Psychedelics have been used for thousands of years in religious and spiritual practices, but they were studied scientifically for the first time in the 1950s. Despite the fact that they were prohibited in the 1960s, a shift is starting to take place.

Numerous states now allow psychedelic research, and psychedelic-assisted therapy for depression and various other health issue will most likely become legal in the near future.

Interestingly, psychedelics are permitted in some countries and prohibited in others. Thus, there has been a resurgence of interest in their therapeutic advantages in recent years.

Keep reading to learn more about which countries have legal psychedelics.

Countries Where Psychedelics Are Legal

Here’s a brief overview of the countries where psychedelics are legal.

Jamaica

The Jamaican magic-mushroom retreats are getting more and more popular among tourists looking for a safe and beautiful environment in which to try magic mushrooms. In Jamaica, psychedelic mushrooms may be lawfully cultivated and sold, allowing participants at retreats to take them.

The retreats have resulted in many people feeling entirely changed, with most reporting that they had been able to get rid of their depression.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, so-called ‘magic truffles’ are legal. Truffles don’t fit the definition of mushrooms since they’re made from mycelial threads dug up underground. You may still buy ‘magical truffles’ in specialty shops throughout the country today.

People who took truffles said that they were less intense than mushrooms. This might be the case because truffles are available in a specific amount, So individuals consume less psilocybin compared to consuming mushrooms.

Nepal

Mushrooms containing psilocybin are legal to possess, sell, trade, or consume in Nepal. People who illegally produce, transport, or distribute the mushrooms may be fined using administrative sanctions. However, because these mushrooms grow naturally in Nepal’s forests, enforcing mushroom laws is difficult.

Brazil

Ayahuasca is legal in Brazil. In 1992, after a court battle between the União do Vegetal, a Brazilian religious society, and the government, ayahuasca was legalized. The state discovered that members of the church who took ayahuasca were more productive in their communities than other individuals

On its own, psilocybin is a prohibited drug. Psychedelic mushrooms that include the chemical are, however, legal. In Brazil, there have been no reports of anyone being penalized for growing, possessing, or eating magic mushrooms.

The United States

In 2020, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize psilocybin while simultaneously allowing it for medical purposes. Psilocybin mushrooms were also decriminalized in Denver, CO; Oakland and Santa Cruz, CA; Somerville and Cambridge, MA; Ann Arbor, MI; and Washington DC.

Peyote cactus is used by Native Americans for spiritual and religious purposes as well. Following a lengthy legal dispute, Native Americans argued that any restriction on illicit drugs would infringe on their freedom of religion.

Canada

Psilocybin may be used in palliative care and for those suffering from severe depression under a special exemption provided by law, as long as it is done so with caution. Psychedelic mushrooms are still considered to be illegal outside of the treatment setting. In Canada, another psychedelic-related drug called Ketamine has been authorized for mental health.

Bahamas

Although psilocybin and psilocin are prohibited under the UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs, mushrooms are completely legal in the Bahamas.

Samoa

In Samoa, psilocybin mushrooms are found in the wild and are known as “Pulouaitu.” They are not illegal by national law.

Closing Thoughts

Psychedelics are still illegal in many parts of the world, but research on their therapeutic benefits continues to grow. As attitudes change and more countries legalize these substances, it’s likely that the number of places where they are available will also increase! Not only will this reduce our need on branded and generic medicines, but it will also help the global community as a whole.