Magic Mushrooms Legal in Colorado, Is Texas Next?

For me, conversations about magic mushrooms remind me of films I've seen of people tripping at Woodstock in 1969. There were some pretty crazy-looking things happening there. Not all of them were related to mushrooms, but there was a fair amount of "shrooms" present if you talk to those who were there.

With that in mind, I was surprised to hear that Colorado voters joined Oregon this past election day, voting to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms for people 21 and older. Further, they are going to create state-regulated "healing centers" where participants can experience the drug under supervision.

Natural Medicine enthusiasts say that these natural medicines can have benefits for people with PTSD, terminal illness, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Opponents of legalization say that these substances still are not approved for use as a medicine by the Food and Drug Administration and using them is still against federal law.

As conservative as Texas is, it might surprise you to learn that Texas is actually the second state to allow research in using magic mushrooms for treating certain mental illnesses.

Governor Abbott allowed House Bill 1802 to become law, without his signature This allows the study of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, to be researched as a treatment for those suffering from PTSD.

Unlike the Woodstock images, more and more research by world-renowned doctors is showing that psilocybin could be useful in treating a number of mental health issues.

Even so, possession of magic mushrooms in Texas is illegal. According to Texas Penal Code

it is illegal to possess, distribute, carry, use, or grow magic mushrooms.

The Texas Controlled Substance Act further classifies mushrooms as a controlled substance in the “Penalty Group 2-A” category, similar to other serious drugs such as MDMA, ecstasy, and most illegal amphetamines.

Having these substances can still get you serious jail time. There are dangers to ingesting them or brewing teas with them. People often do dangerous things after ingesting "shrooms" and can have permanently altered mental reactions.

So, while it may be worthwhile for science, under carefully controlled conditions, to study potential positive outcomes using psilocybin on certain mental health related conditions, it is probably NOT a good idea for the average person to experiment with these substances.

No one wants to go on a trip, they never come back from.