Are Magic Mushroom Spores Legal in the UK?
What are magic mushroom spores?
In order to determine whether Magic mushroom spores are legal, we first must understand what they are. The spores are simply the fungus equivalent of seeds. The spores are created by Psilocybin-producing species of mushrooms during the reproduction cycle.
From a legal perspective, in the majority of countries including the United Kingdom magic mushrooms are illegal to own or grow due to the chemical ‘Psilocybin’ contained within them.
However, magic mushroom spores do not contain Psilocybin. The specific chemical that is legislated and controlled. This put spores into essentially a ‘grey area’.
Spore print of Psilocybe Cubensis
Psilocybe semilanceata: The Ultimate Mushroom Guide About The Psilocybe semilanceata Mushroom
These mushrooms are also known as “Liberty Caps” due to their large caps. They are known to be among the most potent psilocybin mushrooms. They also grow frequently in North America and throughout Europe. These mushrooms usually grow in meadows and pastures, often in those grazed by sheep. However, unlike Psilocybe cubensis, psilocybe semilanceata do not grow directly out of dung.
Other names: Liberty Cap, Magic Mushroom.
Psilocybe semilanceata Identification Cap
Ranging from 0.5 to 2cm in diameter, the cream-colored caps have striations that become more pronounced with age and in dry weather. The caps usually have a distinct pimple on the top. Gills The olive-grey free gills turn purple-black as the spores mature. Stem 2 to 3mm in diameter and 4 to 10cm tall, the slender cream stem of Psilocybe semilanceata is fibrous, usually wavy and sometimes colored blue towards the base. Spores Ellipsoidal, smooth, 11.5-14.5 x 7-9μm. Spore Print Very dark purple-brown. Odor and Taste Musty odor. Habitat & Ecological Role This poisonous saprobic grassland mushroom is most often found on upland pastures, notably on hill slopes. Although sometimes seen on lawns and in lowland meadows it does not grow on dung. Psilocybe semilanceata Look-Alikes Panaeolus semiovatus Usually larger and does not have a pointed cap.
Panaeolina foenisecii Very similar in color but is usually larger and does not have a pointed cap. Psilocybe strictipes Is a slender grassland species that is differentiated macroscopically from P. semilanceata by the lack of a prominent papilla. Psilocybe mexicana Commonly known as the “Mexican liberty cap”, is also similar in appearance, but is found in manure-rich soil in subtropical grasslands in Mexico.
It has somewhat smaller spores than P. semilanceata, typically 8–9.9 by 5.5–7.7 μm. Psilocybe samuiensis Found in Thailand, where it grows in well-manured clay-like soils or among paddy fields. This mushroom can be distinguished from P. semilanceata by its smaller cap, up to 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in diameter, and its rhomboid-shaped spores. Psilocybe pelliculosa Is physically similar to such a degree that it may be indistinguishable in the field. It differs from P. semilanceata by its smaller spores, measuring 9–13 by 5–7 μm.
So are magic mushroom spores legal?
So determining whether magic mushroom spores are legal boils down to whether the spores themselves contain any controlled chemical compounds. This is in essence how drugs are classified. For example, MDMA’s specific chemical structure is listed as a controlled and illegal compound.
Psilocybin (The active chemical that gives magic mushrooms their ‘magic’.) chemical structure is classified and illegal in the United Kingdom and many other countries.
However, the spores of magic mushrooms do not contain any Psilocybin and therefore are not under the schedule of controlled drugs in the United kingdom.
If you are in a different country, you can view the table at the bottom of the page for legalities in different countries.
This puts magic mushroom spores legality into a strange grey area. As they are not technically illegal, which means they can be legally sold and bought.
There are other laws that govern the purpose of a sale. For example, if magic mushroom spores are sold within the United Kingdom with the intention of being grown, this would absolutely be illegal. Under the Serious crimes act 2007, encouraging or facilitating illegal activities can lead to some lengthy prison sentences.
Why would you buy magic mushroom spores?
Magic mushroom spores are fascinating to study, they are microscopically small. You could fit many hundreds of spores on the tip of a needle.
Here at Viking spores, we sell our spores with the intention of being examined under the microscope. There are many people who buy them for novelty or taxonomy purposes. The law has changed significantly in recent times, specifically in the US, with decriminalization happening in some states.
What the future holds is very uncertain, but we believe it’s important to preserve the genetic lineage in case the law changes.
There are many places to purchase spores in the United Kingdom, whether that’s through online shops or Facebook groups and Reddit. Click here and buy directly from a merchant (they’re very discreet please)
Due to the industry having very little regulation, there are some unscrupulous vendors so it’s worth taking your time and doing due diligence to ensure the product you receive will be what it’s sold as.