Magic Mushroom Potency Rating Scale

1 - Mildly Potent (Mexican) 2 - Moderately Potent (Golden Teacher, African Transkei, B+, Z-Strain, Brazilian) 3 - Potent (Cambodian, Wollongong) 4 - Very Potent (Penis Envy, Albino Penis Envy, Penis Envy Uncut) 5 - Extremely Potent (Blue Meanie)  

What are Magic Mushrooms?

Psilocybin mushrooms, aka “magic mushrooms” or “shrooms”, are mushrooms (fungi) that contain psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound. There are almost 200 known species of mushrooms that contain psilocybin or its derivative psilocin. Magic mushrooms have a long history of use in Central American spiritual and religious rituals and are one of the most popular recreational psychedelics in Canada and throughout the world. Magic mushrooms have been used in therapeutic settings to treat a variety of conditions and disorders including cluster headaches, OCD, anxiety, depression and addiction.  

What are the Different Types of Shroom Products?

Magic mushrooms have been around for quite some time, and a variety of shroom products have become available in Canada. Perhaps the most popular are shrooms in their dried form. This is what most people think of when thinking about magic mushrooms. However, there is a whole set of alternatives on the market. Below is a list of some of the most popular shroom items found in Canada: Dried Shrooms are basically psilocybin mushrooms that have been cultivated to perfection and put through a drying process. The end result is a product that is ready to consume for its many therapeutic benefits. Magic mushrooms have been used to treat a wide range of conditions that include anxiety, depression, OCD, headaches and addiction. Magic mushrooms have only begun to make its way out of the shadows and into Canadian popular culture, and as time passes, more research is sure to show a much wider range of benefits.  Shroom Chocolate is basically chocolate that has been infused with psilocybin found in magic mushrooms. The rich and creamy delicacies are perfect for those with a sweet tooth. Not only do they taste great, they pack a psychedelic punch as well.   Shroom Gummies are gummy candies that are infused with psilocybin found in shrooms. Some people do not care for the taste of raw dried magic mushrooms, so taking them as tasty gummies are more than welcome. Shroom Tea is what you get when you grind up dried shrooms to make a tea. There’s nothing more relaxing than a nice warm glass of shroom tea to get a trip started. Being in a relaxing and peaceful mindset is key to having the most positive trippy mushroom experience as possible.  Shroom Capsules are psilocybin from magic mushrooms that are placed into a soft gel cap. These products are pre packaged into set doses, taking out all the guesswork needed. Shroom pills are perfect for microdosing purposes. Medicinal mushrooms are being more commonly used medically and microdosing magic mushrooms is a great way to gain the therapeutic benefits of shrooms, but without the intense psychedelic and hallucinogenic effects. 

How can Magic Mushrooms (Shrooms) be consumed?

There are a few different ways you can consume magic mushrooms. Shrooms can be ingested in their whole form and they are usually dried. Drying them preserves them for a very long time. Depending on how they are stored, they can last as long as 1 to 2 years when dried. Light, temperature and air can all affect the shelf life of dried mushrooms and their potency. Some people enjoy the taste of magic mushrooms and other people don’t, it’s just a personal preference. An alternative and popular method of consuming shrooms is in capsule form. Shroom capsules are very convenient, already precisely dosed and don’t have any taste. Another method of consumption is to brew magic mushroom tea. Some people like to grind up their shrooms into a fine powder (using a coffee grinder) and then brew into a tasty hot chocolate or mix into Nutella or nut butters.   

What are the effects of shrooms? What can you expect after consuming Magic Mushrooms?

