AS DANGEROUS AS LSD - BUT LEGAL

Svea hovratt (Swedish circuit court) is giving green light for dried
cubensis, a mushroom that compares with LSD, in a ruling. Overdose may
cause life-threatening conditions. The mushroom contains narcotics. Even so
the law allows for use and sales.

Kevin, 27, mushroom user escapes indictment for narcotics crimes. He was
apprehended during a police raid in December last year for narcotics
violation. He had 15 bags of dried cubensis mushrooms, 162 pamphlets with
directions and price list together with 850 Skr. ($100).

Everything was confiscated by police. Stockholm tingsratt (district court)
authorized the seizure. "Swedish law gives people the right to decide for
them self about their life". Kevin thinks that is good.

Sweden and most western countries classifies the properties contained in
these mushrooms as narcotics. The substances are called psilocybin and
psilocin and has a hallucinogenic effects like LSD and mescaline, which are
prohibited substances in Sweden. The ruling by Svea hovratt exposes a
loophole in the law. Mushrooms that contains narcotics are not prohibited
in Sweden. Except for one, toppslatskivlingen*. Legislators decreed a
prohibition for that species during last years mushroom season.

In the drug liberal Netherland, dried cubensis is prohibited, The drug is
considered dangerous.

Were you going to sell the bags with mushrooms that you had when you were
arrested?

"No, I was going to keep them for my self", says Kevin.

Svea hovratt is following the same line. The court is convinced that Kevin
has an unusually extensive interest in mushrooms. "The mushrooms can not be
suspected of leading to criminal activity", the circuit court writes in its
ruling.

"It is grotesque that the law allows mushroom-drugs that is as dangerous as
LSD. If you possess two LSD doses you will go to jail. But cubensis
mushrooms that gives you the same effect as LSD can be sold freely", said a
drug task force police officer to Expressen.

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Translator's Note:
* Toppslatskivling is a swedish common name for, Psilocybe semilanceata, a
fairly common mushroom in rich soil birch meadows throughout Sweden.