People have been buying drugs — illegal and otherwise — online for around as long as the internet itself. As restrictions loosen in some states, providers have begun popping up with promises of mail-order magic mushrooms.
Some of these companies are scams, others are substituting illegal compounds without saying so, and still others are operating “legitimately” at significant legal risk. Even within the realm of legal alternatives, quality can vary dramatically, and scams are prevalent.
Here, we discuss the ins and outs of buying psychedelic mushrooms online, the risks involved, and explore one of the best legal options available —Amanita muscaria mushroom gummies offered by brands like Area 52.
#1 Best Shroom Gummies Online: Area 52 Magic Pluto Mushroom Gummies
While there are a variety of scammy companies out there, the best we’ve found so far has been the Magic Pluto Mushroom Gummies by Area 52. Expertly formulated by an herbal and psychedelic specialist, these Amanita gummies pack a punch while supported with other active ingredients.
Most manufacturers use a synthetic form of muscimol since it’s easier to create than extract in many cases. This creates a much less effective or even inactive option and renders the vast majority of products out there essentially useless.
A more mischievous practice is adding 4-AcO-DMT, a potent psilocybin-like molecule, which can send unsuspecting people on a difficult journey. Area 52 stands out with its whole-mushroom Amanita extract, 2 other dream-inducing herbs, and 5 ingredients to help reduce side effects and temper the experience.
Within the legal market, “proprietary” blends of ingredients often leave the entire contents of the packaging a mystery. For these products, the risk comes from inactive ingredients or ones far stronger than users anticipate.
Area 52 sets itself apart in this regard as well, showing complete transparency on its blend and the purpose of each ingredient.
What’s Inside the Area 52 Gummies?
Within the Magic Pluto gummies by Area 52 are three dream-enhancing herbs:
Muscimol —Using a full-mushroom extract, Area 52 includes the main active compound of muscimol along with others in the mushroom. This helps harness the full potential of the Amanita, rather than reduce it to a single component.
Blue Lotus Flower (Nymphaea caerulea) — The use of Blue Lotus for “lucid dreaming” dates back to at least Ancient Egypt. This is the act of gaining consciousness and control over one’s dreams.
Dream Herb (Calea zacatechichi) —Central and South American traditions surrounding this herb are what led to its name. It’s long been a shamanic tool for exploring the dream world and other realms through lucid dreaming.
Along with three natural ingredients to balance them out:
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) — This traditional ingredient is an “adaptogen,” meaning it helps by elevating or lowering various functions within the body. In this case, Ashwagandha helps balance mood and reduce anxiety levels to temper some of the stronger components of the dream blend.
L-Theanine —Found only in premium-quality green tea leaves, this amino acid helps to bring on a calm, alert effect. This combats some of the sedation without making you feel jittery or elevating anxiety like caffeine.
Full-Spectrum Hemp Extract —15 mg of federally legal, hemp-derived THC with a range of other cannabinoids, including CBD and CBN, to help relax the body and bring on a mild, cerebral lift in mood.
Many of the ingredients included in the dream blend can also impact serotonin and melatonin production, critical neurotransmitters for mood and energy (among various other functions).
While this isn’t enough to cause a serious concern, it can lead to grogginess and some negative side effects the next day. To combat this, the Magic Pluto gummies include 5-HTP and Vitamin B6 to help replenish them.
#2: Royal Amanita Mushroom Gummies + THC
For those looking for something both calming and trippy to take on a chill night in, these gummies offer a compelling option. They feature a 10 mg dose of muscimol, and 10 mg delta-9 THC (hemp-derived and legal) —ensuring potency without the premium price.
These gummies underscore Royal’s philosophy of producing nothing but the best. They announced these magic mushroom gummies nearly 2-years ago, but the founders were unhappy with the consistency of muscimol on the market. After over 12 months of trial and error, they took matters into their own hands to extract their own muscimol. This ensured every batch was subject to the same meticulous attention to detail and scientific precision they were used to.
Today, these gummies stand out as offering some of the best value on the market. At just $49 per bag, these gummies are much more approachable than the competition and deliver between 2X and 3X more potency than other products in this price range.
Product Highlights:
Ingredients: Muscimol, hemp extract (THC), withania root, Mexican dream herb, B6.
Potency: Very Strong.
Cost: $49
Total Gummies per Bag: 15.
Cost per Gummy: $3.33 (below average)
Are Magic Mushrooms Legal?
Psilocybin — the molecule responsible for the effects of magic mushrooms — is a Schedule 1 substance in the Controlled Substances Act. Oregon is the only state to have an exception, providing legal access to patients in medical settings only.
