Mushroom edible

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A mushroom edible, also sometimes known as "legal shrooms", is a food item that may contain hallucinogens associated with those in psychoactive mushrooms, such as psilocybin mushrooms or Amanita muscaria mushrooms. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] They include chocolate bars and gummies, among others. [1] [6]

Contents

Mushroom edibles have become increasingly popular in the United States in the 2020s. [3] [7] [6] They exist in a legal gray area, and may or may not be illegal depending on the ingredients. [6] [4] [2] [1] One mushroom edibles brand, Diamond Shruumz, has been linked to hundreds of poisonings, including deaths. [4] [8] The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers not to buy or eat mushroom edibles. [9] [10] In addition, the FDA explicitly banned Amanita muscaria ingredients in food products in the United States in late 2024. [11] [12] [13]

Description

Mushroom edibles can contain compounds found in or related to those in psilocybin mushrooms such as psilocybin, psilocin, or 4-AcO-DMT (psilacetin; "synthetic shrooms") or those in Amanita muscaria mushrooms such as muscimol or ibotenic acid. [1] [3] [4] [5] Psilocybin mushrooms are a serotonergic psychedelic, [14] [15] while Amanita muscaria mushrooms are a GABAergic hallucinogen. [16] [6] 4-AcO-DMT, a synthetic analogue of psilocybin (4-PO-DMT), is a prodrug of psilocin similarly to psilocybin itself. [3] [17] [14] Mushroom edibles may also contain completely unrelated substances and drugs, with identified compounds having included bath salts, 4-AcO-DET, the scheduled prescription drug pregabalin, and kava constituents, among others. [18] [4] [1] [19] Their ingredients are often not specified and may simply say "proprietary mushroom blend" or "magic blend". [1] [3] [20]

Mushroom edibles started being sold in the United States in the 2020s and began to surge in popularity in 2023. [3] [7] [6] They include chocolate bars, gummies, and other food items. [1] [6] The products are often sold at smokes or head shops, cannabis stores, and gas stations, as well as online. [3] [2] [7] [20] Some of the most well-known brands in the United States include PolkaDot and Tre House. [1] [7] [20] The widespread market availability of Amanita muscaria products, as opposed to hallucinogenic mushrooms in general, is a relatively recent development. [6] This mushroom is often inappropriately conflated with psilocybin mushrooms, including in terms of safety as well as possible therapeutic benefits when used medically. [6] Mushroom edibles in general exist in a legal gray area in the United States and are unregulated. [4] [2] [3] There are often knockoff or counterfeit products that imitate major brands and may have completely different ingredients in spite of similar branding. [1] [7] [20]

Legality

Amanita muscaria and constituents like muscimol and ibotenic acid are not controlled substances in most of the United States and hence are considered legal. [6] [4] [2] However, other substances that may be in mushroom edibles, such as psilocybin and psilocin, are controlled substances and hence are illegal. [1] In December 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the Amanita muscaria constituents muscimol, ibotenic acid, and muscarine from food products including mushroom edibles. [11] [12] [13] However, it has been said that there are uncertainties about the ability of the FDA to enforce the rule, and that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) might eventually become involved. [13] The FDA and other government agencies such as the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) have warned consumers not to buy or eat mushroom edibles. [9] [10]

Poisonings

One mushroom edible brand, Diamond Shruumz, has been linked to hundreds of poisonings, including three deaths, and was recalled. [4] [8] The FDA conducted an investigation and identified ingredients including muscimol, psilacetin, psilocybin, pregabalin, and kava constituents. [18] [21] [10] It is unclear exactly why the products caused poisonings, but it may have been related to toxic amounts of muscimol or to presence of ibotenic acid, a known neurotoxin and convulsant. [18] [21] [6] In general, Amanita muscaria constituents are known to be much more toxic and less safe than psilocybin mushroom ingredients. [6] There is also little quality control in terms of the dosing of mushroom edibles, and amounts of active ingredients may vary considerably even within the same product. [1] Children have also been poisoned by mushroom edibles, for instance after stealing chocolate bars from their parents. [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mushroom</span> Spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus

A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. Toadstool generally denotes one poisonous to humans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psilocybin</span> Chemical compound found in some species of mushrooms

Psilocybin, also known as 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (4-PO-DMT), and formerly sold under the brand name Indocybin, is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug compound produced by more than 200 species of fungi. Psilocybin is itself biologically inactive but is quickly converted by the body to psilocin, which has mind-altering effects similar, in some aspects, to those of other classical psychedelics. Effects include euphoria, hallucinations, changes in perception, a distorted sense of time, and perceived spiritual experiences. It can also cause adverse reactions such as nausea and panic attacks.

<i>Amanita muscaria</i> Species of mushroom

Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a basidiomycete of the genus Amanita. It is a large white-gilled, white-spotted, and usually red mushroom.

