A lot of people are curious about the legality of magic mushroom spores—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 use remain legal. Read on for more details about the law and how to stay within it 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 germinated. The moment spores are cultivated into mycelium, for example, in a liquid culture medium, these compounds are activated, and the law is broken.
Selling and Buying Spores: What is Allowed?
The law allows vendors to sell spores for research, taxonomy, and microscopy purposes, but supplying spores alongside grow kits should be avoided. At Om Spores, we maintain integrity and transparency by focusing solely on spores for microscopy, ensuring our customers can feel legally safe 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. However, 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.
History of the Law on Magic Mushrooms
Useful Links and Resources
(Includes Section 21 – Magic Mushrooms Ban)