Even though psychedelics have long been considered the plaything of hippies, their history is complex. Nowadays, their potential for medicinal purposes is now being widely acknowledged.
Among the most noteworthy psychedelic drugs is psilocybin, more commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms.”
Research conducted in recent years has provided credence to claims that magic mushrooms could be effective in treating numerous mental health conditions.
For more details about the history of psilocybin as a psychedelic drug, along with specific details regarding investing in magic mushroom stocks, continue reading.
The Roots of Magic Mushrooms
In the 1950s, U.S. banker R. Gordon Wasson, along with his wife, a pediatrician named Valentina, took multiple voyages to southern Mexico.
Their mission was to gain insight into the ceremonial use of mushrooms within the Mazatec community.
They were allowed to participate in the Mazatec mushroom ritual by a local healer named Maria Sabina. This is why the Wasson’s are believed to be the first westerners to consume magic mushrooms.
Once their trip ended, they brought a sample of psilocybin back with them.
This allowed Swiss chemist Albert Hofman to isolate psilocybin from the mushrooms, making a synthetic type of their hallucinogenic compound.
A photographic essay of The Wassons’ journey was published in Life magazine called, “Seeking the Magic Mushroom.”
It’s unknown whether or not the Wassons meant for their findings to be read by wider audiences. Regardless, their publications resulted in many travelers making their way to Mexico in search of similar experiences.
During the twenty years following the Wasson’s initial pilgrimages to Mexico, American researchers provided subjects with thousands of doses of psilocybin in clinical experiments.
Overcoming a Negative Stigma
Research when it comes to the medical capabilities of psychedelics reached a screeching halt as the US War on Drugs and the Just Say No! campaign kicked off.
Their core focus was combating the negative impacts of drug usage on the population. The media amplified the perceived risks of psilocybin along with other psychedelics.
Magic mushrooms were blamed for suicides and accidental deaths which helped bolster their negative reputation.
While medical studies have shown that much is unknown about psilocybin consumption, research on them all but ceased once they were banned in 1970.
Attitudes didn’t change regarding psilocybin until the late 1990s and early 2000s. An increase in mental illness coupled with pharma’s inability to innovate led to a renewed interest in psychedelics’ potential to treat modern mental illnesses.
Psilocybin has low toxicity levels, and isn’t considered addictive. It is thought of by some as safer than opiates and benzodiazepines, and it’s also considered not to cause compulsive use.
There are numerous studies being conducted today with the purpose of evaluating how psychedelics are used.
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