Are magic mushrooms the next frontier for the cannabis industry?

Given its hallucinogenic effect, lawmakers may be reticent to allow distribution of the psychedelic drug without more restrictions

Magic mushrooms, a group of fungi containing the psychedelic substance psilocybin, have long been used as a way to trip out by those adventurous enough to eat something that might have grown out of a cow patty for the mind-altering experience. The latest research into the effect of the compound has shown promise in treating depression, addiction, and other mental ailments.

There are no immediate signs that magic mushrooms will be decriminalized widely anytime soon — although Denver has decriminalized shrooms citywide — and there’s a voter initiative in California underway for the 2020 ballot. And if cannabis is to serve a role in shrooms, there are some wrinkles that need to be ironed out in the weed industry before we use it as a template.

Like cannabis, psilocybin has a long track record of relative safety among recreational users, and it is not toxic. Unlike some drugs that treat anxiety and other mental conditions, psilocybin is not prone to dependence. But given its hallucinogenic effect, lawmakers may be reticent to allow distribution of the psychedelic drug without more restrictions.

By Rudy Sanchez, The Fresh Toast
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