Magic Mushroom Laws in the UK (2025): What’s Legal, What’s Not, and Why It Matters

Magic Mushroom Laws in the UK (2025): What’s Legal, What’s Not, and Why It Matters

Louis Cummings

Please note: This information is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

1. Introduction

Magic Mushrooms, aka fungi containing the naturally occurring psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin, have historically captured the public's attention for their cultural and scientific significance. However, in the UK at least, the law surrounding these substances is complex and often misinterpreted.

In this article, we’ll explain the current legal status of psilocybin mushrooms in the United Kingdom, why they’re regulated, and how this affects the sale of related mycology supplies. Understanding these laws helps to ensure individuals stay compliant, while supporting safe, educational, and lawful mycological study.

2. Current Legal Status in the UK (2025)

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, both psilocybin and psilocin are classified as Class A controlled substances. This means that any mushroom or material containing either compound is also controlled.

  • Possession can result in up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.
  • Supply, production, or cultivation can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
  • Even small-scale, non-commercial cultivation technically counts as “production” under the Act.

In July 2005, section 21 of the Drugs Act 2005 amended Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act to explicitly include:

“fungus (of any kind) that contains the drug psilocin or an ester of psilocin.”

This amendment clarified that both fresh and dried mushrooms containing psilocybin or psilocin are controlled substances, closing a previously ambiguous area of the law that some vendors had interpreted as allowing the sale of fresh mushrooms. Dried, powdered, or extracted preparations have always been illegal in the UK.

Today, all psilocybin-containing mushrooms, fresh or dried, are illegal to possess, cultivate, or sell in the UK. Because the amendment covers ‘fungus (of any kind)’, mycelium that produces psilocybin is generally treated as controlled.

References:

3. Magic Mushroom Grow Kits and Spores

A frequent source of confusion is the legality of spores and grow kits.

  • Psilocybin spores themselves do not contain psilocybin or psilocin and are therefore not controlled substances under UK law.
  • However, germinating those spores (allowing them to grow into mushrooms or mycelium that do contain psilocybin) constitutes cultivation of a controlled substance, which is illegal.
  • Commercial sterile “grow kits” that contain substrate, grain, or other materials are only legal if sold for educational, research, or gourmet mushroom use.

At Spore Supplies, all products are sold strictly for legal, educational mycology or gourmet mushroom cultivation. Customers are responsible for ensuring their use complies with UK law.

4. Law Enforcement and Practical Reality

While psilocybin-related offences remain technically serious, actual enforcement often focuses on supply, trafficking, or large-scale cultivation rather than personal possession. In practice, individuals caught with small amounts of magic mushrooms are often given cautions or community-based resolutions, though this is not guaranteed.

It’s important to note that law enforcement priorities can vary by region and political climate. Even “low-level” involvement can still lead to criminal records or professional consequences.

5. UK Research and Policy Developments

Despite its legal status, psilocybin is the subject of increasing scientific and clinical research in the UK. Institutions like Imperial College London, King’s College London, and the University of Exeter have conducted government-approved studies exploring psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression, PTSD, and addiction.

There is also growing discussion amongst policymakers and medical professionals regarding the rescheduling of psilocybin to Schedule 2, which would permit its medical use under strict controls. In 2023, organisations such as Drug Science and The Beckley Foundation published open letters to the UK government, urging them to review the classification of psilocybin.

However, as of 2025, psilocybin remains a Class A, Schedule 1 substance, available for research use only under Home Office licence.

References:

6. International Comparison

While psilocybin remains illegal in the UK, several countries have taken steps toward policy reform:

  • The Netherlands permits the sale of psilocybin-containing “truffles”.
  • Australia (2023) allows psychiatrists to prescribe psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.
  • Oregon (USA) decriminalised and began licensed psilocybin therapy programmes in 2023.
  • Portugal decriminalised possession of all drugs for personal use.

These examples highlight that the UK’s current policy is among the most restrictive in the world. Despite this, research activity on the potential uses of psilocybin is accelerating.

7. Responsible Education and Harm Reduction

While psilocybin shows promising research potential, unsupervised use can carry risks, including anxiety, panic reactions, and unsafe behaviour. Education and harm reduction remain important tools for public safety.

Readers seeking accurate information about harm reduction or therapeutic research should consult reliable resources such as:

Spore Supplies supports safe, legal, and responsible exploration of mycology and does not endorse or supply psilocybin-containing products.

8. Summary:

  • Psilocybin and psilocin are Class A controlled substances under UK law.
  • Spores and non-psychoactive materials are legal to sell and possess for educational or gourmet use.
  • Cultivation or consumption of psilocybin mushrooms remains illegal.
  • Legitimate research is underway, but medical or personal use remains prohibited without Home Office licence.
  • Spore Supplies provides materials for lawful mycological study only.
Back to blog