Key studies, research results & other information of interest.
Here are some of the things we’ve curated with respect to mushrooms…
Regulatory approval to resume psychedelics research
A group of Johns Hopkins researchers was the first to obtain regulatory approval in the U.S. to resume research with healthy volunteers with no prior experience with psychedelics. This led to the creation of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, which is exploring innovative treatments using psilocybin (2000).
Milestone study launching the revival of psilocybin research
The publication “Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance” on the safety and enduring positive effects of a single dose of psilocybin is widely considered the landmark study that sparked a renewal of psychedelic research world-wide (2006).
‘Magic mushrooms’ help longtime smokers finally kick the habit
Johns Hopkins researchers report that a small number of longtime smokers who had previously failed many attempts to quit smoking were able to do so after a carefully controlled and monitored use of psilocybin, the active hallucinogenic agent in so-called “magic mushrooms,” in the context of a cognitive behavioral therapy treatment program (2014).
Psilocybin eases existential anxiety in people with cancer
In a small double-blind study, Johns Hopkins researchers report that a “substantial majority” of people suffering from cancer-related anxiety or depression found “considerable relief” for up to six months from a single large dose of psilocybin — the active compound in hallucinogenic “magic mushrooms” (2016).
Reclassification recommendation for psilocybin
In an evaluation of the safety and abuse research on the drug in hallucinogenic mushrooms, researchers suggest that if it clears phase III clinical trials, psilocybin should be re-categorized from a schedule I drug — one with no known medical potential — to a schedule IV drug such as prescription sleep aids (2018).
Psychedelic use may lead to treatments for alcohol abuse
Online survey of over 300 people with Alcohol Use Disorder reported reducing or abstaining alcohol use after taking a psychedelic drug such as psilocybin. This study adds to growing evidence for supporting further investigation of psychedelic-assisted treatment for alcoholism or substance abuse (2019).
Johns Hopkins launches center for psychedelic research
A group of private donors has given $17 million to start the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Medicine, making it what’s believed to be the first such research center in the U.S., and the largest research center of its kind in the world. In the absence of federal funding for such therapeutic research, the new center will rely on the gifts announced today to advance the emerging field of psychedelics for therapies and wellness (2019).
Psychedelic Drug Psilocybin Tamps Down Brain’s Ego Center
Researchers compared brain scans of people after they took psilocybin with their scans after taking a placebo. The brain scans after psilocybin use showed that the claustrum was less active, meaning the area of the brain responsible for setting attention and switching tasks is turned down when on the drug. This ties in with what people report as typical effects of psychedelic drugs, including feelings of being connected to everything and reduced senses of self or ego (2020).
Psychedelic Treatment with Psilocybin Relieves Major Depression, Study Show
In a small study of adults with “major” depression, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that just two doses of the psychedelic substance psilocybin, given in conjunction with supportive psychotherapy, produced “rapid and large” reductions in depressive symptoms, with most participants showing improvement, and with half of study participants achieving remission through the four-week follow-up interview (2020).
First Federal Grant for Psychedelic Treatment Research in 50 Years Awarded
Johns Hopkins Medicine was awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore the potential impacts of psilocybin on tobacco addiction. This is the first NIH grant awarded in over a half century to directly investigate the therapeutic effects of a classic psychedelic, consistent with a recent study published online that searched NIH funding and found zero grants were awarded between 2006 and 2020 (2021).
Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depression Effective for Up to a Year for Most Patients
Previous studies by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers showed that psychedelic treatment with psilocybin relieved major depressive disorder symptoms in adults for up to a month. Now, in a follow-up study involving those same participants, the researchers report that the substantial antidepressant effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy, given with supportive psychotherapy, may last “at least a year” for some patients (2022).
Johns Hopkins Receives Grant for Psilocybin Research in Smoking Cessation
Matt Johnson doesn’t fully understand why he’s seen such remarkable results from cognitive behavioral treatment that involves using psilocybin — the active ingredient in so-called magic mushrooms — to help longtime smokers drop the habit. Anecdotal evidence suggests that it gets people out of narrow-minded thought patterns. “It broadens their perspective and gives them agency to view themselves in a different light.” (2021).
Mushrooms as Medicine? Psychedelics May Be Next Breakthrough Treatment
Researchers report that medical “magic mushrooms” have many potential benefits, including reducing or eliminating depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, smoking addiction, alcohol addiction, cocaine addiction, cluster headaches, and cancer-related or other end-of-life psychological distress and anxiety (2019).
