While offering stable, convenient, and safe access, it also affords a deeper connection to the magic of mushrooms, not to mention saving you money.
The humble beginnings
Paul Stamets, a renowned mycologist, gave a lecture in 1998, where he explained how his interest in magic mushrooms led to his broader interest in mycology, environmental rehabilitation, and medicinal use. He also noted how he had suffered from a speech impediment until one particular shroom trip, at the age of 17, when he was stuck up a tree during a thunderstorm, leading to his overcoming the condition. There are countless testimonies to the efficacy and result of psychedelic fungi and their effect on our lives, belief models, and personalities.
Currently psilocybin, synthetic, is only available legally to those involved with research at universities such as John Hopkins and Imperial College London. From time immemorial there have been only 3 means of acquiring psilocybin:
Foraging for any wild species(primarily found to be of the genus Panaeolus and Psilocybe)
Cultivating at home(particularly Psilocybe Cubensis, but many other species are also possible)
Receiving fungi via gift or purchase from someone that has done option 1 or 2.
With clinical trials solely using synthetic psilocin, the question stands how similar the effects are to wild or cultivated fungi, as these tend to contain other potentially psychoactive compounds(which include norpsilocin, norbaeocystin, and baeocystin)? So while the experience is undoubtedly similar, there are bound to be differences in the experiences. As interest grows with regard to the potential benefits and uses of psychedelic fungi, across academic, pharmaceutical, and civilian sectors, many have raised their voices, and concerns, about how one might ensure fair and just access to these psychedelic substances.
A key component and strategy are for individuals to become psychedelically self-sufficient, by growing their own psychedelic fungi in the comfort of their own home. While in the United States, under federal law, it is illegal to cultivate, with Denver, Oakland, and Santa Cruz all leading with the decriminalization of psilocybin mushrooms, the opportunity for legal cultivation in the home may be just around the corner.
While this process may sound more daunting than outsourcing, we will make some solid arguments as to why it is the simplest and ultimately best choice. Key in this argument is how you can save both money and hassle, ultimately. With a brief exploration into the significant, if intangible benefit, of empowering oneself personally and even building a community.
What is the cost analysis?
Purchasing magic mushrooms in the US puts you in for about $35 per 1/8th of an ounce($10 per gram). We see that in Canada, where some of the first magic mushroom dispensaries are popping up(although still in the legal grey area), we see prices even higher than this, for individuals suffering from cluster headaches, depression, or other such conditions. Here we have the problem of being legally available, but may still be financially out of reach by minority parties who, due to these conditions are less able to reach these benchmarks.
In comparison, for the price of $15-$20 one would be able to purchase Psychedelic Fungi Spores(equivalent to cannabis seeds) and begin to cultivate at home, of course taking into account the time and effort to learn how to, source or build the right equipment and then put all of this together into action. One would then potentially be able to grow far more than 100 times the amount that the initial investment cost would allow one to purchase magic mushrooms. While there may be more costs in time and money than the spores, taking into account risk as well, one can easily see that down the line, and amidst a community, one could lessen many of these costs, and effectively create a network of self-sustainability.
Simplicity in safety
Given the scope of ages past and the tendency for warring on drugs, we have all had more difficult relationships with drug dealers than wholesome ones. Whether it be sketchy meetings with vague directions and hour-long endeavors, or the difficult, and in itself dangerous, process of ordering from the dark web, the process of acquiring products on the outskirts of legal society has been a less-than-ideal situation. When looking at psychedelics, where terms such as “Set” & “Setting” are the go-to buzz terms for the journey, sketchy and difficult are not exactly synonymous with what one is ideally cultivating. This further supports the idea of home cultivation as you know that you will have a lovingly cultivated and potent sacrament. Subscribe to peace of mind beyond just helping expand another's piggy bank, as well as being aware of the full journey, spore to shroom.
What about treasure hunts?
There are 22 wildly found hallucinogenic species just in the Northern US and Canada, not to mention a whopping total of over 70 across the whole of the Americas. Given the rich abundance of species and variety, one can readily see foraging for these treasures to be a reasonable alternative to cultivating at home. Given the buzz around psychedelics, whether originating from plants, fungi, or animals (taking into account LSD, 5-MeO-DMT or psilocybin, simply keeping with the buzziest ones) there are serious concerns around whether those seeking to acquire such compounds would be respectful of the supply that is available and the efficacy for them to continue to thrive and survive.
While one is able to learn, best from well-learned and aware individuals when it comes to foraging for fungi, there is still a steep learning curve given how many toxic and dangerous(even lethal) species exist. A key element with psychedelics is balance and sustainability, which brings to mind the ecology and the ethics of wild sourcing. Specifically noting to never take more than you require, and if you require more than there is, to take nothing.
In short, while it may be an enriching and connective experience, home cultivation is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that can also ensure that these wildly occurring varieties may continue to appear.
In balance with nature and ourselves
When we think of psychedelics and some of the overarching themes that individuals collectively experience, at the front are those of balance and being self-sufficient, with a connection to the greater sense of reality. A society that takes the time, to individually, and intentionally, cultivates its own psychedelics and views them in the sacred light that we are reestablishing within ourselves, through reconnection with tradition and the power in the process.
We lie at a pivotal point where we get to decide whether we allow mushroom supply to be handed over to large chain corporations or allow ourselves the empowered step of cultivating and creating it ourselves. To choose to see and become the active creators of the relationship we put into the cultivation of these psychedelics, over a commodity-driven supply and demand model that has already happened with cannabis. This may also allow us to circumnavigate bureaucratic excess and red tapes such as legislative approval or FDA breakthrough therapy designation.
In addition to all this, we can see that many mycologists had a deep love of mycology and all its facets by diving into magic mushroom cultivation. This further spurred them into a deep love of ecological preservation, similar to Stamets's own testimony. This led them to connect with many other like-minded individuals, beyond the scope of institutionalized academic or corporate settings, expanding to ideas such as ecological preservation, sustainability, and non-hierarchical collective organization.
Such stories are popping up ever more as people seek to move beyond the current niche of reliance on the “Big man” and wish to empower themselves and their own production capabilities. This movement has seen a resurgence of individuals pursuing endeavors such as beekeeping, permaculture, foraging, fermentation, and home brewing.
With undeniable financial benefits, it is an easy draw toward home cultivation, but there really is a deeper call into the unknown and the potential for reconnecting to the process of creating something so beyond words such as magic mushrooms, and the way very intimate relationship that exists here. By reclaiming this on a community level we may really be able to reconnect with ourselves and the experience we are having, furthermore expanding beyond the current surface level we seem to be plugging into. Putting the remote back into our own hands.
Disclaimer: This article is written purely for educational reasons. Mushly in no way suggests the use, sale, or ownership of any illicit substances. Furthermore, take the time to be aware of the legislature and what that means for you, as decided by the governing body of the country and city you live in.