US Vets and Others May Get Legal Access To Old World Magic Mushrooms

It has often been said that nature’s ancient medicine cabinet holds everything required for humans to reach and maintain a state of homeostasis. Following this timeworn rule US veterans are now using psychedelic magic mushrooms to relieve the trauma of deeply distressing and disturbing experiences.

Republican state Rep. Tracy Pennycuick of Montgomery County is an army veteran who suffers post-traumatic stress disorder, and she has spearheaded the magic mushroom law changes proposed for Pennsylvania right now! (Pennsylvania House of Representatives)

Changing Psychedelics Laws To Promote Magic Mushrooms

All over the modern world universities and medical institutions are turning to the holistic practices of ancient cultures, by focusing their research towards the uses of psychedelics, including magic mushrooms, in treating traumatic mental health disorders. This story is about a gang of elected officials and advocates in Pennsylvania, USA, who are driving a new bill aiming at the further exploration of how powerful mind altering drugs, that were used in past cultures, can be used to treat mental health conditions.

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A recent WESA health science article explains that Republican state Rep. Tracy Pennycuick of Montgomery County is an army veteran who suffers post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Last year Pennycuick explored the potentially positive effects that psychedelic use was having on her fellow veterans, and she saw this as “an opportunity” that she thought might be groundbreaking. Pennycuick’s passion for psychedelics research into hallucinogenic cures for mental health illnesses has led to House Bill 1959, appealing for the Department of Health to oversee at least two psilocybin mushroom farms in the state of Pennsylvania producing controlled crops of magic mushrooms for clinical studies.

The “life changing” story of Mr. Elido Francisco Jr, a social worker in a behavioral health hospital, in Reading, Pennsylvania, rested on his “controlled” experiences with magic mushrooms and ayahuasca. (Anthony Orozco | WITF / WESA)

Magic Mushrooms Provide Chance to Walk Back To Happiness

The WESA article recounts the “life changing” story of Mr. Elido Francisco Jr, a social worker in a behavioral health hospital, in Reading, Pennsylvania. Using psychedelics “changed his perspective on his childhood trauma and his life,” claims Francisco. He says he was guided through his “transformational” life experience by trained professionals through two nights of shamanic group therapy. Francisco says his intense visuals and sensations were caused by a compound found in the South American psychedelic brew, ayahuasca, and in psilocybin magic mushrooms.

He is referring here to N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) an entheogen that occurs in many plants and animals which is used by various cultures for ritual purposes. All over the ancient world, cultures consumed psychoactive substances and ritual enemas to induce states of trance. Northern Celts and Vikings in Europe favored psilocybin, which is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by more than 200 species of fungi. However, Olmec, Maya and Aztec peoples all consumed hallucinogenic peyote mushrooms ( teonanacatl) and the seeds of ololiuhqui (Turbina corymbosa), which contain a mixture of mescaline, psilocybin, and lysergic acid amide, respectively.

Therefore, the modern quest into psychedelics is not so much about learning how these substances might help human health, but to relearn and to rediscover their positive applications.

The famous mushroom stones of Latin America, many of which were destroyed by Catholic missionaries, attest to the powers and meaning of magic mushrooms, which in this case were teonanacatl peyote mushrooms. (U.S. Forest Service)

Case Studies Say ‘Wow’

Through “tears, brief moments of frustration and in-the-moment realizations,” Francisco said when trying the mushrooms, he “felt so much relief from everything that I’ve been holding…it was just like, wow.”

However, often following wow moments, mushrooms users often report experiencing waves of contrary emotions. This happened to Francisco whose sensations of “mystical wonder and otherworldly peace” were challenged by “immense anger” that ended causing him to break into tears. However, this was no ordinary emotional outburst. Under the influence of psychedelics he felt, “I was outside of my body looking at myself being empathetic.” He told himself, “It’s okay, let it go.”

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If Francisco’s report is anything to go by perhaps everyone should be on magic mushrooms? He said, “a lot of us males need to heal, not through savagery, but through tears and hugs and love.” The abuse and neglect Francisco experienced as a child might have manifested “in harmful ways,” he said, but the transformative psychedelic treatment has made him “more compassionate and helped him empathize with himself and others.”

If the Pennsylvania state legislature votes for magic mushrooms as a medical treatment for trauma and other issues it will surely become increasingly common and accepted as good medicine elsewhere. (Martina / Adobe Stock)

It’s Just A Waiting Game Now

Pennycuick said America owes its veterans a commitment to discovering new and innovative treatments for PTSD. She added that psychedelic magic mushrooms are “a huge industry in the commonwealth” and that her new bill prioritizes studies that focus on psychedelic treatments for veterans, retired first responders, and their families.

So far, more than 20 co-sponsors have supported the new bill, and it currently awaits the House Health committee to make a House vote, which is expected to happen within the next two months.

Top image: Psilocybin magic mushrooms are being voted on in the Pennsylvania state legislature as a way to treat stress, trauma and more. Source: Iarygin Andrii / Adobe Stock

By Ashley Cowie