusetts
- Detroit
- San Francisco
Besides these, many other states or cities might decriminalize Psilocybin in the coming days. Hence, check with the authorities in your town before considering the trending magic mushrooms.
Effects of Ingesting Magic Mushrooms
Consuming magic mushrooms can take you on a powerful psychedelic journey. It affects everyone differently, although you can expect a few common things from an average dose. Your perception of your surroundings will change. Your senses will be heightened. Visually, you will hallucinate geometric shapes and patterns. Objects become distorted or seem alive. You may also experience escaping reality, and time and space feel like they don’t exist. Furthermore, one may get emotional, euphoric, and more open to thoughts.
Factors To Consider While Taking Shrooms
To ensure you have a safe psychedelic experience, you must consider the following factors:
1. Set and Setting
Both set and setting are vital for preparing for any psychedelic experience. Set here signifies your mindset going into the experience.
Before consuming magic mushrooms, ensure you are happy, healthy, and stress-free. Consuming magic mushrooms while being distressed can negatively impact your whole experience.
On the other hand, the setting refers to the physical environment in which you use magic mushrooms. The environment should be safe and comfortable. Ensure you do it with others whom you know well and trust. Moreover, the space should have enough space to sit and lie, be neither too warm nor too cold, and has easy access to water and anything you need.
2. Dosage
Keeping the dosage right is very important. If you are taking magic mushrooms for the first time, consider starting small. The standard dose weighs 1-2.5 grams, depending on the mushroom’s potency and strain.
3. Risk
When it comes to the risk associated with consuming magic mushrooms, having a bad trip is common. It can cause confusion, fear, anxiety, and paranoia, which makes the experience overwhelming.
Going with the right mindset and having a comfortable environment can significantly reduce the risk of a bad trip. You can also follow the safety guidelines outlined in hallucinogen research at Johns Hopkins University School.
If your family members have a history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or any psychotic disorders, avoid magic mushrooms, as they can lead to prolonged psychosis.
Potential Benefits
Over the years, with numerous research, magic mushrooms have been proven to have many medicinal benefits. In fact, the FDA (US food and drug Administration) in 2018 picked Psilocybin as a “breakthrough Therapy” for depression.
A study conducted at the South Dakota State University College revealed that Psilocybin could help reduce suicidal thoughts, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and tobacco dependence.
Another one-month study at Johns Hopkins University revealed that 94 percent of volunteers experienced increased well-being and life satisfaction. The behavioral changes cited by volunteers were better family relations, increased physical and psychological self-care, and increased spiritual practice.
Conclusion
With increasing research supporting magic mushrooms and many cities and states decriminalizing Psylocibin, it is ideal to try them. However, remember the risk associated with it and prepare well for your trip to reap all benefits.
