Psychedelics

March 12, 2026 | Fact Sheets, Psychedelics, Substance Misuse

Amanita muscaria is a psychoactive mushroom with a bright red cap covered in white spots or warts that is native to the temperate and boreal forests of the northern hemisphere. A. muscaria mushrooms are also called “fly agaric” mushrooms due to their traditional use as an insecticide. Though A. muscaria is a psychoactive mushroom, it is not a classic psychedelic like the mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus, which are commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms.” The renewed interest in psilocybin-containing mushrooms in the 21st century due to their potential use in treating various mental and physical health conditions has sparked consumers’ interest in other types of mushrooms, including A. muscaria, that are more legally accessible. As A. muscaria use increases, there have been public health concerns regarding unregulated sales of A. muscaria products and the lack of consumer knowledge about how A. muscaria differs from psilocybin containing mushrooms. This fact sheet addresses those issues....

December 22, 2025 | Controlled Substances Act, Fact Sheets, Psychedelics, Substance Misuse

Psilocybin is a chemical compound produced by more than 100 species of mushrooms, many of which belong to the genus Psilocybe, found growing around the world. Various indigenous cultures have consumed psilocybin-containing mushrooms for medical purposes and as part of spiritual ceremonies for thousands of years. In 1970, Congress enacted the Controlled Substances Act and categorized psilocybin and other psychedelic substances as Schedule I controlled substances, which effectively stopped the research into the therapeutic effects of psilocybin for several decades. Today, psilocybin remains a Schedule I controlled substance at the federal level and it is also classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Despite the continued challenges of researching Schedule I controlled substances, the 21st century has brought forth a renewed interest in investigating the therapeutic potential of psilocybin....