There are a lot of different opinions on the legalization of psychedelic mushrooms, otherwise known as magic mushrooms. They are viewed similarly to acid, another psychedelic drug, and legalization has been under debate for a while. A few cities have chosen to make them legal, but they are still illegal in all states.
“I think it should be legal because those who chose to do them are gonna do them no matter what, so we might as well make sure it’s safe and regulated,” Andi Vandeelean ‘21 said.
People who are for the legalization of mushrooms say it can stimulate the brain. Some say that micro dosing it can possibly boost creativity. Some users say mushrooms can help people look within themselves, have spiritual awakenings and help people come to realizations about how they are acting or dealing with a situation.
Mushrooms are not as widely used as other drugs made legal in some states, like cannabis, so it is not a priority to legalize them. Due to the heavy hallucinogenic effects from the drug it can lead some users to critically injure themselves or even die, usually due to the user believing they can fly or survive drops from large heights. Another negative to taking mushrooms is there is a chance you could damage your brain with strong hallucinations.
When asked why people may view psychedelic mushrooms negatively is Giovanni Kline ‘20 said it is “because people get addicted to psychedelics.”
