A mushroom edible, also known as a psychedelic mushroom edible or hallucinogenic mushroom edible and sometimes 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]
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]
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]
In December 2024, it was reported that a company called PsiloSafe had launched a testing and certification program for magic mushroom products. [21] The aim is to ensure the ingredients, potency, and safety of the products. [21] Some 15 product brands have partnered with PsiloSafe. [21]
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]
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] [22] [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] [22] [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]
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".