Are psychedelics legal in the United Kingdom?. The UK is one of the strictest countries in the world when it comes to psychedelics. Nevertheless, psychedelic use remains widespread and widely available.
This article will teach you about the legality of magic mushrooms, LSD, ketamine, and MDMA in the UK, and more.
Summary of Psychedelic Drug Laws in the United Kingdom
- Punishments are linked to the class of drug and whether sentencing is through a Magistrate’s Court or a Crown Court.
- Class A substances carry a fine or up to 7 years in prison; Class B substances carry a fine or up to 5 years in prison; Class C substances carry a fine or up to 2 years in prison.
United Kingdom: Drug & Penalties Chart
| Class | Substance | Psychedelics | PenaltiesSentencing through Magistrate’s Court/Crown Court |
| A | Cocaine, methadone, morphine, heroin | MDMA, LSD | Up to 6 months &/or a fine/ Up to 7 years &/or a fine |
| B | Cannabis, codeine, some amphetamines, mephedrone, synthetic cannabinoids | Up to 3 months &/or a fine/ Up to 5 years &/or a fine | |
| C | Amphetamines, benzos, buprenorphine, GHB, anabolic steroids, BZP | Up to 3 months &/or a fine/ Up to 2 years &/or a fine |
Sources:
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
- Misuse of Drug Regulations
- IMPORT, EXPORT, STORAGE, AND DISTRIBUTION OF CONTROLLED DRUGS – REGULATIONS IN UK, FRANCE, AND GERMANY Wissenschaftliche Prüfungsarbeit
Are Magic Mushrooms Legal In The UK?
Since 1971, magic mushrooms have been illegal in the UK. Before this, people used magic mushrooms as an alternative to LSD, which was banned even earlier, in 1967.
UK law defines this psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) as a Class A drug. This classification denies psilocybin has any medicinal value and suggests it to be a highly addictive and dangerous drug.
There’s no evidence to support this distinction. More and more studies are released each year, adding concrete evidence for the safety and therapeutic benefits of this substance. It’s unlikely magic mushrooms will remain a Class A drug in the UK for much longer.
The maximum penalties for possessing this substance are not as harsh as in other European countries. If caught with hallucinogenic mushrooms, your sentence can be up to 7 years imprisonment.
Related: Where are magic mushrooms legal?
Do Magic Mushrooms Grow Wild in The United Kingdom?
Magic mushrooms grow in many parts of the world, and the UK is no exception. London’s forests are home to more than 80 individual species of magic mushrooms. Picking them is accepted, but selling them is illegal.
When it comes to magic mushrooms, the most common species is the liberty cap (Psilocybe semilanceata).
You can find other species, such as the fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria).
Related: Where Do Shrooms Grow? How to Find Magic Mushrooms in the Wild.
What Are the Medicinal Uses of Shrooms?
In recent years, psilocybin research has been expanding, and there’s mounting evidence favoring therapeutic use.
A study from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine shows that psilocybin may help treat clinical depression.
Other studies support the effects of magic mushrooms for existential anxiety (used in palliative care), addiction and substance abuse, and cluster headaches.
Psilocybin mushrooms are also being explored for their use in trauma-informed therapy and their capability to promote problem-solving skills and boost creativity.