Is Amanita Muscaria Legal? Understanding Amanita’s Legality in the US
Amanita muscaria, also known as the “Fly Agaric,” is one of the most famous mushrooms in the world. Its iconic red cap with raised white dots appears everywhere, from Super Mario Bros to Harry Potter. Amanita also has hallucinogenic properties, and many people refer to it as the “legal” psychedelic mushroom.
However, the intriguing question arises: why is Amanita muscaria permitted when other psychoactive varieties, such as psilocybin-containing "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms," remain federally controlled illicit substances?
This article answers the question, is amanita muscaria legal? by examining federal law and state-by-state rules.
What is Amanita Muscaria?
Amanita muscaria is a red-capped mushroom with white dots that grows wild in Europe, North America, and Asia. Various cultures have used it for religious and spiritual ceremonies for centuries due to amanita muscaria hallucinogenic effects that can result in a mind-expanding high. In the modern era, people find it a mildly potent mushroom that can help with anxiety, depression, and physical discomfort.
During high-dose Amanita muscaria experiences, users report effects such as:
- Euphoria
- Sense of being in a “dream-like space”
- Intense introspection
- Spiritual awakening
While amanita muscaria has psychedelic properties, it can also be highly dangerous if eaten raw, especially in larger doses. These effects can include:
- Lack of coordination
- Vomiting
- Detachment from reality
- Size distortion
- Flying sensations
- Repetitive thought patterns and behavior, known as “looping”
To avoid these risks, manufacturers must properly process Amanita muscaria extracts to eliminate toxic components.
How is Amanita Muscaria Legal?
Amanita muscaria’s psychoactive properties and potential might lead people to wonder: Why is Amanita muscaria legal in the U.S.? Unlike other psychedelic substances, including “magic” mushrooms, LSD, and MDMA, Amanita muscaria is legal to cultivate and possess in most of the country, with few exceptions. So, how is it legal to buy amanita muscaria?
Most psychedelic mushroom species get their psychedelic effects from psilocybin, which the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lists as a controlled substance. However, Amanita mushrooms do not contain psilocybin. Instead, the “Fly Argaric” species gets it psychoactive and toxic properties from muscimol, ibotenic acid, and muscarine. U.S. federal law does not classify them as controlled substances. As a result, cultivating and possessing amanita muscaria does not violate the Controlled Substances Act.
Amanita Muscaria products: Legal complexity for sellers
- Muscaria mushrooms are legal to sell, buy, and possess nationwide. Consumers can find many Amanita muscaria extracts available, including:
- Edible snacks
- Gummies
- Powders
- Capsules
- Joints
However, a Tampa, Florida store ran into complications when the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services halted Amanita sales. According to a note on the store’s website, the state’s decision came because the product’s label encouraged customers to “consume” the mushrooms, which the state deemed unsafe. The interaction brought to light two points about selling Amanita muscaria legality:
- A. muscaria is not FDA-approved as a consumable food, allowing state officials to halt brands from selling and marketing them as such.
- Brands that market Amanita muscaria products exclusively for “educational” or “spiritual” purposes can likely circumvent the issue.
Amanita Muscaria Legal Limit
Amanita muscaria mushrooms are largely unregulated and do not have an official legal limit. However, consumers should consider important guidelines for safe and responsible use.
Amanita muscaria can be poisonous. According to the Drug Policy Alliance, psilocybin mushrooms pose minimal risk of a fatal overdose. However, the same cannot be said for Amanita muscaria. These iconic mushrooms can cause muscle failure and even death in rare circumstances without proper processing and extraction. To minimize risk, consumers should always look for products with third-party lab results and never ingest raw Amanita muscaria mushrooms.
Small doses are best. Amanita muscaria is not usually hallucinogenic at low to moderate doses. Instead, many compare the experience to cannabis high, specifically indica strains, which exerts a sedating “body high” with calming effects. Most experts recommend low doses to achieve these effects and avoid potential risks.
- According to a mycologist, low doses of 0.03 to 0.17 ounces can be “quite pleasant,” whereas high doses can be “difficult to manage” for most people.
- Microdose Amanita capsules and gummies often contain at most 350 milligrams of extract.
- Most sources recommend no more than 10 milligrams of pure muscimol, the main psychoactive component in Amanita muscaria.
A person’s unique biochemistry, weight, and tolerance will affect the mushroom’s overall effects.
Amanita Muscaria Legal States
Most states have no restrictions on Amanita muscaria mushrooms or their active ingredients. So, is Amanita muscaria legal in California? Yes, the California health and safety code, like most other states, follows federal law and only lists psilocybin and psilocin as banned substances. Because Amanita muscaria does not contain these compounds, it is legal in almost every state except Louisiana.
Alabama
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Alabama, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession amount.
Alaska
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Alaska, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession amount.
Arizona
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Arizona, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession amount.
Arkansas
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Arkansas, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession amount.
California
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in California, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Colorado
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Colorado, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Connecticut
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Connecticut, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Delaware
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Delaware, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Florida
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Florida, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
The Tampa, Florida-based hemp retailer Chillum was the first brick-and-mortar store to publicly offer a line of amanita muscaria capsules, gummies, and edibles.
Georgia
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Georgia, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Hawaii
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Hawaii, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Idaho
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Idaho, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Illinois
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Illinois, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Indiana
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Indiana, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Iowa
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Iowa, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Kansas
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Kansas, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Kentucky
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Kentucky, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Maine
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Maine, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Maryland
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Maryland, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Massachusetts
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Massachusetts, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Michigan
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Michigan, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Minnesota
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Minnesota, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Mississippi
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Mississippi, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Missouri
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Missouri, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Montana
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Montana, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Nebraska
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Nebraska, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Nevada
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Nevada, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
New Hampshire
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in New Hampshire, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
New Jersey
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in New Jersey, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
New Mexico
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in New Mexico, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
New York
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in New York, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
North Carolina
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in North Carolina, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
North Dakota
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in North Dakota, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Ohio
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Ohio, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Oklahoma
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Oklahoma, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Oregon
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Oregon, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Pennsylvania
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Pennsylvania, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Rhode Island
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Rhode Island, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
South Carolina
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in South Carolina, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
South Dakota
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in South Dakota, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Tennessee
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Tennessee, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Texas
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Texas, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Utah
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Utah, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Vermont
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Vermont, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Virginia
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Virginia, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Washington
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Washinton, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
West Virginia
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in West Virginia, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Wisconsin
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Wisconsin, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Wyoming
Amanita muscaria is legal to purchase in person and online in Wyoming, with no limits on product type, strength, or possession.
Where is Amanita Muscaria Illegal?
Louisiana
Currently, Amanita muscaria is only illegal in one state, Louisiana.
Louisiana classifies the mushroom species as a "hallucinogenic plant," prohibiting its production, manufacture, distribution, and possession, according to Louisiana State Act 159.
The Bottom Line
Amanita muscaria doesn't contain psilocybin, making it federally legal in the U.S., despite its psychoactive properties. Louisiana is the only state that bans Amanita sales. The Amanita muscaria experience includes euphoria, a sleepy “dream-like” state, and personal introspection. Consumers should purchase Amanita extracts from verified brands to avoid potentially toxic effects and start with low doses.