News Update Feb 2022: Magic Mushrooms in Wisconsin
Specific communities and cultures have used wild or cultivated fungi in various activities. People link these to spiritual experiences and self-discovery. These types of psychedelic mushrooms cause a trip like ecstasy. But, there is a difference between the two. Mushrooms are all-natural, and you can make the latter in a laboratory.
These shrooms contain psychoactive agents called psilocybin and psilocin. These hallucinogenic compounds enable a person to enter an altered state of mind.
Usually, people prepare these mushrooms by drying them. But, some people eat them raw, and others mix them into food or drinks to make them more palatable.
Recent Developments on Hallucinogenic Mushrooms
UW-Madison School of Pharmacy has recently launched a new research center. Pharmacy Professor Paul Hutson serves as its founding director. According to him, psychoactive agents can establish new therapies and medication.
The Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances. They are in charge of researching psychedelic compounds. They believe that they can uncover the therapeutic use of psychoactive substances. For that reason, they intend to go deeper into its science.
They have also partnered with the M.S. Program in Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation. This is the first accredited U.S. degree that focuses on psychedelic compounds. Those who enroll in this degree will study and develop related psychoactive drugs.
One of their goals is to train the next generation of experts. Included in this are teachers, scientists, and practitioners.
As of 2021, four clinical trials were underway at UW-Madison. One study includes the efficacy of MDMA in treating post-traumatic stress disorder. Another one is using psilocybin as a treatment for depression and addiction.
The center is also collaborating with researchers and investigators among the following:
- School of Pharmacy
- School of Medicine and Public Health
- College of Letters and Science
- School of Human Ecology
- School of Education
This collaborative work aims to address critical issues. These include a wide range of queries, from historical studies to mechanistic questions. Some examples include the following:
- How do different cultures and politics shape the perception and use of psychedelics?
- How does consciousness affect a person’s experience in psychiatric therapy?
- How does this drug affect a person’s brain and behavior?
- What policy considerations are needed for patients to access these compounds?
More on Hallucinogenic Mushrooms
There are a lot of mushroom species and strains. One of the most popular is the Psilocybe cubensis, also known as magic mushrooms. They are well-known as cubes, gold caps, or golden tops. These shrooms belong to the fungus family, Hymenogastraceae. Before, researchers called it Stropharia cubensis.
Nowadays, psilocybin mushrooms are well-known for their wide distribution and ease of cultivation.
If you plan on using these shrooms, buying from dealers or off the streets is not recommended. Instead, it would be better to get from online dispensaries but check local laws. You don’t want to get arrested, pay a fine, or serve jail time because of shrooms.
Mushroom Cultivation
One popular option amongst shroom advocates is growing them on your own. You can use the P.F.- Tek method, and you will be able to harvest them in less than two months. But first, you need to make sure that you have the following items:
- measuring cups
- pressure cooker
- shoulderless half-pint jars with lids
- organic brown rice flour
- horticultural vermiculite
- distilled or filtered drinking water
- heavy duty tin foil
- micropore medical tape
- spores (You can find spores in your area, or you can shop online and have them delivered to you. But once again, make sure to check local and state laws about psilocybin mushrooms)
You can attend mushroom workshops or training, or you can also look for tutorials online. Doing this will give you more in-depth knowledge and information on how to grow your shrooms.
Once you have prepared everything and followed the instruction, you need to wait. Make sure that the mycelium fills the jars within two to four weeks. Then you can move them to fruit.
After fruiting, you have to move them to a room with light and the right temperature and humidity. Then, you will see the pins showing and growing into whole mushrooms.
Wisconsin’s Legal Relationship with Psychedelic Mushrooms
Unfortunately, the use and possession of magic mushrooms in Wisconsin are still illegal. State law still classifies it as a Schedule I substance. So, having such items can result in a criminal charge. You may need to pay a fine or face jail time on your first offense.
