News Update: Magic Mushrooms in Kentucky

Over the last decade or so, there has been much progress in the study of psilocybin. Psilocybin has come a long way. From being a mere drug to having possible use in medicine. 

Despite this wave of progress, several states in the USA still view it negatively. Kentucky, for example, has very harsh penalties when it comes to drug-related offenses. Instead of helping someone with their drug problem, they punish them unnecessarily. 

This spells a problem for many, especially those who use it therapeutically. But one can’t deny psilocybin’s potential when put to good use. The research and studies showed tremendous progress for this substance. So, you can’t rule out the possibility that a state like Kentucky could change its stance on this.

Are Psilocybin Mushrooms Legal in Kentucky?

Kentucky law, like the majority of the US, views psilocybin as illegal. Specifically, this means that mature forms of mushrooms containing psilocybin are deemed unlawful.

However, while the mushrooms themselves are illegal, the shrooms’ spores are not. This means that it’s completely legal to buy and to have spores of shrooms in your possession.

Spores don’t have psilocybin yet when compared to mature shrooms. This is why the spores are considered legal. However, any efforts to cultivate them into fully grown psilocybin mushrooms are unlawful. This is because this form already has a psychoactive substance in it.

Kentucky-specific psilocybin law

At present, the state of Kentucky doesn’t have any specific laws concerning psilocybin. Instead, they follow the classifications and regulations. The federal Controlled Substances Act strictly implements these. In line with this, substances such as psilocybin are under Schedule 1 drugs in Kentucky.

According to the Act, Schedule 1 drugs do not have any accepted uses in the medical field and have a high risk for abuse. If found in possession, this will result in legal repercussions and penalties.

Penalties for Schedule 1 Possession in Kentucky

An offense of possession will need you to have the controlled substance in your custody. Unfortunately, these charges are not so straightforward. These will still depend on the drug in your possession. The number of times you have committed this offense will also come into play. 

 For possession of psilocybin, you will be charged with possession in the first degree. The consequence will also depend on the number of times you’ve committed it.

For your first offense, you will be charged with a Class D felony. This means you will have to serve jail time of 1 to 5 years.

If you commit this offense again, you will then be charged with a Class C felony. The corresponding consequence to that would be a jail sentence of 5 to 10 years.

However, these charges are subject to modification under certain conditions. You may, for example, go for a plea bargain and get a lesser sentence or opt for probation. This depends entirely on the case you present and the legal assistance that you get.

Whatever the case, these penalties for the possession of psilocybin seem somewhat confusing. You can attribute that to not having any psilocybin-specific laws. These penalties and consequences seem a little out of proportion. This is only for possession of a drug with possible therapeutic benefits. 

Unfortunately, these are the current laws that Kentucky has. This is not only with psilocybin but with other similarly classified drugs.

Why Psilocybin Mushrooms

Despite the laws on psychedelic mushrooms in Kentucky, science and research continue. This is to show that these mushrooms do more harm than good. Their benefits in the field of medicine have become more evident over the past few years.

Magic mushrooms have been around for more than a millennia. Ancient people such as the Aztecs used them to communicate with higher powers. Aside from this purpose, they also used shrooms to connect with nature.

In the ’60s and ’70s, people still used these mushrooms. They use it for religious and spiritual experiences. But, they also saw a new purpose for it: introspection. People saw that shrooms could help them better understand themselves. Then, some saw the potential shrooms had for what is now known as psychedelic trips. But unfortunately, the war on drugs of the ’70s put a stop to its use.

But magic mushrooms have emerged again recently. Shrooms became a subject of research in medicine. So far, research has uncovered a better understanding of its effects on the brain. Specifically, psilocybin has the potential to treat people with mental illnesses. It can also be used as a palliative care treatment.

For example, the NYU Psilocybin Cancer Anxiety Study made a study. They showed that giving terminally ill cancer patients psilocybin helped decrease their anxiety. In addition, psilocybin helped them become more open and accepting of their conditions. This reduced any cancer-related stress they experienced beforehand.

Psilocybin also has the potential to be a treatment for depression. Studies revealed similar effects of antidepressants and psilocybin. It showed that it has the same effects on the brains of depressed patients. Psilocybin even has more lasting effects compared to other medications. This can help revolutionize the way mental illnesses are treated.

Moving Forward

Right now, it seems that Kentucky’s stance will not change on psilocybin. However, other states in the US have seen more progress in this matter. 

Denver, Washington DC, and Oakland are all places that have decriminalized mushrooms. On the other hand, Oregon took an extra step. The state decided to legalize the use of psilocybin for therapeutic purposes. All these progressive steps results are from research. This convinced people that this psychedelic can do more good than bad.

This may seem like a small win, but it’s a win nonetheless. Even something like cannabis took some time until it became decriminalized and legalized. Following that logic, it’s only a matter of time before things get moving for psilocybin. With the research continuing, psilocybin’s eventual acceptance is not far from happening.

Conclusion

Right now, “magic mushrooms Kentucky” may not go well together in terms of drug policies. But there’s still hope for Kentucky to take a progressive step with psilocybin.

The state’s present laws on this substance may seem like they’re out of proportion, which they are. Eventually, the USA would accept psilocybin. This is possible as they have already received the benefits of cannabis. Psilocybin is not far from following suit. 

It’s hard to deny that there’s some good in these psychedelic mushrooms. It may still take a while compared to other states, especially in Kentucky. But you could say it’s bound to happen. The current research continues to point out the medical benefits that psilocybin has. This is thanks to the findings backed by science!

Eventually, psilocybin’s legalization will happen! This will be possible by supporting the research and lobbying for its decriminalization. But, until any changes happen, the people of Kentucky will have to wait. However, they can still do their part! This is to help their state become more progressive with this substance.