Psilocybin mushrooms are going mainstream, but scientific research and regulation lag behind

Psilocybin falls into a regulatory gray zone, with strict limitations around how it can be studied. As a result, very little is known about its health risks, despite its surging popularity.

By: Hollis Karoly, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Kent Hutchison, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 9, 2026

Words: 1,296

Last Updated: 3 months, 3 weeks ago

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By Hollis Karoly, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Kent Hutchison, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Amid a renaissance in the science of psychedelics, public interest in psilocybin – or magic mushrooms, as they’ve long been known – is surging.

One study found that rates of psilocybin use increased 44% among adults ages 18-29 from 2019 to 2023, and 188% among those over age 30. This amounts to more than 5 …

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