Are mushroom edibles legal now?

Hello world,

It’s been an eventful week in the world of psychedelics - 

Here’s a roundup of the news that everyone is talking about, with some color commentary from newsletter curator Dennis Walker.

Can Psychedelics Save The Planet?

If psychedelics can help tackle climate change, consider us bonafide eco-warriors!

Oh, if only it were so easy!

A group of scientists, researchers and activists assembled under the banner of ‘Psychedelic Climate Week’ converging upon New York City during last week’s larger mainstream ‘Climate Week’. Their message is that having a psychedelic experience can inspire ‘consciousness shifts’ and lead to more eco-friendly behaviors, according to organizer Marissa Feinberg.

Have you developed more environmentally friendly habits after a trip? Reply to this email to let us know. The best reply will be featured in the next issue.

Mushroom Edibles Are Having A Moment

One of the clear themes we see emerging in this era of psychedelic expansion is the popularity of magic mushrooms - which a recent RAND Report declared to be the most popular psychedelic in the U.S. - and a thriving market for mushroom edibles despite their 100% illegality in 48 of 50 states. Time Magazine and the Los Angeles Times both dedicated extensive coverage to the mushroom product ‘gray market’ this week:

Are Mushroom Edibles Safe and Legal?

Mushroom chocolates in Time Magazine? I never thought I’d see the day. Increased demand for magic mushrooms driven by recent clinical research and media reports citing their profound therapeutic potential has led to a booming unregulated ‘Gray Market’ where brands capitalize upon the ‘wild west’ landscape of mushrooms. 

Underground brands with professional packaging and distribution fill shelves at smoke shops, in gas stations, and in their digital stores with mushroom edibles of all different doses, flavors, and quality controls. This article makes the point that the labeling requirements of mushroom products in this unregulated economy are non-existent, meaning that what you see on the packaging might not be the full story of what’s in the product. 

Want to Grow Your Own?

The Fate of Magic Mushrooms in California Is Unclear. Some Wellness Businesses Are Using Them Anyway.

The LA Times had a similar article this week, which showcases forward-thinking entrepreneurs hosting ‘elevated experiences’ such as Shroom Yoga and manufacturing mushroom products without trying to hide - the article cites a ‘herd mentality’, whereby the more people producing and normalizing mushrooms products in their communities, the more there is a perceived ‘Safety In Numbers.’ If you live in New York City, Miami, LA, San Francisco, Austin, etc. - chances are you’ve seen mushroom edibles at a party or been invited to an ‘infused experience’ of sorts. 

Safer Psychedelic Drugs Are Coming

Time Magazine had another intriguing article this week about the biotech companies working to engineer ‘safer psychedelics’. 

The idea is to develop ‘Next Generation’ psychedelic substances that can deliberately select for certain mental states achievable by psychedelic drugs while minimizing any side effects such as nausea, discomfort, etc.

This is an interesting space to watch: There is considerable investment allocated to the ‘next-gen’ psychedelic drug development space, yet many argue that psychedelics are already very safe and effective exactly as they are in their natural state.

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Microdosing Lithium?

Last week we shared about the people microdosing Ozempic, and this week - it’s Lithium!

The Atlantic published an article about longevity enthusiasts who are ‘microdosing lithium’ - a 19th-century panacea of sorts that was so popular that it even served as the active ingredient in 7 Up Soda when it was first founded in 1929. In fact, the original 7 Up name was ‘Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon Lime Soda’ - As the saying goes, ‘ ain’t nothing new under the sun…’

Wisconsin On The Frontlines of Psychedelic Research 

In other news from WPR, Wisconsin has emerged as a leader in psychedelic research - Psilocybin is at the forefront of these investigations, about which Wisconsin-based psychiatrist Charles Raison confidently commented, “It works. How far (psychedelics) get into the culture, how far they get into the clinical space? That’s a mystery.”

PsychedelicTok?

The massive cultural and scientific interest in psychedelics is breeding a generation of ‘psychedelic influencers’ that are taking over social media. TikTok has an entire subgenre dedicated to this - while mushroom edibles and other classic psychedelics are generally censored due to their official legal status, droves of people are creating content around ‘legal entheogens’ such as Kanna, Blue Lotus, Salvia, and most recently…Kava.

This plant brew native to the South Pacific is used widely across island nations such as Tonga and Fiji. In fact, I rang in my 25th birthday on the island of Fiji with numerous rounds of Kava, which induces a mild euphoria and is legal in the United States. Numerous Kava Bars are opening as a result of rising interest in healthier social alternatives to booze-fueled parties, and now Kava is officially trending on TikTok. 

Artist Profile: Stella Stryzowska

Stella Strzyzowska's (b. 1992 in Miami) paintings explore female forms, psychedelic experiences, and dense provocative visions. She uses art as a way to empower and express the process of internal navigation, creating road maps for the viewer while opening the floor for story telling. She is a beloved figure in the psychedelic art world and recently made her debut at the immortal Chapel of Sacred Mirrors alongside renowned visionary artists Alex & Allyson Gray. 

Who is Watching the Watchers?

Drug policy reform heavyweights Students For Sensible Drug Policy are suing the United States DEA to keep them from making two psychedelics illegal. DOI and DOC are ‘research chemicals’ used in psychedelic research and have a high safety profile, with over 900 academic papers published about their value as a research tool.

The DEA has motioned to prevent several key experts from testifying in support of keeping DOI and DOC legal. This is a chance to mount public pressure to say “Yes” to keeping psychedelic research legal. 

That’s all for this week - 

Do you have something to share? Whether it’s your personal experience, a question, or a cool story, we want to hear it! Submit your content, and you might see it featured in an upcoming issue. Also, if you’re enjoying the newsletter, pass it along to a friend or share it on social media.