A legal psychedelic mushroom species is sold in the US: the fly agaric

A psychedelic mushroom strain is legally sold in the US, but experts warn of the potential dangers. In addition to euphoria, the substances in the mushroom could also cause temporary madness.

A Florida store claimed to be the first to sell a legal magic mushroom in the US. The products for sale include a joint and snacks with Amanita muscaria. There are also capsules and gummies for sale that are derived from the mushroom.

Psychedelic fly agaric (Amanita muscaria)

Alan Rockefeller, a mycologist from Oakland, California, says that Amanita muscaria has been sold online in the US for years. The species, also known as fly agaric, is legal in all US states except Louisiana. There is no agreement on the safety of the psychedelic mushroom. However, most identification books state that it is poisonous.

The main psychoactive ingredient in Amanita muscaria is muscimol, which acts on similar receptors in the brain as alcohol. The effects begin within about 10 minutes of eating one to four psychedelic mushrooms and last for four to eight hours, depending on the dose.

In general, muscimol is sedative, with a more sleepy effect than alcohol. Anecdotally, about two in five people feel nauseous after eating Amanita muscaria, and about one in five people enjoy it, Rockefeller said. Cain Barlow, a mycologist from Australia: The mushroom is quite pleasant at low doses (about a half to one mushroom or 0,03 to 0,17 ounces), but can become difficult to handle at high doses. He wrote on Third Wave, an online resource for psychedelics, that it can cause feelings of euphoria.

Mushroom side effects

Barlow said the mushroom can also cause vomiting, a lack of coordination, a loss of contact with the environment for several hours, distortion in the size of things, to looping (when a person gets stuck in a repetitive behavior or thinking pattern). ), and a sense of flying. However, there are also leading mycologists who strongly advise against the use of the fly agaric because it can be very dangerous.

A person fell into a coma after accidentally Amanita muscaria had taken, according to a case study published in the European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine. Amanita muscaria mushrooms are different from regular "magic" mushrooms. Magic mushroom is a term generally associated with mushrooms that contain psilocybin. A substance that this mushroom does not contain.

Source: insider.com (EN)