Magic Mushrooms

What Are Magic  Mushrooms

Magic mushrooms, also known as psychedelic mushrooms, are wild or cultivated fungi that contain psilocybin a naturally occurring psychoactive compound. When ingested, psilocybin triggers hallucinogenic effects, leading to what are commonly referred to as “trips.” These experiences can last several hours and include a distorted perception of time, space, and the senses.

While under the influence, users may experience intense visual and auditory hallucinations, emotional shifts, and an altered sense of reality. This makes it unsafe to drive or perform any tasks that require coordination or judgment. In some cases, people may act in ways they normally wouldn’t due to the intensity of the effects.

 

Psilocybin (magic mushrooms)

magic mushroom

Psilocybin and Psilocin

Effects, Uses & Legal Status of Magic Mushrooms in Canada

Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are fungi that contain the hallucinogenic compounds psilocybin and psilocin. These naturally occurring psychedelics can produce intense mind-altering effects, with potential risks and emerging therapeutic possibilities.

What Are the Effects of Magic Mushrooms?

Magic mushrooms can affect users differently based on the dose, species, mindset, and setting. Common short-term effects include:

Mental & Sensory Effects

  • Distorted sense of time and reality
  • Visual and auditory hallucinations
  • Synesthesia (e.g., “seeing” music or “hearing” colours)
  • Euphoria, introspection, or spiritual insights

Emotional & Cognitive Side Effects

  • Anxiety, paranoia, or panic attacks
  • Confusion and disorientation
  • Mood swings and fear-based thoughts
  • “Bad trips” (overwhelming or frightening experiences)

Long-Term Effects

There is limited research on the long-term effects of repeated psilocybin use. However, persistent flashbacks or psychological after-effects (like Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder) have been reported in rare cases.

Physical Reactions

  • Numbness (especially in the face)
  • Muscle twitches or tremors
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
  • Dry mouth, chills, or sweating
  • Dilated pupils and exaggerated reflexes

Risks and Warnings

  • High doses can cause severe psychological distress and risky behavior.
  • Combining psilocybin with other substances like alcohol, cannabis, or stimulants increases danger.
  • People with mental health conditions or heart problems are especially vulnerable to side effects.

Legal Status of Psilocybin (magic mushrooms)in Canada

Under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), psilocybin and psilocin are Schedule III substances in Canada. This means:
  • The possession, production, and sale of magic mushrooms is illegal without specific Health Canada authorization.
  • Psilocybin is also regulated under the Food and Drugs Act (FDA).
  • Exceptions exist through special access programs, clinical trials, or Section 56 exemptions.

Therapeutic Research & Clinical Trials

Although no psilocybin-based products are currently approved in Canada or globally, studies are exploring its potential to help with:
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Addiction and substance use disorders
Health Canada permits access to psilocybin for medical or research purposes under strict supervision. Learn more about clinical trials in Canada.

Types of Magic Mushrooms & How They’re Used

There are over 200 known psilocybin mushroom species, including popular strains like Golden Teacher, Penis Envy, and B+. Potency varies significantly by strain and form.

Common Consumption Methods:

  • Eaten raw or dried
  • Brewed into tea
  • Ground into capsules for microdosing
  • Infused in chocolates or edibles
Snorting or injecting psilocybin is highly dangerous and not recommended under any circumstance.

Substance Dependence and Tolerance

Magic mushrooms are not physically addictive. However, frequent use can lead to tolerance, where higher doses are needed to feel the same effects. This tolerance resets after a few days of non-use.

Legal Therapeutic Access in Canada

Patients may legally access psilocybin under one of the following three pathways:
  1. Clinical trials approved by Health Canada
  2. Special Access Program (SAP) for serious or life-threatening conditions
  3. Section 56 Exemptions granted on a case-by-case basis
Canadians considering psilocybin for medical use should consult a licensed healthcare professional.

How Long Do magic mushrooms Stay in Your System?

Effects, Detection, and What Affects Duration

If you’ve ever wondered how long magic mushrooms (aka shrooms) stay in your body, the short answer is: the effects last around 3 to 6 hours, but psilocybin — the active compound — can remain in your system for up to 24 hours or more. That said, everyone’s body is different, and the timeline can vary depending on a few key things like your age, metabolism, dosage, and even the type of mushroom you take.

