Psilocybin is a psychoactive compound that can be found in psilocybin mushrooms, which are also known as “magic mushrooms” or “shrooms”. There are more than 200 species of mushrooms around the world that contain psilocybin or its derivative psilocin, and the use of psilocybin mushrooms and other psychedelic mushrooms can be traced back to the early years of human civilization. These mushrooms have played significant roles in ceremonies, rituals, and mysticism in early civilizations and are still being used by some ethnic groups in North and South America and other parts of the world.
Read on as we explore and demystify the compound known as psilocybin.
Psilocybin is a Relatively Safe Substance
Despite the strict regulation of psilocybin in the U.S. as a Schedule 1 drug along with heroin and cocaine, it is widely considered by those who use it as a relatively safe psychoactive substance. It is largely prohibited across the US to purchase psilocybin mushrooms, but a safe alternative is to buy magic mushrooms Canada variety and make the purchase in the country. Regarding the safety of psilocybin, it doesn’t induce habit formation or dependence, making it a non-addictive psychedelic. It has no known lethal dose, and recent drug surveys report that a very low percentage (0.2%) of psilocybin users needed emergency medical attention. This is most likely one of the reasons why many people have shown interest in magic mushrooms for recreational and therapeutic purposes.
Regulation of Psilocybin Varies Around the World
As previously mentioned, psilocybin is strictly regulated in the United States. Its neighbor, Canada, has loosened its regulation of psilocybin, considering the substance as schedule III (it may pose some risks to public health in certain situations). There is no restriction when it comes to possessing and consuming fresh mushrooms, but dried mushrooms are illegal to possess. Some European countries like Holland allow the purchase of magic truffles. The Czech Republic has decriminalized magic mushrooms and has allowed the cultivation of the mushroom for personal use.
In South America, the cultivation, possession, and selling of magic mushrooms are allowed in countries like Brazil, the British Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas. Still, it is advised to practice due caution when it comes to possessing or using the mushroom in a foreign country to avoid legal repercussions.
Psilocybin Has Promising Potential for Medical Use
While psilocybin currently does not have the same level of scientific attention and study as marijuana and MDMA when it comes to treating various mental health conditions, a growing number of scientific communities are showing interest and initiating studies on the potential benefits of psilocybin on mental health. These scientists and researchers are looking to harness the ability of psilocybin to increase brain connectivity, induce euphoria, and influence thought patterns for treating conditions like depression, smoking cessation, quitting alcohol and other addictions, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and cancer-related psychological distress. Most of the studies on psilocybin applications in mental health therapy are still in the early stages, and there is still a need for larger studies that will show significant and conclusive results. Nevertheless, the current pace of the studies shows that there is growing enthusiasm and interest in this psychoactive substance.
Psilocybin has long played an important role in the history of man. Now that medical and scientific research is taking an interest in naturally derived substances for health and therapeutic applications, there is a renewed and growing interest in this substance. We hope that the people and the government can look at psilocybin as more than just a remnant of the hippie culture and a controlled substance but also as a substance that can help treat various mental health issues. It is exciting to see how the psilocybin research progress will turn out in the future and to think of the possible change in its status as a substance of medical significance.
