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Many people wonder if you can smoke magic mushrooms or “shrooms.” The short answer is no. While you can light a dried mushroom and inhale it, this method doesn’t work to create psychedelic effects and can be harmful to your health. In fact, the science behind psilocybin, the compound that makes magic mushrooms “magic”, explains exactly why smoking them is both unsafe and ineffective.
Magic mushrooms contain two main active compounds: psilocybin and psilocin. These are the chemicals that interact with your brain and cause psychedelic experiences. The problem is that both of these compounds are very sensitive to heat.
When you smoke something, the temperature can reach between 600°C and 900°C (over 1,000°F). Psilocybin, however, begins to break down at around 180°C (356°F). That means when a mushroom is burned, the psilocybin is destroyed before it can enter your bloodstream. Even if some survived the heat, the lungs are not good at absorbing it. Psilocybin works by being digested and processed by your liver, not by being inhaled.
So, if someone tries to smoke magic mushrooms, almost none of the active ingredient makes it into their system. The result is usually no psychedelic effect at all, just lung irritation and wasted mushrooms.
Smoking mushrooms is not only ineffective but can also be dangerous.
Mushrooms are fungi, not plants. Their cell walls contain a tough material called chitin, the same substance found in insect shells. When burned, chitin doesn’t turn into clean smoke. It releases harsh, toxic particles that can irritate your lungs. Breathing this in can cause coughing, chest pain, or even long-term damage.
Some dried mushrooms carry mold spores. Inhaling these spores can lead to lung infections or inflammation, especially for people with asthma or weakened immune systems.
Because the psilocybin is mostly destroyed by heat, some people may try smoking larger amounts, thinking it “isn’t working.” If any psilocybin does survive, it can lead to unexpected or overwhelming experiences, sometimes called “bad trips.” These can include confusion, fear, or intense anxiety.
Even when taken the proper way, psilocybin can cause side effects such as nausea, increased heart rate, sweating, and changes in blood pressure. It can also cause strong emotional reactions. In rare cases, it can make symptoms worse for people who have certain mental health conditions like depression or psychosis. For this reason, scientists are still studying psilocybin under strict medical supervision in controlled clinical trials.
Throughout history, people have used magic mushrooms orally, never by smoking them. In ancient cultures, such as among the Aztec and Maya, mushrooms were eaten or brewed into tea during religious and healing ceremonies.
In modern times, researchers studying psilocybin use similar oral methods in clinical settings. These include:
All these methods rely on the body’s digestive process to convert psilocybin into psilocin, the active form that interacts with the brain. None of them involves heat high enough to destroy the compounds.
Magic mushrooms are illegal under federal law in both the United States and Canada. They are classified as controlled substances, which means growing, selling, or possessing them without authorization is against the law. Only specific clinical trials or medical exemptions approved by government agencies can legally use psilocybin.
Even in places like Oregon or Colorado, where limited supervised programs exist, smoking or recreational use of psilocybin is still illegal. Laws can change often, so it’s important to always check the rules where you live and never attempt to use or make these substances on your own.
While it’s technically possible to smoke magic mushrooms, it’s a bad idea. The heat destroys the active ingredients, and inhaling burnt fungal material can harm your lungs. There’s no real benefit and plenty of risk.
If you ever come across discussions about psilocybin, focus on science, safety, and legality. Researchers are still learning how psilocybin might help people in controlled medical environments, but that’s very different from recreational use. Until laws change and more is known, the safest choice is to stay informed and avoid risky methods like smoking.
