I returned home from Amsterdam a little over a month ago, unfortunately to a hot, humid smelly season - not the correct season for mushrooms. Fortunately while I was in the Netherlands, it didn't matter what the season was, I only had to take a short walk from my hostel to the nearest Smart Shop for all my shroomy needs. The small fridge near the counter, with neatly ordered boxes of hallucinogenic mushrooms, arranged according to strength, complete with proper instructions and descriptions of likely effects. Between 13 to 18 euro for possibly the most powerful (yet completely safe) experience you're ever likely to have.

People often struggle with words to describe their experiences with mushrooms. Traditional human thinking, habits and customs that we take for granted every day can be 'exposed' for what they are - ridiculous, and hilarious. Ego may disappear, and if the trip is strong enough, the barrier that we use to compartmentalise our self from our environment disappears too. You are now your environment. Never will you take so much comfort, inspiration and value from your insignificance in the world. The feeling is spiritual - as a hardened athiest, shrooms have helped me grasp the concept of spirituality properly.

Interesting then, to remember that these species of fungi have existed on the planet longer than humans, probably much longer, and much contact has been made between humans and magic mushrooms throughout human history. One can imagine the contribution they have made to spirituality (and in turn, religion) in many cultures. Witches cauldren comes to mind.

Yep, shrooms have offered the human race so much, yet we in this country elect to make an entire species against the law somehow, as if their existence on the planet was some horrible accident that needs to be corrected by infallible human authority. If we want to fight nature, how about starting with say, the redback spider? Something actually dangerous, perhaps? Instead of something that can only offer good?

Maybe there'd be some progress if our own authorities knocked back a couple of gold tops each. Certainly couldn't hurt.

Spendocrat- a very fun topic, thank you. That sounds like a nice experience you had with shrooms (do they still call them 'pads' "Paddestoelen" meaning mushrooms) over there or are they now using the English word?

I was born and grew up in Amsterdam, then emigrated to Australia before softdrugs were legalised and since then have heard many stories from friends and family that legalisation brought about improvement, e.g. the drugs now come labelled and with instructions, dosage and warings about possible side effects, instead of being handed secretly over counters or sold in the streets.
There can be more control too, on safety, purity, guides for standards, etc.

Although Shrooms is a drug that I haven’t tried myself, I have heard nothing but good things about the drug; and side effects are neglectable. It’s an organic substance and won’t cause stress on your body like, for example, LSD.

I’d love to see recreational soft drugs being legalised in Australia as well. Softdrugs do not kill, unlike alcohol and tobacco.
It’s funny that you say that our authorities should use them: well there might be something in it when our govt ministers are discussing environmental issues and we might actually get somewhere. Beats a prayer in the morning :)

Just a WARNING for people wanting to try mushrooms: don’t attempt to ‘pick’ mushrooms and experiment with them; there are many types and some are poisonous. Taking poisonous mushrooms actually caused some fatalities- NOT the right type of mushroom which are safe to take. Different types of mushrooms can look very similar.

Spendocrat, would you know the proper botanical name for those mushrooms? ;)
It wouldn’t be illegal to grow them in Australia, would it? They’re just... cute little mushrooms.

No I don't know the scientific names, unfortunately. The only decent ones in Australia are known as 'gold tops' - a very literal title. You're absolutely right though, the key is to know what you're looking for. There's a lot of poisonous mushrooms as well, but as long as you are able to recognise gold tops (or know someone who does), you can find them in almost any field, or even park, in Victoria at the right time of year. Probably easier than growing them yourself. Fungi are weird plants, I imagine they're tricky to grow.

But none of that would matter if we just had sensible, tolerant laws.

And they are quite safe, so long as you're not in a dangerous environment while tripping, and say...walk into traffic or something. But thats just common sense. The worst that can happen really is a tummy ache. But I ate KFC yesterday...guess which ache was worse. Of course prolonged use (or abuse) would probably burn out some neurons...but beer still wins at that I think.

I'm curious as to what the specific justification is for a law against shrooms, other than 'you see the world differently, therefore its bad'.