SOME EFFECTS OF MAGIC MUSHROOMS

Shrooms, magic mushrooms, psilocybin. How do they affect you?

There are more than 2,500 mushroom varieties grown in the world today. In
the forest and wilderness of Vancouver Island there are numerous varieties
that grow in the wild.

Out of those, there are several species of mushrooms that have
hallucinogenic properties. They are often referred to as magic mushrooms.
There have also been illegal operations of growing magic mushrooms
uncovered in B.C.

Hallucinogenic mushrooms contain two psychoactive ingredients: psylocybin
and psilocin.

Psylocybin is the main psychoactive ingredient and psilocin, which is found
in smaller amounts yet is more potent.

Dried mushrooms contain two to four per cent psilocybin and trace amounts
of psilocin.

The hallucinogenic dose of both substances is about four to eight
milligrams with the effects lasting for six to eight hours.

Mushrooms are eaten, brewed in tea, dried and put in capsule form or dried
and laced with cigarettes or marijuana joints for their hallucinogenic effects.

Signs and symptoms of ingesting magic mushrooms include:

Dilated pupils, aggressive behaviour, confusion, hallucinations,
synesthesia, disorientation, impaired coordination, sweating.

Psilocybin use causes elevated heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature.

A mushroom experience is similar to a mild LSD experience, but less acute
hallucinations and high durations are attributed to psilocybin.

Long-term effects are physical tolerance and psychological dependence
including psychosis.

Local trends show that youth think because the mushrooms grow naturally
that they are harmless.

As you can see, magic mushrooms have some potentially serious effects.