What Is Magic Mushrooms?
Magic mushrooms are a slang term for mushrooms that contain psilocybin, a psychoactive substance that causes visual and/or auditory hallucinations. Psilocybin is considered a Schedule I drug in the U.S. and has no legitimate medical use. There are about 40 different species of psychoactive mushrooms, with most of them found in the southwest American states and Mexico. Although they have historically been used for spiritual rituals and medicinal purposes, today they are widely abused for their psychedelic effects alongside other hallucinogen drugs like LSD and ecstasy.
Magic mushrooms are often prepared by drying and are eaten by being mixed into food or drinks. Although, some people eat freshly picked psilocybe mushrooms.
Also Known As: Magic mushrooms are also known as shrooms, mushies, blue meanies, golden tops, liberty caps, philosopher’s stones, liberties, Amani, and agaric.
Drug Class: Psilocybin is classified as a hallucinogen.
Common Side Effects: Magic mushrooms are known to cause unwanted side effects such as nausea, yawning, feeling drowsy, nervousness, paranoia, panic, hallucinations, and psychosis.
What Do Magic Mushrooms Do?
Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic drugs, meaning they can cause you to see, hear, and feel sensations that seem real but are not. The effects of magic mushrooms, however, are highly variable and believed to be influenced by environmental factors.2