Of all Psilocybe species, Psilocybe cubensis is today most commonly prized as a recreational drug. Also referred to as golden cap, this tiny, tan to golden-yellow mushroom grows in nutrient-rich pastures and soils around the world, largely in tropical regions of the Americas, Southeast Asia, and Australasia. Users of the psychedelic mushroom tend to consume one or two grams of dried mushroom rehydrated in foods and teas, or less commonly as a liquid extract of psychoactive compounds. Effects of a few grams of mushrooms can take between 15 minutes and half an hour to kick in, and generally last four to six hours.

What Effects Do Magic Mushrooms Have On People?

Together with psilocybin, several psychedelic compounds in P. cubensis generate a variety of sensory and emotional responses in the brain, depending on how much is consumed, the concentration of the active substances, and the person’s own body. Much as with LSD, people who consume the psychedelic often experience visual distortions, with light sources adopting a halo effect, and colors becoming more vivid.

Shapes can seem to shift and change, reflecting an optical illusion effect, while at high doses perception can falsely interpret images to fabricate hallucinations. Measures of time can also be affected, with short periods seeming to take much longer to occur. On an emotional level, the mushroom increases euphoria and pleasure, promoting a sense of peace. In many cases there is a dream-like disconnect from reality, sometimes accompanied by drowsiness and confused thinking. Physiologically the psychedelic compounds dilate the pupils, and stimulate the digestive system to produce feelings of nausea, sometimes to the point of vomiting. Magic mushrooms can cause some people, particularly those with anxiety or bipolar disorders, to experience high levels of paranoia, or respond to hallucinations with extreme fear – what is referred to as a ‘bad trip’.

P. cubensis has a low toxicity, and is considered to be relatively harmless when compared to the potential health effects of many other drugs. Yet as with any illicit substance that can affect how our bodies function, there are risks. For some people, the experience won’t be all that pleasant, triggering psychological distress, dizziness, weakness, and stomach upset. Depending on existing mental health issues, this could trigger trauma, or ongoing recurrences such as flashbacks. Carrying out certain activities while under the psychedelic’s influence, such as swimming or driving, puts individuals at higher risk of accidents. Then there are the risks taken to get high in the first place. Foraging for mushrooms – magic or other – can result in chowing down on a deadly variety, for example. While recklessly delivering doses of psilocybin in other ways, such as through the end of a syringe, presents its own potentially lethal health risks. Legally speaking, psilocybin is a prohibited substance in many places around the globe, leading to anything from fines to jail time for possessing or trafficking magic mushrooms. This is slowly changing, with jurisdictions decriminalizing possession of small amounts of the psychedelic in recent years. mushroom chocolate | buy mushroom | mushroom for sales | buy mushroom online |