Understanding the Law on Mushoom Spores

A lot of people are curious about the legality of magic mushroom spores, which is understandable, given that the mushrooms themselves are classified as a Class A drug in the UK. While cultivation is illegal, selling and possessing spores for microscopy is not. Read on for more details about the law and how to stay safe when buying our spores.

The Legal Status of Magic Mushroom Spores in the UK

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 makes the psychoactive compounds of magic mushrooms, psilocybin and psilocin, Class A controlled substances. Spores themselves do not contain these compounds, so they remain legal as long as they are not cultivated. The moment spores are cultivated into mycelium, for example, in a liquid culture medium, these compounds are activated, and the result is now illegal.

Selling and Buying Spores: What is Allowed?

The law allows vendors to sell spores for research, taxonomy, and microscopy purposes. However, it is advisable to avoid supplying spores alongside grow kits, as this may be seen as encouraging illegal activity. At ōM Scientific, we maintain integrity and transparency by focusing solely on spores for microscopy, ensuring our customers can feel confident and secure when purchasing from us.

Psilocybin Research and the Potential for Legal Change

Under UK law, psilocybin and psilocin are classified as Schedule 1 substances, meaning they are considered to have no recognised medical or therapeutic use. The thousands of case studies in historical, recent and current research suggest otherwise. You can take a look for yourself on our Explore The Research Page

In the UK, research into psilocybin is expanding. Institutions like The Johns Hopkins University and Imperial College London are currently leading studies into its potential for treating depression and PTSD. Although lobbyists continue to be ignored in the UK, legal change is possible. We may see a shift similar to the changes made for medical cannabis in the future.