ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Multiple cases of magic mushrooms are popping up across Georgia.
Police said they’re working to get mushrooms containing a hallucinogenic off the streets.
However, some Georgia researchers said the drug could actually have some benefits.
“We have definitely seen a huge uptick in the last couple of months,” Clayton County Police Department Major Francisco Romero said.
Atlanta News First followed the seeds of information provided by law enforcement over the last several months and found illegal magic mushrooms are a growing trend.
”This year we are only in the fourth month and we’ve already had about 12 cases,” South Fulton Police Department Captain of Narcotics and Gang Unit Adrian Massey said.
Police departments all over the metro are seizing large amounts of magic mushrooms containing the hallucinogenic psilocybin.
”It seems to be kind of the drug of choice among the youth,” Major Romero said.
Captain Massey is also seeing the same growth.
”What we’re starting to see is not just the regular mushrooms, we’re starting to see edibles, candy bars, and anything that can be consumed. The street value of 3.5 grams is going for 40 dollars,” Captain Massey said.
Possessing magic mushrooms containing psilocybin in Georgia is a felony with prison time ranging from one to 15 years.
Psilocybin is a Schedule I narcotic. In the eyes of the law it has no medical benefits and is highly addictive, and dangerous. However, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy Associate Professor Joshua Cabellero has a broader view.”There seems to be a beneficial affect that it can improve symptoms of depression,” Cabellero said.
Cabellero analyzed six studies showing the effects of psilocybin in more than 500 adults. When taken in small doses of 10 to 25 milligrams in a controlled environment with a therapist, symptoms of depression decreased, according to Cabellero.
However, he said the bottom line is more research needs to be done.
Some had side effects like nausea, anxiety, and elevated blood pressure.
Cabellero said younger people may also be at risk for suicidal thoughts.
”Even though it may be rare, we’re still studying that,” Cabellero said.
It’s important to note that we are not talking about the mushrooms that you would get at the grocery store, on your pizza or a trendy mushroom coffee.
Police said that if you are getting mushrooms by a shady means you have been warned.
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Multiple Georgia police departments see influx of magical mushrooms – Atlanta News First