<i>Psilocybe cubensis</i> Species of fungus

Psilocybe cubensis, commonly known as the magic mushroom, shroom, golden halo, golden teacher, cube, or gold cap, is a species of psilocybin mushroom of moderate potency whose principal active compounds are psilocybin and psilocin. It belongs to the fungus family Hymenogastraceae and was previously known as Stropharia cubensis. It is the best-known psilocybin mushroom due to its wide distribution and ease of cultivation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Entheogen</span> Psychoactive substances that induce spiritual experiences

Entheogens are psychoactive substances, including psychedelic drugs used throughout history in sacred contexts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psilocybin mushroom</span> Mushrooms containing psychoactive indole alkaloids

Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms,shrooms, or broadly as hallucinogenic mushrooms, are a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain psilocybin, which turns into psilocin upon ingestion. The most potent species are members of genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens, but psilocybin has also been isolated from approximately a dozen other genera, including Panaeolus, Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina.

<i>Amanita pantherina</i> Species of fungus

Amanita pantherina, also known as the panther cap, false blusher, and the panther amanita due to its similarity to the true blusher, is a species of fungus found in Eurasia with poisonous and psychoactive properties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psilocin</span> Chemical compound

Psilocin, also known as 4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (4-OH-DMT), is a substituted tryptamine alkaloid and a serotonergic psychedelic. It is present in most psychedelic mushrooms together with its phosphorylated counterpart psilocybin. Psilocybin, as well as 4-AcO-DMT (psilacetin), are prodrugs of psilocin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibotenic acid</span> Glutamate receptor agonist and neurotoxin

Ibotenic acid or (S)-2-amino-2-(3-hydroxyisoxazol-5-yl)acetic acid, also referred to as ibotenate, is a chemical compound and psychoactive drug which occurs naturally in Amanita muscaria and related species of mushrooms typically found in the temperate and boreal regions of the northern hemisphere. It is a prodrug of muscimol, broken down by the liver to that much more stable compound. It is a conformationally-restricted analogue of the neurotransmitter glutamate, and due to its structural similarity to this neurotransmitter, acts as a non-selective glutamate receptor agonist. Because of this, ibotenic acid can be a powerful neurotoxin in high doses, and is employed as a "brain-lesioning agent" through cranial injections in scientific research. The neurotoxic effects appear to be dose-related and risks are unclear through consumption of ibotenic-acid containing fungi, although thought to be negligible in small doses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muscimol</span> Neurotransmission inhibitor

Muscimol is one of the principal psychoactive constituents of Amanita muscaria and related species of mushroom. Muscimol is a potent and selective orthosteric agonist for the GABAA receptor and displays sedative-hypnotic, depressant and hallucinogenic psychoactivity. This colorless or white solid is classified as an isoxazole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bufotenin</span> Psychedelic drug found in toads, mushrooms and plants

Bufotenin, also known as dimethylserotonin or as 5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-HO-DMT), is a serotonergic psychedelic of the tryptamine family. It is a derivative of the psychedelic dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and of the neurotransmitter serotonin. The compound is an alkaloid found in some species of mushrooms, plants, and toads. It is also found naturally in the human body in small amounts. Bufotenin, for instance derived from the trees Anadenanthera colubrina and Anadenanthera peregrina, appears to have a long history of entheogenic use in South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stoned ape theory</span> Theory of cognitive development in early humans

The stoned ape theory is a controversial hypothesis first proposed by American ethnobotanist and mystic Terence McKenna in his 1992 book Food of the Gods. The idea claims that the cognitive revolution was caused by the addition of psilocybin mushrooms, specifically the mushroom Psilocybe cubensis, into the human diet around 100,000 years ago. Using evidence largely based on studies from Roland L. Fischer et al. from the 1960s and 1970s, he attributed much of the mental strides made by humans during the cognitive revolution to the effects of psilocybin intake found by Fischer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanita muscaria var. guessowii</span> Variety of fungi

Amanita chrysoblema yellow-orange variant, commonly known as the American yellow fly agaric, is a basidiomycete fungus of the genus Amanita. It is one of several varieties of muscaroid fungi, all commonly known as fly agarics or fly amanitas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legal status of psilocybin mushrooms</span>

The legal status of unauthorised actions with psilocybin mushrooms varies worldwide. Psilocybin and psilocin are listed as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse or drugs that have no recognized medical uses. However, psilocybin mushrooms have had numerous medicinal and religious uses in dozens of cultures throughout history and have a significantly lower potential for abuse than other Schedule I drugs.

<i>Amanita muscaria <span style="font-style:normal;">var.</span> formosa</i> Species of fungus

Amanita muscaria var. formosa, known as the yellow orange fly agaric, is a hallucinogenic and poisonous basidiomycete fungus of the genus Amanita. This variety, which can sometimes be distinguished from most other A. muscaria by its yellow cap, is a European taxon, although several North American field guides have referred A. muscaria var. guessowii to this name. American mycologist Harry D. Thiers described a yellow-capped taxon that he called var. formosa from the United States, but it is not the same as the European variety. The Amanita Muscaria is native to temperate or boreal forest regions of the Northern Hemisphere. However, it has also been introduced in New Zealand, Australia, South America, and South Africa.