Do magic mushrooms Show Up on a Drug Test?

Most routine drug tests don’t screen for psilocybin, so it usually won’t show up. But more specialized tests might catch it — though only for a short time. Here’s a breakdown:
  • Urine tests: The most common kind. Psilocybin is usually cleared from your system within 24 hours, so it’s unlikely to be detected.
  • Blood and saliva tests: These can only detect shrooms if done within a few hours of use.
  • Hair tests: Can show drug use from up to 90 days ago, but it’s rare to use this method for mushrooms because it’s expensive and not very reliable for psilocybin.

How Long Do the  Effects of magic mushrooms Last?

  • You’ll usually start to feel the effects 20 to 40 minutes after taking shrooms
  • The peak happens around 1.5 to 2 hours in
  • Total experience lasts 3 to 6 hours, but it can feel longer
  • Some users report lingering effects or an “afterglow” that lasts up to a day

What Affects How Long magic mushrooms Stay in Your System?

Timing

The sooner you’re tested after taking shrooms, the more likely it is they’ll show up — but even then, it’s rare unless the test is specific to psilocybin.

Type of Mushroom

Not all magic mushrooms are created equal — some have way more psilocybin than others, which can impact how long the effects last.

Dose

A larger dose means a longer trip and potentially longer detection time in your body. Food & Digestion Eating shrooms on a full stomach slows down absorption, which can delay and extend their effects. Drinking lots of water might help flush psilocybin out faster.

Body Composition

Your weight, metabolism, hydration level, and overall health can all influence how fast your body processes and clears psilocybin.

Age

As we age, our kidney and liver function slows down, which means substances like psilocybin might hang around a little longer.

Other Substances

Mixing shrooms with alcohol, cannabis, or other drugs doesn’t just change the experience — it can also affect how long they stay in your system. And in some rare cases, street mushrooms may be laced with other drugs, which could show up on a test.

 Quick Review

  • Shroom trip: lasts 3 to 6 hours
  • Psilocybin detection: usually gone in 24 hours
  • Standard drug tests: unlikely to detect it
  • Factors: dose, species, metabolism, digestion, and age all play a role

Do magic mushrooms Show Up on Drug Tests?

What You Need to Know About Testing and Detection

Most standard drug tests don’t screen for magic mushrooms. That means psilocybin and psilocin, the active compounds in shrooms, are unlikely to show up during typical drug screening — especially those used for employment or legal purposes.

Standard Drug Tests: What They Do Detect

Most employers use a 5-panel urine drug test, as outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This test typically screens for:
  • Cannabis (THC)
  • Cocaine
  • Amphetamines
  • Opiates
  • Phencyclidine (PCP)
None of these panels detect psilocybin or psilocin. Expanded panels like the 10-panel test may also include:
  • Alcohol
  • Barbiturates
  • Benzodiazepines
  • MDMA (Ecstasy)
  • Methadone
  • Methaqualone
  • Propoxyphene
Still, magic mushrooms are rarely tested for in either 5- or 10-panel tests.

 When Shrooms Can Be Detected

To detect shrooms specifically, a hallucinogen-focused test must be used. These are rare and usually reserved for specialized circumstances, such as:
  • Medical evaluations
  • Law enforcement suspicion of intoxication
  • Certain military or psychiatric screenings
These targeted tests may look for:
  • Psilocybin / Psilocin (Magic Mushrooms)
  • LSD
  • Mescaline
  • Peyote
These hallucinogens are often metabolized quickly, so detection requires timing the test carefully, usually within 6–24 hours of ingestion.

 Contamination Risk: What If the Shrooms Are Laced?

In rare cases, unregulated or street-sold mushrooms may be contaminated with other substances. If this happens, a drug test might detect those instead — such as PCP, amphetamines, or MDMA — even though the mushrooms themselves wouldn’t usually trigger a positive result. This is one of the many reasons why source quality matters when it comes to consuming psychedelics.

 Summary: Will Shrooms Show Up on a Drug Test?

Test Type Will It Detect Shrooms?
5-Panel Urine Test Unlikely
10-Panel Urine Test Still Unlikely
Blood/Saliva Test Rare, unless within a few hours
Hair Follicle Test ossible, but extremely rare
Hallucinogen Test Yes, but must be ordered specifically