a

an

“Rms

-<

1 remer es

Other Press

 

October 16, 1981

 

 

Fa ae PD PS PE SE RG I IR LS PRT NT A

pre tn ewe oe

 

 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 

BY STEVE RIPPER
It's that time of year again, when Vancouver
residents can be found crawling through swamps on
their hands and kness at unhealthy hours of the
morning. These strange people are invariably
equipped with plastic baggies and are, of course, in
search of the elusive magic mushroom.

This year promises to bring forth a peak season

for mushrooms due to the fact that they have been
found as early as July 12 and are now legal.

A spokesman for the Bureau of Dangerous
Drugs has reported that the Act which named magic
mushrooms illegal referred to the drug psilocybin,
not the psilocybin mushroom itself. A federal court
has ruled that persons found in possession of
mushrooms in dried or fresh form cannot be
convicted.

The judge ruled that a layperson cannot be
expected to identify a mushroom as hallucinogenic.
Also, after mushrooms have been ina plastic baggie
for any length of time it is difficult to identify them
correctly.

An arrest can only be made of persons in
possession of extracted psilocybin. So be sure not
to extract the drug from those mushrooms.

For those readers nét familiar with the effects of
the drug, and not interested in finding out
personally, a description of some common effect
follows.

The actual mushroom stone is reportedly similar

to that of LSD.

Generally, 30-60 minutes after taking a hit of -
mushrooms the person finds changes in the
perception of size, shape; colour and depth. The
kaleidoscopic effects associated with LSD are

S ARE CHANGING PALS...”
| SoA Yoo Sta Be eLventiS
MAAN WITT THE REST OF

 

      

 

 

‘Page 3

 

The Wrong ones

Shroom -Pickers Song
or’ That’s Funny I’m Not

Getting Off.

To the tune of Didiiswn.

If you go picking shroom
you should know what your
doing so you won't pick the

By then it’s too late.
They’re gastral intestinal
poisons will have started to

 

Wrong Ones

to get you.

you.

Wrong Ones

Ce
Crawling through that shroom kaleidoscope|

It’s no good eating ail of
them to see if they upset

work and you’ll have sealed
your fate.

There's lots of toxic mush-
rooms and they're waiting

They’re the WRONG ONES
and they’re killing you.
They’re the WRONG ONES
nothing doctors can do.
They’re the WRONG ONES
You should’nt have eaten
THE WRONG ONES.

 

 

often experienced. Coloured lights and patterns
may occur when one’s eyes are closed, and
furthermore, hallucinations in the truest sense of the
.word may occur. One's mood is elevated, though at
timesit may be. depressed.

The importance of correct identification cannot
be over-emphasized. The symptoms of mushroom
poisoning vary, depending on the species of

“mushroom ingested, but in all cases the best

treatment is found in the emergency room of the
closest hospital.

Many cases of mushroom poisoning occur when a
person takes the shrooms and becomes convinced
that he has misidentified. The result is intense

anxiety with the conviction that he is going to die.

The distinguishing features of psilosybe
mushrooms.as listed by mycologist Richard Haard
(co-writer of “Poisonous and Hallucenogenic
Mushrooms”) are purplish spores, a conic to
campua nulate cap and veil traces on the cap
margin. The most common members of the
psilocybe genus are P. semilanceata and P. .
pelliculosa:

They have a low potency—20 to 40 mushrooms
causing a definite intoxication—and when bruised
turn blue. An interesting note is that combining P.

semilanceata with another member of the genus, P.
stunzii (which has a chestnut brown cap and a blue
staining flocosse ring) increases the potency of
both by one half.

The two most potent Psilocybin mushrooms are P.
strictipes with a yellow-brown or olive-brown cap
and a stem flesh which tends to turn brown when
bruised, and P. baeocystis which is darker and does
not turn brown when bruised. They are somewhat
gregarious and occur commonly in conifer bark,
rarely in lawns. Both mushrooms are incredibly
potent—two baeocystis shrooms and four strictipes
is a reasonable amount.

According to Haard, the “only death attributed to

‘years ago, and are still using them. In the Mexican
. ceremony the mushrooms speak through the

approaching mind-altering substances of any type

_ one half. Haard particularly emphasizes the use of

 

a hallucinogenic Psilocybe was a child in Wahington
who ate P. baeocystis.” Children are particularly
susceptible to hallucinogens.

Pelliculosa can be found growing in rotting wood

or_litter.and-semilan@atain lawas.or pastures*..
The Shamans of Mexico’s Oaxaca ‘state begar-.|
using the mushrooms in religious ceremonies. 3,000

shaman. The meeting is a form of group therapy in
which the mushroom spirit is asked to answer:
questions about community matters (a sick person,
a missing goat or stolen money).

One should always be cautious when

and mushrooms are particularly heavy as
evidenced by their use in Mexican religious
cermony. Haard advocates the general introduction
of the drug psylocibin to one’s system, “beginning
with one mushroom, progressing to three and then
to 10.”

 

Reeciseyy Warson! was

St aces FoR YEARS AND
I'M STLL THE WORLDS
GREATEST DEmcTvE.
However LL REsOee
JUPGEMENT UNTIL I'VE

 

 

 

 

As with virtually all ingested drugs (alcohol
inclusive) an empty stomach ensures maximum
effects. Another point on getting the most for the
effort and mud involved in shroom hunting is to eat
them raw, either fresh in the field or after they have
been frozen, as drying decreases their potency by

mushrooms outside in the field.
“Nature’s sensory inputs are superior to
humanity’s artificial environment.”

 

 

y