Posted by pinksharkmark (12.128.190.208) on January 02, 2001 at 12:42:41:
In Reply to: help posted by kim on December 30, 2000 at 16:39:47:
... at least, not yet.
Psilocybin mushrooms contain a controlled substance (psilocybin) and thus are treated the same as LSD in the eyes of the law. The spores of the mushroom contain no psilocybin, so it is perfectly legal to sell them, except in California, where for some reason possession of even the spores is against state law. Many "head shops" carry them, and many people sell or trade them over the internet.
Once you have obtained the right spores, it is dead simple to grow your own. I recently got my own supply started on the first of December. Exactly one month later, New Year's Day, I saw my first tiny mushrooms starting to grow. Growing time is variable, but most people who grow their own report a similar time frame... twenty-eight to forty days or so from start until harvest.
There are several growing guides on the net aimed at beginners. Take my word for it... it is absurdly simple to grow them in a space not much bigger than a shoebox. No grow-lights, no weird smells... totally discreet, and easily concealable from prying eyes. I don't exaggerate when I say that your average ten year old kid could do this as a science project.
If you live in the US and cultivate psilocybin mushrooms, you are breaking the law. Your chance of getting caught (unless you run around bragging about it to everyone you know) is just about zero, since the police have neither the resources nor the inclination to chase after home growers. Besides, they would have absolutely no way of ever finding out that YOU were doing it.
Having said that, I must repeat that in the United States, it is illegal to grow your own.
I have made several contacts with home growers who are DELIGHTED to find that their hobby can help others. These folks are anxious to help clusterheads in any legal way they can, from providing tips on the growing process to helping you locate spores. It was a very heartwarming experience to be flooded with offers of help when I posted to one of the mushroom cultivator sites explaining how mushrooms stop clusterheadaches. These folks have already helped at least two clusterheads besides myself get up and running, and they have made themselves available to anyone from this site who wants to give it a try.
If you are interested in pursuing this, e-mail me and I'll give you more details.
pinky