alp with mind

‘help with mental illnesses

compound in magic mushrooms.

Kroeger senses society shifting in
favour of legalizing psychedelic mush-
rooms and exploring their medicinal
potential.

He sees potential in recent studies.

“For serious treatment of Post Trau-
matic Stress Disorder, for coming to
terms with end of life issues, I think
there’s great validity,” he said.

The Johns Hopkins Center for
Psychedelic & Consciousness Research
in Baltimore, United States, have
published 64 peer-reviewed studies
over the past 13 years on psilocybin
and their effects on humans.

In one such study from 2016, titled
Long-term Follow-up of Psilocybin-facil-
itated Smoking Cessation, researchers
found that psilocybin, when adminis-
tered in a structured treatment plan,

effectively helped the majority of
participants to curb their addiction.

After a year, 67 per cent of the partic-
ipants had not resumed smoking.

‘The researchers concluded psilocybin
was more effective for smoking cessa-
tion than other medications and thera-
peutic methods.

In September, Vancouver city coun-
cil discussed a proposal to investigate
the distribution and sale of psilocybin,
according to their meeting minutes.

Thirteen speakers attended to
defend the natural psychedelic and
the proposal was ultimately rejected.

Counsellor Pete Fry said: “I don’t
think this motion is helpful at all.
I think it imparts far too much
stigma and sets us off on a bias that
is not helpful to having a fulsome
conversation.”

Studies in Psilocybin

Research tells how body reacts to chemical compound

silocybin is the chemical compound responsible
for the hallucinogenic effects of magic mush-

rooms, and has a powerful effect on the brain.
DrugScience is a U.K.-based drugs advisory commit-
tee that reviews scientific evidence related to drugs.
Their website says research is still ongoing regarding

how psilocybin affects brain
chemistry, but scientists
understand psilocybin has a
similar structure to serotonin.
Serotonin is a chemical that
has numerous roles in brain
and body function. Accord-
ing to DrugScience, “Binding
and activation of serotonin
receptor sites correlate with
the manifestation of psyche-
delic effects.”

Langara biology instructor Ji Yang said, “when you

SUBMITTED PHOTO

mushrooms with hallucinogenic properties, psilocybe is
the most widely known.

According to the Vancouver Mycological Society
website, ingesting mushrooms containing psilocybin
can take anywhere from 10-30 minutes to take effect
after being eaten depending on the dose.

While VMS vice
president Mendel
Skulski believes the
area of research into
magic mushrooms’
medicinal properties
is valuable, he doesn’t

“First thing that
comes to mind is
psilocybe.”

-JIYANG
LANGARA COLLEGE BIOLOGY believe everyone should
DEPARTMENT CHAR use them. “There are

certain mental health
issues that are some-

times exacerbated by magic mushrooms,” he said.
“It’s really important to be cautious, and important to

say magic mushrooms, the first thing that comes to my __ go into such experiences with a not insignificant degree

mind is psilocybe.” Although there are other types of

of preparation.”

STORIES BY KRISTEN HOLLIDAY