Current situation regarding psychedelics and magic mushroom in Korea
European Psychiatry April 1, 2024 J. S. Seo
In Korea, debate over medical marijuana has preceded a similar discussion about psychedelics. Mescaline was first isolated from peyote in 1890, but psychedelics were prohibited in the US in 1970. Recent studies suggest psychedelic mushrooms may help with treatment-resistant depression, alcohol dependence, and anxiety in terminal cancer patients. This review catalogs wild hallucinogenic mushrooms in Korea. Psilocybin from magic mushrooms causes hallucinations and other symptoms lasting 2–4 hours. Of 114 psilocybin-containing Psilocybe species worldwide, only five grow in Korea: P. argentipes, P. coprophila, P. perdaria, and P. subcarulipes. Acute poisoning cases with GI symptoms occur, but abuse or dependence records are rare. The Korean government classifies psilocybin and psilocin as psychotropic drugs, and clinical trials require FDA approval.