Magic mushrooms, also called shrooms, have become a hot topic in the last few years. With more talk about mental health and new research on psychedelics, many people are asking the same thing: are shrooms legal in the United States? The answer is not simple. It depends on where you live and whether you are talking about federal law or state law. Let’s break it down step by step.
What Shrooms Actually Are
Shrooms are mushrooms that contain the compound psilocybin. When eaten, psilocybin changes into psilocin inside the body. That is what causes changes in mood, thought, and perception. People describe feelings that range from joy and calm to deep personal insight. Because of these effects, shrooms are being studied as a possible tool for treating depression, anxiety, and addiction. But even with new science, the law has not fully caught up.
Federal Law Comes First
At the national level, shrooms are illegal. Psilocybin and psilocin are listed as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. That is the same category used for heroin and LSD. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), drugs in this category are seen as having a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. What this means is simple: under federal law, growing, selling, or possessing shrooms is against the law everywhere in the United States
f someone is caught with psilocybin by federal authorities, they can face fines, probation, or even prison time. This is true no matter which state they are in. The only exceptions are for approved scientific studies, and those require strict government permission.
The State Patchwork
Even though federal law makes shrooms illegal, some states and cities are moving in another direction. They are not fully legalizing shrooms, but they are either decriminalizing them or allowing limited supervised use.
Oregon: A First of Its Kind Program
In 2020, Oregon voters approved Measure 109, which created the first state program to allow licensed psilocybin services. The program is run by the Oregon Health Authority. Here is how it works:
- Adults 21 and older can access psilocybin.
- They cannot buy shrooms to take home. Instead, they must visit a licensed service center.
- A trained facilitator guides the experience in a controlled setting.
- People must go through preparation and integration sessions before and after using psilocybin.
Oregon started accepting license applications in 2023. By 2025, several service centers are already operating. This makes Oregon the first state to offer a legal path to psilocybin, but only under supervision
Colorado: The Next Step
In 2022, Colorado voters passed Proposition 122, also called the Natural Medicine Health Act. This measure allows adults 21 and older to use and share psilocybin mushrooms in private. It also sets up a plan for licensed “healing centers” where people can take psilocybin with support. Like Oregon, you cannot walk into a store and buy shrooms to take home. It has to be in a controlled environment with licensed facilitators.
Cities Making Moves
Besides Oregon and Colorado, a number of U.S. cities have voted to decriminalize shrooms. Decriminalization does not mean legalization. Instead, it makes the possession of small amounts of natural psychedelics the lowest priority for local police. This means people are far less likely to be arrested for personal use. Some of the cities that have taken this step include:
- Denver, Colorado
- Oakland, California
- Santa Cruz, California
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Seattle, Washington
Each city has its own rules, but the main idea is that local law enforcement should focus on more serious crimes.
What Decriminalization Really Means
It is important to understand that decriminalization is not the same as legalization. In places where shrooms are decriminalized, it is still technically illegal to have them. You can still face consequences under state or federal law. What changes is the local police response. Instead of spending time and money on small cases of mushroom possession, police may choose not to enforce those laws.
For example, if you are in Denver and caught with a small amount of shrooms, it is unlikely that the police will arrest you. But if federal agents wanted to enforce federal law, they could. That is the big catch: federal law always applies, even when local rules are more relaxed.
Why the Laws Are Changing
So why are some states and cities softening their stance on shrooms? The main reason is science. In recent years, research has shown that psilocybin may help people with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction. Johns Hopkins University, for example, has published studies showing how psilocybin can create long-lasting changes in mood and outlook. Because of this, many see psilocybin as a new tool for mental health care, not just a recreational drug.
There is also a cultural shift. More people are open to the idea that psychedelics could be useful if handled responsibly. The “war on drugs” approach is losing support, and voters in some areas are pushing for reform. Oregon and Colorado are examples of this change.
Risks of Assuming Shrooms Are Legal
With all this change, some people may think shrooms are now legal everywhere. That is not true. Here are some risks to keep in mind:
- Travel: Crossing state lines with shrooms is illegal under federal law, even if both states have decriminalized them.
- Unlicensed use: In Oregon and Colorado, only licensed centers are legal. Using psilocybin outside of those settings is still against the law.
- Work and school rules: Employers and schools may still have policies against drug use, even in decriminalized areas.
- Law enforcement: Federal agencies can still act, though in practice they rarely go after small personal cases.
The Short Answer
So, are shrooms legal in the United States?
- At the federal level: No. Shrooms are illegal everywhere under U.S. law.
- At the state level: Oregon and Colorado allow supervised psilocybin services for adults.
- At the city level: Some cities have decriminalized shrooms, making arrests for small possession very rare.
- Everywhere else: Shrooms are still illegal.
The legal landscape is patchy and still changing. While science points to new possibilities for mental health, the law is only slowly beginning to shift. For now, shrooms remain illegal in most of the United States.
Final Thoughts
The future of shroom laws in the U.S. will depend on more research, more public debate, and how Oregon and Colorado’s programs turn out. If they show good results for mental health and public safety, other states may follow. Until then, the short answer remains clear: shrooms are federally illegal, with only a few state and local exceptions.
Sources
- Drug Enforcement Administration. Psilocybin Drug Fact Sheet.
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Drug Scheduling.
- Oregon Health Authority. Oregon Psilocybin Services.