Don’t Be Fooled: Store-Sold Magic Mushrooms

Store-Sold “Magic Mushrooms” are not necessarily what they appear to be. Psilocybin was made legal in Oregon in 2023, and along with the regulated legalization comes companies hoping to capitalize on what they perceive as a trend, introducing products to the market that may be misleading based on the names of these packaged items.

You may have recently seen items labeling themselves as “magic mushrooms,” found often in vape, smoke, and head shops. The term “magic mushroom” itself is not legally defined the same as what we have societally called “magic mushrooms” for decades, leading to possible confusion. We seek to help educate about the difference.

Oregon state law mandates that psilocybin be administered by a licensed facilitator. Legally-purchased products sold in OR stores with no licensed facilitator are not going to contain psilocybin.

One such product we recently were made aware of contains lion’s mane mushrooms. Lions mane is a delicious fungus that pairs well with olive oil and salt, or shredded and made to resemble a vegetarian crab cake. Lion’s mane does not contain psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in what we colloquially call “magic mushrooms.” Should you want to spend your money on lion’s mane, we suggest your local farmer’s market from late September through early November.

Another ingredient listed in this products is 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). L-trypophan, commonly found in foods, is turned into 5-HTP by our bodies in small amounts. Unlike psilocybin, 5-HTP is not a hallucinogen and does not produce altered states of consciousness.

Be aware some of these products also contain a mild stimulant. Some people with anxiety and PTSD find that stimulants intensify said anxiety. Be aware when thinking about purchasing store-sold magic mushrooms.

While we cannot speak about the efficacy of these items for general mood use, the psilocybin experience is vastly different. Psilocybin is known for its hallucinogenic effects, altering perception, thoughts, and emotions when ingested. It primarily interacts with the serotonin receptors in the brain, leading to profound changes in consciousness, often including visual and auditory hallucinations, introspective experiences, and a sense of connectedness with the environment or the universe.

We at Inner Guidance Services Inc and Life Trek, LLC firmly believe that regulatory transparency builds trust. Encouraging healthy ongoing dialog and education remains at the forefront of our priorities, especially because psilocybin is new to so many of our customers who may have or develop incorrect notions about the substance. These dietary supplement products may aid in misinformation regarding access, price, and experience.