r/Drugs AMA series: Psilocybin Mushrooms ("Magic Mushrooms," "Shrooms")
Strangely enough, shrooms leapfrogged heroin in the poll of redditors since the posting of the last AMA. So it sounds like there will be some decent interest in this one.
Todays AMA deals with a drug whose usage may date back further than any other drug in existence, with cave paintings and statues possibly depicting this psychoactive fungus and at least one theory and one comedy routine suggesting its archaic use.
First synthesis: Evolved into their current form, though the active chemical, psilocybin, was isolated and synthesized by none other than the father of LSD, Albert Hofmann. Take a look at this, it's a pretty good read.
Intended use: No widespread medical uses. Currently used as a recreational drug and entheogen.
Current research into medical applications: None directly with any of the fungi, but a wealth of studies have recently completed or are currently underway involving psilocybin. These include determining any nootropic properties it may have as well as it's effectiveness in the treatment of OCD, cancer-generated anxiety, nicotine addiction and cluster headaches. Oh, and then there's this US government-funded study that you likely haven't heard much about.
Legality: Far too convoluted to condense into a satisfactory description here (some countries ban everything, some have decriminalized small amounts, some allow for the sale of spores). Have a look at this wiki page.
Posted Aug 10, 2011, 8:09 PM UTC · edited