The Greatest Magical Mystery Tour: Health Benefits of Psychedelic Mushrooms
Magic mushrooms contain a compound (aka psilocybin) that can have a hallucinogenic effect. In addition, psilocybin may also benefit your mental and physical health, including dealing with depression, substance abuse, headaches, PTSD and anxiety, among a myriad of other potential benefits (2022).
Potential Therapeutic Effects of Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)
The recent research with psilocybin, especially evidence of long persisting therapeutic effects that may stem from a single medication administration, suggests that therapy with classic psychedelics may constitute a major new area of medicine that might eventually alleviate suffering across multiple potential disorders (2017).
Magic mushrooms: Can you trip your way to good health?
Psychedelics like magic mushrooms have long been associated with counterculture movements. However, interest in the medical benefits of psilocybin has risen in recent years, as research has shown they can be effective treatment for pain, depression, positive changes in personality, enhanced connectedness, reduced suicidal ideation, decreased violent/criminal behavior and increased well-being (2021).
Psilocybin Benefits: Magic Mushrooms & How They Can Help
Amid the modern-day psychedelic renaissance, research on magic mushrooms is newly underway, and the misinformation and stigma surrounding psychedelics is fading. Benefits of magic mushrooms include reductions in addictions, unhealthy habits, depression and anxiety, enhancements in creative and cognitive performance, and treatments for PTSD, OCD and other mental health conditions (2021).
How psilocybin may rewire the brain to ease depression, anxiety and more
Researchers say psychedelic drugs actually help neurons in the brain sprout new dendrites, which look like branches on a tree, to increase communication between cells. “These drugs can increase neuronal outgrowth, they can increase this branching of neurons, they can increase synapses. That’s called neuroplasticity,” Nutt said.” “Psilocybin will make us more intelligent, and better citizens.”(2022).
‘Magic Mushrooms’ Provide Fast, Long-lasting Depression Relief: Study
Treatment with psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in “magic mushrooms,” relieves major depression for up to a year, and perhaps longer, new research shows. In a study of adults with a long-term history of depression, two doses of psilocybin, combined with supportive “talk” therapy, led to large, stable, and enduring antidepressant effects through a year of follow-up (2022).
Psychedelic Wellness: 5 Magical Benefits of Magic Mushrooms
Similar to cannabis, the change in attitude towards magic mushrooms and other psychedelics has opened the floodgates when it comes to research, with many studies revealing the role that psilocybin treatment can play when it comes to improving your health, including reducing depression, anxiety, PTSD, and migraines, and helping with substance abuse (2022).
Denver becomes the first city to decriminalize hallucinogenic mushrooms
Denver has approved a city ordinance to decriminalize hallucinogenic mushrooms, the city’s elections division said. The drugs have long been popular for recreational use. But a growing body of medical research shows that psilocybin can treat conditions like anxiety and depression, in cases where drugs currently on the market cannot (2019).
Denver may ease magic mushrooms laws further two years after decriminalization
“This report to the best of our ability clearly demonstrates decriminalizing has not resulted in any significant public health or safety issues. Because of that, Denver can now feel a little more comfortable with psilocybin decriminalization and really start to potentially embrace psilocybin as a therapeutic tool in addition to expanding civil liberties for personal possession” (2021).
Denver panel reports no issues since decriminalization of Psilocybin mushrooms
A city panel reported no issues regarding Denver’s decriminalization of Psilocybin mushrooms in 2019, suggesting the city go further toward embracing the psychedelic drug. The Psilocybin Mushroom Policy Review Panel presented its findings Tuesday to the Denver City Council, as required by Initiative 301 that voters passed in May 2019 to decriminalize mushrooms (2021).
Magic mushrooms officially decriminalized in DC
Initiative 81 passed with overwhelming support in November. D.C.’s Initiative 81, which passed with 76% of the vote in November, officially goes into effect on Monday, March 15. Initiative 81, formally known as the Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020, does not make it legal to use mushrooms or other psychedelics, but it makes policing and prosecution of them a low priority (2021).
Oakland decriminalizes ‘magic mushrooms’ and other natural psychedelics
Oakland’s city council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday that decriminalizes the use of entheogenic plants, a category that includes flora such as “magic mushrooms,” cactuses, and iboga. Supporters of the resolution argue that these drugs have medical and spiritual benefits. Oakland is the second city in the country, after Denver, to decriminalize these substances (2109).
