Legal Shrooms
“Magic mushrooms,” while illegal, are still said to be popular at raves, music festivals, and college camping trips for their psychedelic effects; but recently, in some cities there is a push to legalize the psychotropic drug for its medicinal benefits.
The Benefits
The effects of “magic mushrooms” come from psilocybin when ingested, and is broken down to produce psilocin, which is responsible for the psychedelic effects and tends to appear around 20 minutes after ingestion, and will last approximately 6 hours.
Though the psychedelic effects last approximately 6 hours, the psilocybin and psilocin also creates a short-term increase in tolerance of its users; therefore, it is difficult to abuse “magic mushrooms” because the more often you take within a short period of time, the weaker the effects are. This adds to the notion that psilocybin mushrooms do not cause physical or psychological dependence/ addiction.
According to a 2010 study, published in The Lancet (read here), rated magic mushrooms as the least harmful of all drugs in the recreational study, while alcohol was rated the most harmful above heroin and crack. Thus, magic mushrooms poised zero risk of harm to others and minimal risk of harm to the users; which numerous studies also have mirrored these results regarding psilocybin.
However, like any drug, the use of “magic mushrooms” does come with the risk of a “bad trip”, and could potentially put yourself in a dangerous, emotional position while you’re extremely vulnerable. That being noted, the biggest danger to your health when taking magic mushrooms is state of mind and of course, eating a poisonous mushroom by mistake.
Current Law
Psilocybin is largely unavailable in the country due to it’s illegal status, and is currently listed as a Schedule 1 drug in the United States; which means it is considered to have a high potential for abuse. The decriminalization of psilocybin in Denver could mean psilocybin would remain illegal, but people 21 and over, who possess it, would have a low likelihood of being arrested or put in jail.
Denver’s First Steps
Colorado is that first state to consider change, and now leads the charge with hopes to decriminalize certain strains for use in treating serious mental illness, including PTSD and anxiety. A petition by the Denver Psilocybin Mushroom Decriminalization Initiative has gather the required number of signatures to mandate a city-wide vote.
So, on May 7, 2019 Municipal Election ballot, citizens of Colorado capital will be able to vote on psilocybin decriminalization. Petitioner in Denver have stated they’re not looking for mushroom dispensaries, rather hope medicinal users can avoid a hefty penalty.
What are your thoughts?
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