If you’re interested in P. Mushrooms…you’ll have probably heard about the enigma that is mushroom spores.You’ve probably also seen this question asked before:
Is it legal in the US to have pilocybin mushroom spores?
You might also be wondering…
What’s the difference between spores and the mushrooms themselves?
In order to answer the questions, let’s take a look into the law around Psilocybin Mushrooms in the US, and how this relates to mushrooms spores.
Psilocybin Mushroom Law In The USA
It is against the law to have, take, grow, or sell “mushrooms” in the USA.
While there is talk about decriminalizing p. mushrooms, and a few states have taken this step, there is currently nowhere in the US where it is legal to have them in your possession.All seems pretty clear, right? Right.
Then we start talking about spores and things get a bit more confusing…
What Is A Mushroom Spore?
P. mushrooms have spores.If you were to look for them, you would find them in the gills of the mushroom (I.e. the brown, ribbed bit underneath the cap).A spore is the reproductive part of the mushroom and is a fine, powder like substance.Are p. mushroom spores legal?Yes.
Why?
The spores themselves do not contain the p. compound. As they don’t contain this psychotropic substance, they cannot be considered illegal under the same Act as the p. mushroom itself.Again, all feels pretty simple, doesn’t it?Yes and no.While it is legal to have mushroom spores in most states of the US, there are three states where it is illegal. We will look into this more below.
Why Would You Want Them?
As briefly touched on above, spores are legal because they do not contain the p. compound.You might then be asking yourself, why do people want them at all? Well, they are in fact incredibly interesting to study under a microscope.Spores offer a unique insight into the beauty and variety of microstructures.Mycology is the study of mushrooms. Mycologists have identified that mushrooms have a life cycle that is fascinating to study. For example, it seems as if they just appear overnight and out of nowhere…hence the term *mushroomed*! The desire to research and study these spores by mycologists and enthusiasts is the main reason why anyone would want to own them.
If you are an enthusiast…you need to make sure that you are careful to now allow the spores to go through the germination process as explained below.
It Is Illegal To Have Mushroom Spores In California, Georgia, And Idaho
Why did these three states decide to make p. mushroom spores illegal to have in your possession? The very brief answer to that question is that it is almost impossible to control what people do with the spores once they have them. Mature mushrooms will contain the p. compound. As a result…you’ll have in your possession (willingly, or not) mushrooms which are illegal.This is one of the main reasons why these three states choose not to legalize spores.They are trying to avoid the risk of creating a loophole for people cultivating their own mushrooms and bypassing the law.
Will P. Mushrooms Ever Be Legal In the US?
Right now, there is no definitive answer to this question.A number of states have started the process of decriminalizing p. mushrooms.In short this means that, while it is still technically illegal to have mushrooms in your possession, if you are caught with them by law enforcement it is unlikely they would take any action against you.This step is one that is seen by experts and advocates alike as a positive step in moving towards legalization.As of now, there is no way to say for sure.This decision will likely revolve around the validity of research into the use of p. mushrooms in medical treatment.
Research is currently underway into how mushrooms can be used in treating anxiety, depression, and addiction amongst various other ailments.The best thing to do is to watch this space for the outcome of any research and medicinal trials.
Interested In Studying P. Mushroom Spores?
Currently, unless you are based in one of the three states listed above, it is perfectly legal for you to own and study p. mushroom spores.There are plenty of reasons why you would want to do this.If you have a specific interest in the anatomy and life cycle of mushrooms, are a lover of all things science, or are simply interested in learning more about the topic…spores are an incredibly interesting place to start.
No matter what your level of expertise or experience is with studying mushroom spores, you can buy mushroom spores online and in some specialist stores.
