Psilocybin around the world: where are magic mushrooms legal?

international

February 16, 2024

The cannabis legalization movement is international, and the same goes for psychedelics. Much like where marijuana is legal in the U.S., psychedelics, and more specifically magic mushrooms, are legal in various degrees across the globe. While legalization is rare, many countries have decriminalized small amounts of drugs, including psilocybin. Countries have decriminalized personal possession or fully legalized the compounds–but neither ensures a tourism sector.

In some of these locations, tourists are welcome to have a guided trip experience, but others might require some local know-how. Some countries have fines for possession and harsh trafficking laws. Don’t experiment with psychedelics abroad without in-depth knowledge of the area.

That said, these are the countries where psilocybin is legal or decriminalized.

Countries where psilocybin mushrooms are legal

Bahamas

Drug policy in the Bahamas is dictated by the Dangerous Drugs Act, which was established in 2000. The document covers opium, coca leaves, cocaine, morphine, amphetamines, LSD, and its analogs–but no mention of psilocybin or psilocin.

This has led to news that personal cultivation and consumption are allowed on the islands. However, the Bahamas signed the 1971 UN Convention on Drugs, which includes psilocybin. Perhaps to stay good on the 1971 promise, no sale or export is allowed.

Brazil

Psilocybin is listed as a Class F2 by the Brazilian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act alongside LSD, DMT, 2C-E, and other psychedelic compounds. F2 controlled goods are considered “Prohibited psychotropics” whose use is only permitted in authorized scientific research.

Croatia

Croatia’s Law on the Combat of Drug Use was established in 2001. It defines psychotropic substances as narcotics. However, in 2012, small quantities of all drugs were decriminalized for personal use in the Balkan country.

Czech Republic

Much like Croatia, the Czech Republic doesn’t consider personal drug use an offense. Under the Act of Violations, possession of small amounts is punishable by a CZK 15,000, equating to almost $600. Holding a “greater than small” amount at once is punishable by one to two years in prison.

Jamaica

Magic mushrooms aren’t prohibited in Jamaica as psilocybin isn’t listed in the Dangerous Drugs Act. In the last few years, the island has become a leader in the psilocybin business, encouraging investment and allowing trip experiences like the Atman retreat.

Nepal

Psilocybin is absent from the list of narcotic substances in the Nepal Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act. However, language in the bill leaves space for the government to specify other psychotropic compounds as narcotics. That said, there aren’t laws against consuming psilocybin in the South Asian locale.

Netherlands

Magic mushrooms are illegal in the Netherlands and sometimes looked down on in Dutch culture. However, magic truffles are legal and often found in tourist hotspot coffeeshops. Though they aren’t the classic dried magic mushroom strains, truffles contain psilocybin, psilocin, and baeocystin, creating a similar trip.

Portugal

The European country of Portugal decriminalized drug use and possession in 2001, and that includes psilocybin. Mushroom culture hasn’t become international news, but locals know where to find it.

Uruguay

Uruguay was the first country to legalize cannabis. In 2013, the country decriminalized all drug consumption. However, there isn’t tourism or trade in place. Much like Portugal, despite widespread decriminalization, Uruguay hasn’t developed an international notoriety around magic mushrooms.

Where in the world are magic mushrooms legal?

There aren’t a lot of countries where psilocybin is fully legal, decriminalization is more common. Brazil has the most progressive drug laws, but Jamaica seems to be the country to watch when it comes to developing psilocybin tourism. Those traveling in decriminalized locations might need to tap into local culture for a chance to trip abroad.

Despite what the laws say, be smart with psilocybin, especially when traveling in a new country. Safety first, psychedelics second.

Cara Wietstock Cara Wietstock is senior content producer of GreenState.com and has been working in the cannabis space since 2011. She has covered the cannabis business beat for Ganjapreneur and The Spokesman Review. You can find her living in Bellingham, Washington with her husband, son, and a small zoo of pets.