- Oregon will be the first state in the United States where selling and taking “magic” mushrooms is legal.
- Services will be available at a variety of companies, from retirement centers to mom and pop stores.
- Here’s what you need to know if you plan to take “magic” mushrooms in the state.
Oregon is on track to become the first U.S. state where people can take “magic” mushrooms legally.
In 2020, Oregon legalized psilocybin through an election initiative called Measure 109. Under the new law, Oregon residents and tourists 21 and older will be able to access legal “magic” mushrooms in the state in early next year, though the timing of when the companies will be made. open is still being decided.
Last month, the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board, the regulatory body responsible for making recommendations on psilocybin services in the state, finalized its suggestions on what the program will look like.
These recommendations are not normative. A different body, the Oregon Health Authority, is responsible for establishing and regulating the new program, but these recommendations are a first look at what the first psilocybin program in the U.S. might look like.
The final Oregon rules are expected to be released in the coming months.
A facilitator with a special license will donate the medication and monitor the experience
It is not yet clear when psilocybin services will be available to the public. According to Angela Allbee, Oregon’s psilocybin services manager at the Oregon Health Authority, the licenses will be available to businesses in early January and, as soon as possible, businesses will be able to open their doors during the first half. of 2023.
But what’s clear is that Oregon’s “magic” mushrooms won’t be like buying weeds in California, where you can take it home to use.
Companies offering psilocybin in Oregon will need a special license from the Oregon Health Authority, and a trained facilitator will administer the medication and monitor your entire experience in a specific location.
The experience could cost from $ 1,500 to $ 7,000
The costs of psilocybin experiences are not determined by law, but they are expected to vary depending on where you choose to have your experience.
Ronan Levy, CEO of Field Trip Health & Wellness told Insider: “An easy analogy is the gyms where there are a lot of mom and pop gyms that are open, but there are Equinox locations all over the world and all two compete in their respective spaces “, in reference. to the luxury gym brand.
Field Trip manages ketamine clinics in the United States and plans to operate psilocybin clinics in Oregon. Levy said the company’s “magic” mushroom program in Oregon would be comparable to its psilocybin truffle withdrawals in the Netherlands, where psilocybin truffles are legal, but “magic” mushrooms are illegal. Field Trip psilocybin experiences in the Netherlands cost between $ 4,160 and $ 7,750, depending on the number of sessions.
Meanwhile, Synthesis, a psychedelic retreat company based in the Netherlands, intends to organize immersive “magic” mushroom retreats on its 124-acre estate in Ashland, Oregon. Myles Katz, co-founder and director of business development for Synthesis, told Insider that prices in Oregon would likely also be similar to Synthesis service in the Netherlands, where truffle withdrawals cost $ 6,497 for a five-day experience.
Other service providers may charge less.
Rebecca Martinez, founder of a nonprofit called the Alma Institute, which focuses on treating people from marginalized communities, told Insider that she is expected to take “magic” mushrooms with a facilitator, including a preparation session and a follow-up session will cost around $ 1,500.
“We need to ensure that facilitators have a sustainable life and avoid exhaustion. Fair wages are an important part of that,” Martinez said.
The exact side effects and natural psilocybin benefits of “magic” mushrooms are not known because they have not been fully tested in trials.
Thomas Angus / Imperial College London
You must declare any health condition before the session
During the preparatory session, clients will be required to complete a risk assessment and sign a consent form. In this form, you must declare any chronic illness or allergy, so we recommend that you consult with your regular doctor first. People diagnosed with schizophrenia may be at increased risk for side effects, for example.
Trips can last up to 8 hours, with a facilitator supervising you
You can take the medicine in a group or individual session.
In Oregon, only one species of “magic” mushroom, called Psilocybe cubensis, will be allowed. The mushroom can be combined with food, but should not be given along with homemade food, cannabis, alcohol or any other ingredient or additive that may alter its effects.
You will generally be given between 20 and 30 mg of psilocybin in a session, although clients may take less than this amount or opt for “subperceptual doses of psilocybin products,” also known as microdoses, if they wish. .
The trip usually lasts about 6 to 8 hours, depending on the dose, and your facilitator will follow you throughout the experience.
The facilitator may offer a “touch of support,” such as grabbing your hand or placing a hand on your shoulder, but only if you have consented.
You cannot drive more than 24 hours after a trip
The facilitator decides when the experience is over and there is no minimum or maximum duration for the session where the “magic” mushroom is given.
The consent form you sign before the session requires that you agree not to drive or participate in any activity that “requires vigilance or prompt responses” for up to 24 hours.
After your experience, your facilitator should have at least one so-called integration session with you, which is intended to help you process the experience. They may also recommend that you receive ongoing care from another service provider, such as a psychologist.
