‘Legal’ psychedelic mushrooms actually contain illegal hallucinogens, study shows

WASHINGTON – A new study published Thursday finds that several mushroom candies, which are widely promoted as containing legal psychedelic ingredients, actually contain illegal hallucinogens.

The study sampled products sold in gas stations and smoke shops near Charlottesville, Va. It identified the Schedule I drug psilocin in mushroom candies sold under the brand names Diamond Shruumz and Wonderland Legal Psychedelics. A product sold under the brand Urb contained both psilocybin and psilocin. Both chemicals are psychoactive compounds found in magic mushrooms, which make users hallucinate.

Another product tested by the University of Virginia researchers, Psilly’s Legal Psychedelic Mushrooms, did not contain the illegal hallucinogens, but did include the stimulant ephedrine. The Wonderland product also contained the active ingredient in kratom, the herbal substance known to cause opioid-like effects.

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