WE DEMAND THE LEGALIZATION OF PSILOCYBIN MUSHROOMS!

The Psilocybin mushroom is often regarded as one of the safest psychoactive substances to consume, and has been deemed relatively harmless in scientific studies by comparison with other drugs and alcohol.

There are no records of overdose deaths from Psilocybin mushrooms due to their low toxicity and no potential for addiction.

Psilocybin mushrooms, or "magic mushrooms", are psychoactive fungi that produce hallucinogenic effects when orally consumed. The active ingredient, Psilocybin, is currently classified as a Schedule I Controlled Substance as part of the 1970 Controlled Substances Act. This act implies that Psilocybin mushrooms have a high potential for abuse and no known medical uses.

According to the controlled substances act under US Federal state law, this mushroom has been categorized as a Schedule I drug since 1970. As a result, it is not legal to use medically or to cultivate or even possess psilocybin-producing mushrooms. 

The effects of mushrooms usually begin around an hour after consumption, and last for about 6 to 8 hours afterwards. These effects are commonly referred to as a "trip." 

According to research conducted at John Hopkins, psilocybin mushrooms should be reclassified from Schedule I to Schedule IV classification so that they may be used medicinally.

The study has shown some beneficial effects these mushrooms can have in treating many psychological disorders mainly major depressive disorder. These mushrooms have shown help in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders.

Another randomized clinical trial conducted by JAMA suggests that psilocybin may be effective in a much wider population of patients who suffer from major depression than previously appreciated.

In the 2016 paper in journal of psychopharmacology, research found that 80% of patients with terminal cancer diagnosis experienced "significant decrease in depressed mood" when psilocybin was combined with psychopharmacology.

Denver was the first city to legalize the psilocybin mushroom followed by Washington DC, Seattle, Oregon. Several other states are considering legalizing it for recreational use.

But we need it to be legal under federal law to enable researchers to study the medicinal effects of this wonder mushroom.

Because Psilocybin mushrooms are much safer and less toxic to the body and mind than legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, and because a ban on Psilocybin will restrict extensive research on its benefits, we petition the U.S. Congress to remove Psilocybin mushrooms from the list of Controlled Substances under the Federal Law.  

We urge the House and Senate to legalize psilocybin mushrooms federally. We need immediate actions to expand the research further and gain medical benefits from these naturally occurring plants.

Sources:

• https://drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/Psilocybin_Mushrooms_Fact_Sheet.pdf

• https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/psilocybin-treatment-for-major-depression-effective-for-up-to-a-year-for-most-patients-study-shows 

• https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2772630?resultClick=1