12 Jun 2024 --- US-based researchers warn that the unregulated sales of Amanita muscaria, an increasingly popular “magic mushroom,” endanger public health. The compound muscimol and its biosynthetic precursor ibotenic acid have psychotropic effects. Still, these can also be more toxic than fentanyl, cocaine and PCP (phencyclidine), according to a review of mouse studies. In their analysis of the mushroom’s history, availability, safety and legal status, the authors call for improved regulation. They assert, “Amanita muscaria products have been marketed with health-related claims — often by vague references to clinical studies reporting mitigation of anxiety, depression and other conditions.”
