News Update: Magic Mushrooms in Louisiana

For centuries, people and cultures across the globe have used magic mushrooms. These mushrooms are also known as psychedelic mushrooms due to their psychoactive effects. They contain psilocybin and psilocin, which are hallucinogenic compounds. These mushrooms are considered non-toxic because they come from nature, unlike other psychedelics that are artificially made.

Magic mushrooms have been around for many years. But, they are still considered illegal due to their high potential for abuse. So, lawmakers decided to ban its use in the 1960s.

Are Magic Mushrooms Illegal in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, the spore of psilocybin mushrooms is legal. This is because it does not contain psilocybin – the hallucinogenic compound.

But, here’s the most crucial information. When the spores grow into mushrooms, they start to develop psilocybin or psilocin. And these hallucinogenic substances lead people to experience an altered reality. So they are still deemed illegal under state and federal law.

Also, magic mushrooms in Louisiana are federal Schedule 1 drugs. These substances are in the same drug schedule as cannabis, heroin, and molly. These psychedelic mushrooms are dangerous for health purposes.

But, there is something unique in Louisiana drug law. They have placed psilocybin under a specific subset of Schedule I drugs. This subset is “hallucinogenic drugs.” An example of a hallucinogenic drug is LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide). Hallucinogenic drugs will cause a person to experience visual and auditory hallucinations.

Moreover, it will also result in intensified thoughts, emotions, and senses. When a person ingests magic mushrooms, everything will look, feel and sound different. It will all depend on the effect of the “trip.”

What are Schedule I Drugs?

There are five (5) specific drugs, substances, and chemical categories. These are also known as schedules.

The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) categorizes them depending on two factors. First, their acceptable medical use, and second, their dependence potential. And according to them, Schedule I drugs have the following characteristics:

1. High Potential for Abuse

People who use Schedule I drugs may develop severe psychological dependence. Magic mushrooms are well-known to alter a person’s state of mind. These mushrooms produce an out-of-body experience because it contains psilocybin.

2. No Accepted Medical Treatment Use in the U.S. Currently.

Several research and clinical trials discovered many benefits of using magic mushrooms. But, there is not enough to prove its medical and therapeutic claims.

3. Inadequate Safety Measures for Use under Medical Supervision

Furthermore, there are insufficient safety measures. There are not enough protocols when using these drugs, substances, or chemicals.

Many consider the current drug scheduling obsolete. And Louisiana is well-known for its tough stance against illegal substances. Especially substances like marijuana, heroin, and ecstasy. The state is still reluctant to address old marijuana laws. So, if you get caught in possession of Schedule I DCS Drugs, three things can happen to you.

First, you will need to pay a fine, ranging from $5,000 to $600,000.

Second, you can face imprisonment that will last between four to thirty years.

Or third, you have to do both- pay a fine and serve time.

For example, if you get caught in possession of 400 grams of Schedule 1 drugs such as magic mushrooms. They need to pay at least a fine of $250,000. Or they might receive a prison sentence of at least fifteen years. Of course, they may also serve both penalties.

It will all depend on factors such as the quantity of the drug, substance, or chemical found with you. And the intent of possessing the drugs and the site where you were.

Louisiana law might take a while to decriminalize the use of magic mushrooms, so if you get caught in the cultivation and possession of magic mushrooms. You will get arrested by the police.

How about in other States?

In 2019, the laws were still strict on drugs. But, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez filed legislation on magic mushrooms. This legislation would allow researchers to review the health benefits of magic mushrooms.

Another critical breakthrough happened in 2020. Denver, Colorado, was the very first city to decriminalize psilocybin. And along with Washington DC, five more cities pursued its decriminalization.

Finally, in November 2020, the magic mushroom community reached a milestone. Oregon became the first state that legalized psilocybin.

Now, more states are looking into the decriminalization of psilocybin. And people are becoming interested in knowing about its various health benefits.

What are the BENEFITS of Consuming Magic Mushrooms?

Magic mushrooms exist not only for recreational use. These psychedelic mushrooms also have many therapeutic and healing properties. Check the list of benefits below!

1. Helps Treat Depression

New medical studies have shown that the use of psilocybin can help treat depression. According to the Journal of Psychopharmacology, researchers used psychotherapy and psilocybin. This combination helped reduce depressive symptoms in people. Thus, proving that magic mushrooms are effective antidepressants.

2. Good Palliative Treatment

Researchers found psychedelic mushrooms to be a good palliative care treatment. Cancer patients suffer from psychological stress and anxiety. The patients took psilocybin instead of their usual drugs. And results showed that their stress levels and pressure decreased.

Researchers attributed this result to the power of psychedelics. These kinds of substances help induce a spiritual experience. This phenomenon is also known as a “high.”

3. Heals and Prevents Cluster Headaches

Evidence suggests magic mushrooms help cure cluster headaches. Patients reported remission after using magic mushrooms. Recreational psychedelics such as psilocybin and LSD also had the same results.

4. Reduced Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms

Some patients do not respond to conventional drug therapy. One example is serotonin reuptake (SRI) drug therapy. But, these patients reacted well when they used magic mushrooms. Because psilocybin helped reduce their symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

5. An Excellent Option for Smoking Cessation

Magic mushrooms are also effective in helping people quit smoking tobacco. According to the results of the research, psilocybin had an 80% success rate. Conventional smoking cessation approaches only had a 35% success rate. Thus, the success rate of psilocybin was way higher.

The success of traditional smoking cessation instruments is low. It’s nowhere near half of the result of using psilocybin.

Conclusion

As of 2021, we have seen a growing number of people who are now aware of the medical benefits of magic mushrooms. And more of them are starting to gain interest in knowing more about what this type of mushroom can offer them. And as a result, researchers and advocates continue to search for its benefits.

Furthermore, more lawmakers are beginning to look at the decriminalization of psilocybin. So with a little more help from science and technology, there is a high chance for change.

But until that day comes when there is no stigma against the use of magic mushrooms. The best thing we can do is wait. We could also do our part by helping the world see the many benefits of magic mushrooms. But since psilocybin and psilocin are compounds classified as Schedule I drugs.

Magic mushrooms are still illegal in Louisiana, like in all other states. So, to avoid having an unwanted encounter with the police. You may want to hold off on getting your hands into mushrooms that contain psilocybin.