Otherwise known as psilocybin mushrooms, shrooms, mushies, psychedelic mushrooms.  They're a group of fungi that contain psilocybin  (4-phosphoryloxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine)  which turns into psilocin upon ingestion.

When ingested in sufficient quantity, they make you trip. 

What's a psychedelic trip?

It's a temporary altered state of consciousness which usually involves hallucinating (seeing or hearing things that do not exist or are distorted), heightened senses, altered thinking, sense of time and emotions. People often experience awe,  feelings of euphoria and bliss. 

They can also produce negative side effects, such as nausea, paranoia and anxiety AKA a bad trip. 

Where are Magic Mushrooms Found?

These fungi can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, grasslands, and marshes. Magic mushrooms are often found in groups, growing close to one another on the ground.

While they can be found all over the world, magic mushrooms are most commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions like South America, Mexico, Australia, Canada,  and the northwest and southern region of the United States.

Different Types of Magic Mushrooms

Most magic mushrooms belong to the genus Psilocybe.

However, there are also many other kinds of magic mushrooms that do not belong to this genus. In addition, some experts believe that there may be even more kinds of magic mushrooms that have not yet been discovered. As a result, it is hard to say definitively how many species of magic mushrooms there are in the world.

Around 200 species of psychedelic mushrooms have been documented. And some species have dozens of different strains with their own signature shape, flavor, and trip. We built this magic mushroom strain library that provides easy to understand information on a huge variety of strains; what they look like, what they feel like etc. 

The most well-known and widely studied species is Psilocybe cubensis, which is native to Central and South America. However, there are a number of other popular species, including Psilocybe semilanceata (or liberty caps), Psilocybe cyanescens (or wavy caps), and Psilocybe azurescens (or blue runners).

Psilocybe Cubensis

If you've ever eaten shrooms, chances are they were Psilocybe cubensis. That’s because they're one of the easiest magic mushroom to grow indoors. 

Strains of Cubensis include Golden Teachers, B+ and the heavy hittinf Penis Envy. 

They have a fairly consistent look and size -  often referred to as a golden cap because  of its cinnamon-brown top with a  2 – 8 cm diameter. 

Mushroom hunters psilocybe cubensis in a humid, damp climate. They often grows on the feces of grazing animals. When bruised or crushed, its sticky flesh turns blue. Some people take this as a definite sign of finding a magic mushroom. However, some poisonous mushroom types bruise too.

Oral intake is the chosen method for this type of mushroom. They are often prepared by drying and eating, or by mixing into food or drinks (like tea or lemon tekking).  

Psilocybe Mexicana

Another common mushroom type is the Mexican mushroom, also called Psilocybe Mexicana. This mushroom is commonly found in South and Central America and has numerous cells in the stem that can present a color ranging from ocher to dark purple.

A worn-out mushroom can be distinguished from a healthy one by its cap color. It tends to develop a brown cap of 0.5 – 2 cm. The healthy cap is brown, while an injured mushroom has a blue cap.

The effects of the Psilocybe Mexicana are quite generally more mild, but that's not to say you 

Psilocybe semilanceata

Call it alternate to tasty tequila!

This is a species of magic mushrooms having psychedelic effects. These are also known as the Liberty Cap mushroom with pointed and conical-shaped caps. These are found in wetlands across the warmer countries of the world.

These mushrooms have a varying diameter of 5 – 25 mm. Their nipple shape doesn’t modify over time. Consumption of this mushroom brings visual hallucination, increased heart rate, over-responsive reflexes, and pupil dilation. 

Users can consume it in a wide array of methods. Brew them in tea, chew them raw, or spice up your fav recipes with them. Bear in mind – these mushrooms have a bitter taste. Some people prefer to add a few drops of lemon juice to make them palatable.

Magic Mushroom dosage 

The dosage depends not only on species but also on where it grows. For instance, there are several strains of P. Cubensis. Thai P.Cubensis mushrooms are more potent and can create an intense high. Meanwhile, those on the Gulf Coast are said to produce a more “mellow” high.

It also depends on what affect you're seeking - a microdose to help with creativity or a full 8 hour trip. We create this magic mushroom dosage tool to help people understand how much they should take based on their individual factors, and what experience they're looking for. 

You can also read more here. 

Who Discovered Magic Mushrooms?

Magic mushrooms have been used for centuries by indigenous peoples for religious and spiritual purposes. 

Psilocybin was isolated by the Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann in 1957, from Psilocybe mexicana mushrooms, cultivated in Paris by the mycologist Roger Heim from mushrooms collected in Mexico during Heim and Wasson’s expedition.

Hofmann is known to have synthesized LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), and was also the first to synthesize psilocybin in 1958.

After that, the psychedelic revolution began and since then they have become increasingly popular as recreational drugs, spiritual catalysts,  and as a tool for the medical community to potentially treat all sorts of conditions from depression to Alcohol addiction. 

Magic Mushrooms Legality 

The active ingredients of psilocybin mushrooms, psilocybin and psilocin, are controlled substances on Schedule I of the 1971 United Nations convention.  However, mushrooms containing these substances are controlled differently in particular countries, according to each country’s interpretation of Schedule I. 

Whilst banned in much of the world, there are actually a number of countries where they are legal. In the Netherlands, for example, magic mushroom truffles are legal and are widely available. Thats because “truffles” or “philosopher’s stones,” it is not a mushroom, but mycelium. Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms (AKA magic mushrooms) are currently illegal Netherlands. 

In Jamaica, psilocybe cubensis mushrooms are legal. Even during the height of the War on Drugs, Jamaica never made psilocybin mushrooms illegal.

In the Bahamas psilocybin mushrooms are also legal to grow and sell—though psilocybin itself is a controlled substance. 

While the possession of magic mushrooms is still illegal in the United States, a number of states have decriminalized their use for medicinal purposes. As public attitudes towards psychedelics continue to evolve, it is likely that more countries will follow suit and begin to legalize the use of magic mushrooms.

Denver was the first city in 2019 to decriminalize mushrooms. Oakland was the second city in less than a month that decriminalized the use of mushrooms. This doesn’t mean that shrooms are now legal. However, the city cannot spend its resources to impose criminal charges on people who possess them.

For a full breakdown of legal status, check this resource.