A typical trip (voyage) on a moderate dose of magic mushrooms (1 to 2.5 grams) includes increased intensity of emotional experiences, increased introspection, and altered psychological functioning in the form of “hypnagogic experiences”, which is a transitory state between wakefulness and sleep. Brain imaging studies show that a magic mushroom trip is neurologically similar to dreaming. Perceptual changes such as illusions, synesthesia, emotional shifts and a distorted sense of time are all characteristic of a magic mushroom trip as well. These effects are typically felt an hour or so after orally ingesting a dose (and last for around 4 to 6 hours). First, you will begin to notice changes in your visual perception, such as halos around lights and objects, and geometric patterns when your eyes are closed. Your thoughts and emotions will also begin to change. It’s not uncommon to have a sense of openness to thoughts and feelings that you tend to avoid in your everyday life. A sense of wonder and delight with the world around you, the people in your life, and your thoughts is also quite common, along with a sense of peace and connection with the world. You may experience strong emotions, both good and bad. Try not to resist these feelings, but rather let them run their course. Many who do report strong negative emotions also report a simultaneous sense of calm acceptance and detachment, especially if they remind themselves that the emotions are temporary. Physical side effects can vary from individual to individual and include changes in heart rate (up or down), changes in blood pressure (up or down), nausea, increased tendon reflexes, tremors, dilated pupils, restlessness or arousal, and troubles with coordinated movement. One study also found that psilocybin can cause headaches that could last for up to a day in healthy individuals. None of the subjects reported severe headaches, however, and psilocybin is actually used to treat a condition called cluster headaches.  

What effects will you experience with different doses of Magic Mushrooms?

Outlined here are general effects that many people have observed when consuming magic mushrooms at different dosages. The dosage ranges are primarily for Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms but can also apply to other psilocybin-containing magic mushroom species. Some Psilocybe magic mushroom species, such as Psilocybe cyanescens, Psilocybe semilanceata and Psilocybe azurescens, are more potent on average.  

Magic Mushroom (Shrooms) MICRODOSE range 

(0.05 to 0.25 grams or 50 to 250 mg) Positive Effects of Magic Mushrooms:

• Mood enhancement
• Decreased stress
• Emotional stability
• Mindfulness, presence, and peace
• Openness and self-forgiveness
• Increased empathy and sociability
• Conversational fluidity
• Alleviation of persistent conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, PTSD
• Increased motivation (e.g. to make positive lifestyle changes)
• Increased focus/productivity
• Increased flow states
• Clearer, more connected thinking
• Improved memory
• Enhanced senses
• Enhanced appreciation for music, art, etc.
• Increased creativity
• Spontaneity
• Easier meditation
• Increased enjoyment of physical activity and everyday tasks
• Relaxation and increased awareness of body
• Enhanced athletic endurance
• Increased energy overall (without anxiety or a subsequent crash)

Effects that could be positive or negative:

• Amplification of mood, positive or negative
• Slight sedative effect

Possible negative side effects if your dose is out of the ideal range for your body:

• Possible manic states
• Potentially increased neuroticism

 

Magic Mushroom MINI-DOSE Range 

(0.25 to 0.75 grams or 250 to 750 mg) Positive Effects of Magic Mushrooms:

• Mood enhancement, mild euphoria or excitement
• Mindfulness, presence, and peace
• Openness and self-forgiveness
• Introspective insights
• Alleviation of persistent conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, PTSD
• Increased motivation (e.g. to make positive lifestyle changes)
• Increased flow states
• Clearer, more connected thinking
• Enhanced senses
• Enhanced appreciation for music, art, etc.
• Increased creativity
• Spontaneity
• Easier meditation
• Increased enjoyment of physical activity and everyday tasks
• Relaxation and increased awareness of body
• Increased energy in waves
• Mild body high

Effects that could be positive or negative:

• Amplification of mood, positive or negative
• Preference for introspection over socializing
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Very mild visuals, if any

Possible negative side effects if your dose is out of the ideal range for your body:

• Possible manic states
• Potentially increased neuroticism
• Difficulty focusing or thought loops
• Difficulty with some cognitive tasks
• Anxiety, agitation, or restlessness
• Difficulty or discomfort socializing
• Frustration at dosage (too high to be comfortable, too low to be “recreational”)

 

Magic Mushroom MUSEUM Dose Range 

(0.5 to 1.5 grams or 500 to 1,500 mg) Positive Effects of Magic Mushrooms:

• Mood enhancement, euphoria or excitement
• Mild to moderate visuals (e.g. “breathing” environments)
• Increased empathy
• Conversational fluidity
• Introspection
• Increased flow states
• Enhanced senses
• Enhanced appreciation for music, art, etc.
• Increased creativity
• Spontaneity
• Increased enjoyment of physical activity and everyday tasks
• Finding otherwise mundane things funny or interesting
• Enhanced athletic endurance
• Moderate body high

