Magic of the Mushrooms: Effects of Psilocybin Decriminalization
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs July 10, 2024 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2024.2376755 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Web search data |
| Topics | LSD MDMA Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psilocybin reforms Policy change Drug policy legislation Decriminalization Psilocybin magic mushrooms Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Mind-altering substances Regulations Substance trends drug |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin reforms were associated with increased public search interest in psilocybin and decreased search interest in LSD and MDMA across the U.S. |
Abstract
In the past few years, psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in "magic mushrooms" (psilocybin mushrooms), has undergone decriminalization in numerous cities across the US and has been legalized in Oregon and Colorado. Proponents of psilocybin decriminalization have emphasized its therapeutic potential in treating mental health disorders. Furthermore, psilocybin mushrooms are considered the safest psychedelic option, with lower potency and a reduced risk of overdoses and emergency hospitalizations compared to other prevalent psychedelics, such as LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine). We analyzed the impact of psilocybin reforms on public interest in psilocybin, as well as their cross-commodity effects on LSD and MDMA, utilizing extensive web-based search data. We observe a significant increase in psilocybin search volume and a notable reduction in search volume associated with LSD and MDMA. Our results are consistent nationwide across states, irrespective of their stance on psilocybin reforms. The shift in public interest toward psilocybin, which is considered the safest psychedelic, away from LSD and MDMA, carries positive implications for public health.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms. Patients with treatment-resistant depression | 2017 | Observational cohort | n = 19 |
| Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels Healthy volunteers | 2019 | Observational cohort | n = 8 |
| Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin Humans | 2017 | Observational study | |
| Classic psychedelic use is associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality in the United States adult population. USA adult respondents from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008-2012) | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 190,000 |
| Prediction of Psilocybin Response in Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers | 2012 | Observational cohort | n = 409 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Psychedelic Trips: Travel Within the United States to Use Psychedelic Drugs After Legalization. Annals of emergency medicine June 30, 2025
- "Wood-lover paralysis": Describing a toxidrome with symptoms of weakness caused by some lignicolous "wood-loving" Psilocybe mushrooms. Toxicon June 7, 2025
- Preferences, Perceptions, and Environmental Considerations of Natural and Synthetic Psychedelic Substances: Findings from the Global Psychedelic Survey Journal of Psychoactive Drugs December 24, 2024
- Fusing Specialized Surveys of Rare Populations to Larger Surveys for Generalized Inference: Cross-Sectional Survey Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research April 27, 2026
- Latent Classes of Lifetime Use of Seven Hallucinogens in the United States Journal of Psychoactive Drugs August 4, 2025
and 4 more in the library
Cites 9
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Mystical experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin lead to increases in the personality domain of openness Journal of Psychopharmacology September 28, 2011
- Quality of Acute Psychedelic Experience Predicts Therapeutic Efficacy of Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression Frontiers in Pharmacology January 17, 2018
- Therapeutic Use of LSD in Psychiatry: A Systematic Review of Randomized-Controlled Clinical Trials Frontiers in Psychiatry January 21, 2020
and 4 more in the library