Availability of Websites Offering to Sell Psilocybin Spores and Psilocybin
Jason P. Lott, Douglas B. Marlowe, Robert Forman
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs September 1, 2009 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2009.10400541 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 800 |
| Population | Websites offering psilocybin spores or psilocybin |
| Duration | 25-month period |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Spore Advertising |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key findings | 58% of 800 links from Google searches for 'psilocybin spores' led to websites offering to sell psilocybin spores, and some sites also offered whole Psilocybe mushrooms. |
Abstract
This study assesses the availability of websites offering to sell psilocybin spores and psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen contained in Psilocybe mushrooms. Over a 25-month period beginning in March 2003, eight searches were conducted in Google using the term "psilocybin spores." In each search the first 100 nonsponsored links obtained were scored by two independent raters according to standardized criteria to determine whether they offered to sell psilocybin or psilocybin spores. No attempts were made to procure the products offered for sale in order to ascertain whether the marketed psilocybin was in fact "genuine" or "counterfeit." Of the 800 links examined, 58% led to websites offering to sell psilocybin spores. Additionally, evidence that whole Psilocybe mushrooms are offered for sale online was obtained. Psilocybin and psilocybin spores were found to be widely available for sale over the Internet. Online purchase of psilocybin may facilitate illicit use of this potent psychoactive substance. Additional studies are needed to assess whether websites offering to sell psilocybin and psilocybin spores actually deliver their products as advertised.
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 4
- Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin for Treating Psychological Distress among Survivors of Adverse Childhood Experiences: Evidence on Acceptability and Potential Efficacy of Psilocybin Use Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 10, 2023
- Psilocybin and Hallucinogenic Mushrooms February 2, 2012
- Online Availability of Diamond Shruumz Before and After FDA Recall Initiation: Qualitative Assessment and Simulated Test Purchasing. Journal of Medical Internet Research June 30, 2025
- Subjektívne vnímané riziká užívania psychedelík Ceskoslovenska psychologie December 29, 2021
Cites 8
- Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Psilocybin in 9 Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry November 15, 2006
- Response of cluster headache to psilocybin and LSD Neurology June 26, 2006
- 5-Year Trends in Use of Hallucinogens and Other Adjunct Drugs among UK Dance Drug Users European Addiction Research December 18, 2006
- SAR of psilocybin analogs: Discovery of a selective 5-HT2C agonist Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters August 3, 2005
- Is there a case for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in the UK? Journal of Psychopharmacology February 28, 2007
and 3 more in the library