Effects that could be positive or negative:

• Clear come-up, peak, and come-down
• Amplification of mood, positive or negative
• Altered perception of sound
• Time dilation or contraction (time passing more slowly or quickly)
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Pupil dilation

Possible negative side effects if your dose is out of the ideal range for your body:

• Difficulty focusing or thought loops
• Difficulty with some tasks
• Difficulty or discomfort socializing
• Frustration at dosage (at lower end)

 

Magic Mushroom MODERATE-to-HIGH Dose Range 

(2 to 3.5 grams or 2,000 to 3,500 mg) Positive Effects of Magic Mushrooms:

• Strong euphoria or excitement
• Sense of peace
• Mystical experience and feelings of wonder
• Life-changing introspective or philosophical insights
• Increased flow of ideas
• Increased creativity
• Enhanced senses
• Enhanced appreciation for music, art, etc.
• Finding otherwise mundane things funny or interesting
• Strong body high

Effects that could be positive or negative:

• Clear come-up, peak, and come-down
• Amplification of emotions, whether good or bad
• Open- and closed-eye visuals (e.g. patterns, auras)
• Synesthesia
• Time dilation or contraction (time passing more slowly or quickly)
• Sedation
• Unusual physical sensations
• Sensitivity to light
• Wide pupil dilation
• Compulsive yawning

Possible negative side effects if your dose is out of the ideal range for your body:

• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Fear and anxiety (“bad trip” experiences)
• Difficulty with cognitive tasks
• Dizziness
• Nausea

 

Magic Mushroom HERO Dose (Very High) Range 

(5 grams and more / 5,000 mg +) Positive Effects of Magic Mushrooms:

• Strong euphoria or excitement
• Mystical experience and intense feelings of wonder
• Life-changing introspective or philosophical insights
• Ego death
• Increased flow of ideas
• Increased creativity
• Enhanced senses
• Finding otherwise mundane things funny or interesting
• Very strong body high

Effects that could be considered positive or negative:

• Clear come-up, peak, and come-down
• Amplification of emotions, whether good or bad
• Very strong open- and closed-eye visions (e.g. memories coming to life)
• Visual, auditory, tactile hallucinations
• Synesthesia
• Time becoming meaningless
• Thought loops
• Sedation
• Unusual physical sensations and altered perception of physical form
• Sensitivity to light
• Very wide pupil dilation
• Compulsive yawning

Possible negative side effects if your dose is out of the ideal range for your body:

• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Compromised motor functions (sitter recommended!)
• Strong fear and anxiety (extreme “bad trip” experiences)
• Extreme difficulty with cognitive tasks
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Light-headedness
• Headaches

 

What are the different phases of a Magic Mushroom trip?

The four basic phases of a mushroom trip are ingestion, onset, the trip (peak), and the comedown. Each phase comes with its own set of perceptions and observations, with the peak, typically a couple hours after ingestion, resulting in the most intense sensory and psychological shifts. No matter the phase, it’s important to relax, and remember that what you’re experiencing is temporary, and there is nothing to fear.  

What about “bad trips” on Magic Mushrooms?

Anyone curious about trying magic mushrooms for the first time will inevitably worry at some point about having a “bad trip.” Dysphoric hallucinations, uncontrollable paranoia, and reckless behaviors are among the most common worries. Bad trips are possible, but the risks can be minimized by adhering to the 6S’s (set, setting, substance, sitter, session and situation) of the psychedelic experience. Being prepared and knowing your motivations before undertaking a psychedelic magic mushroom experience can help manage the risks.  

Do Magic Mushrooms interact with other drugs?

If you are taking psychoactive drugs (for example, ADHD medications like Adderal, or Xanax and Zoloft) then you should approach using magic mushrooms with caution. There are no known dangers when combining magic mushrooms and marijuana (cannabis), but cannabis is known to enhance the psychedelic effects of magic mushrooms. If you are taking any pharmaceutical drugs be very cautious when approaching the use of magic mushrooms. There are way too many harmful pharmaceutical drugs available, so it is hard to make any general recommendations for people who are using those drugs. Fore a complete Mushroom 101 Guide, check out our Learn section