This is a list of the legality of psychoactive Amanita mushrooms by country. In addition to muscimol and ibotenic acid, some species of Amanita mushrooms, including Amanita muscaria and Amanita citrina, may contain bufotenine which is illegal in many countries and is not included on this list.

Psychoplastogens are a group of small molecule drugs that produce rapid and sustained effects on neuronal structure and function, intended to manifest therapeutic benefit after a single administration. Several existing psychoplastogens have been identified and their therapeutic effects demonstrated; several are presently at various stages of development as medications including ketamine, MDMA, scopolamine, and the serotonergic psychedelics, including LSD, psilocin, DMT, and 5-MeO-DMT. Compounds of this sort are being explored as therapeutics for a variety of brain disorders including depression, addiction, and PTSD. The ability to rapidly promote neuronal changes via mechanisms of neuroplasticity was recently discovered as the common therapeutic activity and mechanism of action.

Diamond Shruumz, also sometimes referred to as Diamond Shrooms, is a brand of mushroom edibles sold by Prophet Premium Blends, a company located in Santa Ana, California in the United States. It includes chocolate bar, gummy, and candy cone products. The products are marketed with words such as "magic", "nootropic", and "microdosing". They do not include a full list of ingredients, but are listed as containing a proprietary "mushroom blend". Diamond Shruumz products are sold both online and in some retail stores such as vape shops in the United States.

References

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  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ducharme, Jamie (4 October 2024). "Are Mushroom Edibles Safe and Legal?". TIME. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
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  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Leas EC, Satybaldiyeva N, Kepner W, Yang KH, Harati RM, Corroon J, Rouffet M (September 2024). "Need for a Public Health Response to the Unregulated Sales of Amanita muscaria Mushrooms". Am J Prev Med. 67 (3): 458–463. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2024.05.006. PMID   38864780.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Yakowicz, Will (5 May 2024). "Your Psychedelic Gummy Is Here. (Have A Nice Trip.)". Forbes. Archived from the original on 5 May 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  8. 1 2 Johnson, Robert (11 September 2024). "A Psychedelic Debacle: 4-AcO, Microdosing, Media Panics and the Risks of Prohibition". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  9. 1 2 Ward, James (22 November 2024). "Magic mushroom chocolate bars contain dangerous ingredients CDPH warns". The Desert Sun. Archived from the original on 22 November 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 "Investigation of Illnesses: Diamond Shruumz-Brand Chocolate Bars, Cones, & Gummies (June 2024)". U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  11. 1 2 Stone, Will (21 December 2024). "The FDA restricts a psychoactive mushroom used in some edibles". NPR. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Edible magic mushroom: FDA is banning one specific kind in edibles". LAist. 21 December 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 "FDA Alerts on Use of Amanita Muscaria or its Constituents in Food". U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  14. 1 2 Geiger HA, Wurst MG, Daniels RN (October 2018). "DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Psilocybin" (PDF). ACS Chem Neurosci. 9 (10): 2438–2447. doi:10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00186. PMID   29956917.
  15. ↑ Pepe M, Hesami M, de la Cerda KA, Perreault ML, Hsiang T, Jones AM (December 2023). "A journey with psychedelic mushrooms: From historical relevance to biology, cultivation, medicinal uses, biotechnology, and beyond". Biotechnol Adv. 69: 108247. doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108247. PMID   37659744.
  16. ↑ Rivera-Illanes D, Recabarren-Gajardo G (September 2024). "Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Muscimol". ACS Chem Neurosci. 15 (18): 3257–3269. doi:10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00304. PMID   39254100.
  17. ↑ Jones NT, Wagner L, Hahn MC, Scarlett CO, Wenthur CJ (2023). "In vivo validation of psilacetin as a prodrug yielding modestly lower peripheral psilocin exposure than psilocybin". Front Psychiatry. 14: 1303365. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1303365 . PMC   10804612 . PMID   38264637.
  18. 1 2 3 Mole, Beth (5 July 2024). "What we know about microdosing candy illnesses as death investigation underway". Ars Technica. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  19. ↑ Page, Eric S. (22 November 2024). "Seven tons of fake magic-mushroom candy bars turned over to San Diego deputies". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 Semley, John (12 June 2023). "Cartoon packaging and an 'inconsolable' high: when magic mushroom chocolate gets into the wrong hands". the Guardian. Retrieved 2 February 2025. The brand is actually Polkadot Bar. And they've become increasingly common in the psychedelic grey market. As more states open up laws around cannabis, Polkadot Bars and a range of other magic mushroom containing-candies – including One-Up Bars, Holy Grail Bars, Magic Bars and Mushie Gummies – have become common, under-the-counter offerings in cannabis boutiques, smoke shops and corner bodegas. The bars come in a range of flavours, from Ferrero Rocher, Twix and Fruity Pebbles to matcha, blueberry acai and "strawnana".
  21. 1 2 Stone, Will (21 August 2024). "Mushroom edibles are making people sick. Scientists still don't know why". NPR. Retrieved 1 February 2025.


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