This means there are no legal options for mailing magic mushrooms to your home, though quite a few people are purporting to do this. Some of these services legitimately mail illegal substances and others operate as scams or use alternative (occasionally more dangerous) replacements.
Even in states or cities with decriminalization measures on magic mushrooms, there can still be penalties for sourcing magic mushrooms.
Risks of Buying Shrooms Online (Or Legal Alternatives)
Prohibition or not, there is no shortage of companies in the United States and Canada offering raw shrooms, magic mushroom gummies, psilocybin chocolate bars, and more. This comes with considerable legal, qualitative, and ethical concerns, however.
As an illegal product, manufacturers don’t have regulatory oversight to ensure they’re following through on their claims. Likewise, customers can’t complain or seek other recourse when they experience a scam from a company pretending to sell illegal substances.
While the risk is typically quite small for the consumer, that doesn’t mean it’s non-existent. Anytime a package is in the mail with your name on it, it has the potential to result in legal action — perhaps even at a federal level.
In harsher states, the attempt to purchase shrooms can land you in jail or with hefty fines, among other legal woes.
Amanita muscaria:The Best Legal Alternative
Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) mushrooms aren’t going to produce the same effect as magic mushrooms but can be nearly as trippy — especially when blended well. Muscimol (the main active component of Amanitas) can lead to a vivid, fantastical dream state in users.
With a long history of shamanic use, the Amanita mushroom is the most prominent mushroom representation in media. It has a bright red cap with white spots and a thick, white stem with a pronounced ring around the middle of it left over from the cap opening.
It has been the mushroom of choice for children’s stories, video games, and fantasy of all shapes and sizes. The shamanic reasoning for employing the Amanita mushroom was to communicate with other realms and explore the dream world.
After consuming muscimol, users often experience a burst of energy followed by heavy sedation. Objects may begin to morph in size or their location.
As it fully takes hold, dreams will begin to form — whether you’re awake or asleep. Fantastic, vivid dreams appear over the next 6 or so hours before gradually wearing off.
Side-By-Side Comparison: Psilocybin Mushrooms vs. Amanita
The effects of psilocybin and muscimol are not identical and there are several differences between the two. However, some find the trippy dream state of Amanitas to be an enjoyable, legal replacement for psilocybin.
Psilocybin is a more powerful experience, resulting in significant changes to perception. This is the main point for most, but it can also result in paranoid experiences or ecstatic ones.
Unlike magic mushrooms, “bad trips” on Amanitas are uncommon. Even in high doses, most people relax into sleep and have trippy dreams.
Buying Shrooms Online: FAQs
Here are some of the questions people frequently ask about buying magic mushrooms (and their alternatives) online:
1. Are Amanita Mushrooms Legal?
Yes! Amanita muscaria mushrooms are fully legal in the United States, Canada, and most other countries, unlike magic mushrooms.
While the experience isn’t the same as psilocybin, many find the trippy, dream-like state from Amanitas to be an enjoyable alternative to psilocybin.
2. What Are the Legal Alternatives to Magic Mushrooms?
The main legal alternatives to magic mushrooms are 4-AcO-DMT — an identical “research chemical” that’s technically illegal to consume — and the Amanita muscaria mushroom.
Unlike 4-AcO-DMT, Amanita muscaria is legal, meaning companies can openly include them in products and report on their contents. While 4-AcO-DMT is something psychonauts enjoy and seek out on their own, it’s often included without warning, which can lead to dangerous situations.
3. Is It Safe to Order Magic Mushrooms Online?
It is not safe to order magic mushrooms online. Even when a company has proven itself reliable, there is always a risk of law enforcement shutting it down. Additionally, every package in the mail has the potential to be seized, searched, and investigated.
While the risk is generally low for consumers, it’s not absent, and penalties are possible even where magic mushrooms are decriminalized. Using the mail also opens up the potential for a federal case, negating any local decriminalization or legalization efforts.
4. How Can I Find A Reputable Mushroom Company?
The best way to find reputable Amanita muscaria vendors involves a little bit of research around how the company conducts itself, what sort of return policy and guarantee they offer, and what past customers are saying about the brand.
Area 52, as an example, has proven itself to be a reliable supplier of cannabis products already and provides third-party lab reporting on all of its products.
If a company doesn’t have anything to hide — illegal or otherwise — they’ll usually go above and beyond to showcase how great their product is. Whether it’s Area 52 or another supplier, don’t trust anyone who isn’t upfront about their formulation and process.
