Sure, you can smoke shrooms, but whether or not you get the psychedelic effects you would from eating them is another story.
Dried mushrooms can be ground into a powder and either smoked alone or combined with tobacco or cannabis. Additionally, some people put crystals of purified psilocybin into pipes. However, neither of these choices is a wise choice.
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What Are Shrooms?
The term “shrooms” refers to any mushroom containing psilocybin, a compound known for its psychedelic effects (the psilocybin is what makes them magic!). There are nearly 200 known varieties of psilocybin mushrooms on the planet with the most prevalent being psilocybe cubensis. Psilocybin, which has been used in rituals and as a sacrament throughout history, has received attention as a possible treatment for a number of mental health conditions, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction.
Although psilocybin has been classified as a Schedule I narcotic by the federal government for almost 50 years, there is a growing movement to end the ban on this substance, and more and more research is demonstrating its efficacy in treating a variety of mental health conditions, including addiction, eating disorders, and depression.
Can You Smoke Shrooms?
Yes, in a nutshell, but the full response is a little trickier to understand.
It is technically possible to grind, roll, and smoke mushrooms if they have sufficiently dried out and become highly combustible. This is something that many seasoned smokers have attempted, but the outcomes weren’t quite what you’d hope for.
There aren’t many, if any, official studies on the effects of smoking mushrooms, but anecdotal evidence suggests that you won’t experience any of the fungi’s typical effects.
“Simply put, there’s no reason to smoke magic mushrooms,” said In an interview, Psychedelic Passage cofounder Nicholas Levich. “It is generally thought to be a waste of time, money, and mushrooms because it probably won’t accomplish anything. Some anecdotal reports claim that doing so gives you a slight buzz, but it’s difficult to say for sure.”
And why exactly is that, though?
Simply put, the development of magic mushrooms depends heavily on your digestive system. Psilocybin must be consumed in order for it to be transformed into psilocin in the digestive tract for shrooms to work fully.
This is why it is so difficult for you to use shrooms by rolling them up and smoking them because your lungs cannot perform this function.
What Happens?
It’s difficult to predict exactly what happens when you use mushrooms. The only reports that are available are from people who have blazed up and shared their experience on forums like Reddit because there isn’t really any research on the subject.
A small number of shroom smokers claim that the effects are mild, but not nearly as intense as a trip you might experience after popping a few caps or ingesting a tea preparation.
However, the majority of people claim it was a complete waste of time and had no effects at all, with the exception of some nausea.
It might come down to temperature whether there are any psychological side effects or not. Since psilocybin degrades at high temperatures, burning mushrooms essentially kills the active compound that gives them their heady effects.
Possible Dangers of Smoking Shrooms
Beyond the fact that inhaling mushrooms is essentially useless, trying to smoke psilocybin can be somewhat risky.
Smoking is generally not a good idea. Any inhaled smoke, whether it comes from pure cannabis or straight tobacco, is bad for your lungs because it contains varying amounts of toxins that can harm your blood vessels and lung tissue.
Some unpleasant side effects of smoking include persistent coughing or chest pain. If you overconsume mushrooms or have a bad experience, they already have a number of side effects, such as nausea, stomach cramps, and lack of coordination.
Therefore, if you do use mushrooms and experience their effects, you may be dealing with a number of drawbacks that can be frightening and overwhelming.
Mold exposure is another risk that comes with smoking mushrooms that could affect your lungs. If you’re not careful, or if your mushrooms weren’t dried and stored correctly beforehand, you might be inhaling specific types of mold when you try to smoke them. Lung infection or inflammation can easily result from this.
Consume Mushrooms—Instead of Smoking Them
In order to get the most psilocybin into your system, eating mushrooms is the best way to consume them. The typical recreational dose is between one and two grams, though some people take more or less. You can eat them straight up. There are alternatives because the flavor and dry texture may not be to everyone’s taste.
A very popular and effective way to consume psilocybin is mushroom tea. Since the root of ginger is a natural means of preventing nausea (a common side effect when coming up on mushrooms), ginger tea is a fantastic base. Another popular way to eat mushrooms is called “lemon tekking,” which involves soaking the mushrooms in lemon juice for about 15 minutes before consuming the entire mixture quickly. For seasoned psychonauts, both of these methods are advised because they can produce more potent trips.
Shroom-filled chocolates are another excellent option because they taste good and are easy to dose. As both were regarded as gifts from the gods, the Aztecs actually combined cacao and psilocybin mushrooms during rituals. This method is even more appealing due to the fact that it demonstrates the true potency of both ingredients due to their ancient connections.
Safety Tips
There is no completely risk-free way to use drugs or smoke, but there are some things you can do to lessen some of the risks.
If you’re going to take shrooms, consider these tips:
- Select a different approach. Seriously, smoking is generally not advised, especially when using mushrooms. Most likely, you won’t feel anything. Furthermore, you might breathe in dangerous spores.
- It’s important to pay attention to your dose; you should begin with the smallest dose and then progressively increase it. Higher doses increase the risk of a bad trip and negative effects because hallucinogens can be unpredictable.
- If you do smoke them, don’t hold your inhale. Your lungs are exposed to toxins for a longer period of time when you breathe deeply and hold the breath. Exhale as soon as you inhale if you’re going to smoke mushrooms.
- You should have at least one responsible, sober person who can step in if you pass out and need assistance.
- Your mood has an impact on how you react to psychedelics, so choose the right time. No matter how you consume mushrooms, make sure to only do so when you’re in a good mood.
- Choose wisely; go to a location that is both secure and comfortable. You can unwind and feel safe in case you experience hallucinations or anxiety thanks to it.
- Shrooms can increase your body temperature and cause dehydration, so drink plenty of water. Before, during, and after your trip, make sure to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. The comedown might be aided by it as well.
- Shrooms commonly cause some gastrointestinal discomfort, particularly when consumed. By eating something first, you can lessen the likelihood that this will occur.
- In general, it’s not a good idea to mix substances because doing so can lead to unpredictable results. This also applies to alcohol.
Read about Can You Be Allergic To Olives?
Can You Smoke Shrooms Mixed With Weed?
Some steadfast users wonder if it makes a difference to mix their ground-up mushrooms with weed, despite the fact that smoking mushrooms has generally been reported to be ineffective.
Again, anecdotal evidence indicates that you won’t get much out of it, aside from a cannabis high that’s muddled by the earthy taste of the shrooms. It just doesn’t make much sense to try smoking shrooms, no matter how you try to justify it.
We advise you to stick with the fungi’s most tried-and-true consumption method, which is to simply eat it or brew it into a psychedelic tea.
The Final Thoughts
You can smoke shrooms — but if you’re looking to trip, then you’re probably better off getting your shroom on another way.
Although there is no scientific proof that smoking mushrooms causes the psychoactive effects attributed to psilocybin, we do know that breathing in any smoke is dangerous.
Even though hallucinogens aren’t typically thought of as being as addictive as other substances, using them frequently can cause issues in your day-to-day life.