Magic Mushrooms are making a long overdue comeback, but in most of the United States they remain illegal- at least the psilocybe mushrooms. This has been the case since 1971, when psilocybin and psilocin (the active drugs in psilocybe mushrooms) were listed as Schedule I substances. However some progress has been made, as evident in roughly half a dozen cities across the country that have decriminalized the drugs altogether. Some states, such as Oregon and California, have even legalized these drugs for supervised mental health treatment.

But what if I told you that the most infamous magic mushrooms of all time remain 100% legal in nearly every state in the country? This is terrific news for psychedelic enthusiasts, but there is even more good news, these mushrooms grow wild in North America.The mushrooms I'm speaking of are Amanita muscaria, more specifically their unique and colorful varieties. The history of the Amanita muscaria genus dates back a long way, with many links even being made with this fungus and the origins of Christmas- and religion altogether for that matter. These mushrooms do not contain any psilocybin or psilocin, but instead muscimol and ibotenic acid (both being hallucinogenic and legal).

Not many studies have been done involving these drugs, and most of the studies that were conducted ended abruptly, due to low funding. However I find it rather important to understand these mushrooms better, so in this book I study and document the growing environment and life cycle with clear, premium color images. I also study the effects of both; smoking the mushrooms and eating them, along with exploring the future possibilities of cultivating this mycorrhizal fungus for the very first time indoors.