City Council votes to make psychedelic mushrooms legal in Ann Arbor
City Council members voted unanimously this week to decriminalize the use of psychedelic mushrooms in Ann Arbor. The city joins a handful of others across the country. The resolution says these are drugs “that can benefit psychological and physical wellness, support and enhance religious and spiritual practice and can reestablish humans’ inalienable and direct relationship to nature” (2020).
Oregon becomes first state to legalize magic mushrooms as more states ease drug laws in ‘psychedelic renaissance’
Oregon on Wednesday became the first state to legalize the active ingredient in so-called magic mushrooms on an election night that saw more states ease restrictions on recreational drugs across the country. Levy added that he expects more states to legalize the use of psychedelics in supervised settings in the years to come (2020).
‘Magic’ mushrooms will be legal in Oregon next year
Oregon is on track to become the first US state to role out legal psilocybin, the psychoactive substance found in “magic” mushrooms. Officials are now tentatively planning to green-light one particular species of “magic” mushroom for therapeutic use in the state starting in 2023. Lab-made psilocybin, alongside therapy, has shown promise in clinical trials for the treatment of severe depression (2022).
How ‘magic mushrooms’ could follow in the footsteps of cannabis
A growing number of states are considering bills to expand research or access to the drugs. And much like the changing attitudes toward marijuana use, nascent research and personal stories — particularly from military veterans — are convincing some lawmakers to rethink longstanding prohibitions on these drugs. “It’s gone viral and sparked an interest nationwide” (2022).
Massachusetts City Moves to Decriminalize Natural Psychedelics
Somerville, a city in greater Boston, took a step towards decriminalizing natural psychedelics. With a unanimous 9-0 vote and the support of the city’s mayor, the city council passed a resolution that makes enforcing laws against the possession or use of “entheogenic natural substances” the lowest priority for the Police (2021).
Cambridge Votes To Decriminalize Psychedelics And All Controlled Substances
A second Massachusetts city has signaled that it wants to decriminalize the use and possession of entheogenic plants, or most psychedelics. The policy order, approved by Cambridge city councilors, also seeks to decriminalize all controlled substances (2021).
Northampton City Council votes in support of decriminalizing psychedelic drugs
The Northampton, Massachusetts City Council voted in support of decriminalizing entheogenic plants Thursday night, putting the city near the forefront of a budding national movement against enforcing bans on psychedelic substances (2021).
Easthampton is the fourth city in Mass. to vote to decriminalize psychedelics
Easthampton is now the fourth city in Massachusetts to vote to decriminalize the possession and use of psychedelic plants. Seven city councilors voted in favor of a resolution on the issue Wednesday night, and two abstained (2021).
Seattle Just Became the Latest City to Decriminalize Psychedelic Drugs
The vote made Seattle the largest city to decriminalize these drugs, but it’s far from the first: Denver kicked off a trend of cities passing decriminalization measures three years ago and now at least 9 municipalities have followed suit, including both big coastal cities (Oakland; Washington, D.C.) and smaller towns (2021).
Detroit decriminalizes psychedelic mushrooms: What it means
Detroit residents voted to decriminalize entheogenic plants, including psychedelic mushrooms, during Tuesday’s election. Over 61 percent of voters supported the measure. “When you look at these entheogenic substances, they are not causing problems in our communities,” Irwin said. “And they have a very low propensity for abuse” (2021).
Santa Cruz decriminalizes psychedelic mushrooms
A new resolution has been passed in Central California to decriminalize the use of psychedelic mushrooms. “Entheogenic plants offer many in our community a way out of the addictive pharmaceuticals known as opioids. People came forward at last night’s meeting telling of the beneficial effects of how these plants changed their lives” (2020).
Arcata Becomes the Third City in California to Decriminalize Magic Mushrooms
The Arcata City Council unanimously passed a resolution this week that decriminalizes the use of psychedelic plants and fungi in the city. The city council meeting emphasized the therapeutic impacts of these plants and mushrooms. Arcata becomes the third city in California to pass such a resolution (2021).
Washington City Votes To Decriminalize Psychedelics
City leaders in Port Townsend voted this week to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi, joining a growing list of communities that have relaxed their policies on psychedelic drugs. “We’re seeing an upswelling of grassroots support for psychedelics and hope it will lead to the end of federal prohibition and create more opportunities for medical research” (2021).