The most common way to achieve a trip, or get high from shrooms, is to directly ingest them. Other ways include drinking them in tea or lemon juice. But what happens when you’ve exhausted those options and you fancy trying a different way?
Well, it would appear that you wouldn’t be the first person to look into smoking shrooms. The good news is it is possible. The bad news is whether you’ll think it’s worth it or not!
Can You Smoke Magic Mushrooms?
In short, the answer is yes. Shrooms are smokable but the real question is why you want to smoke them. If you’re looking for the most effective way to have a trip, smoking your shrooms will not be the way forward. If you’re looking to experiment and try something new, then it’s worth giving it a go.
The key reason why the trip won’t be as strong when smoking is due to the main chemical in shrooms which causes people to get high – psilocybin. This is the main component in magic mushrooms which causes all the funky side effects that make people want to eat mushrooms in the first place. Hallucinations, euphoria and increased awareness are just some of the effects of ingesting psilocybin.
Psilocybin degrades under heat, especially in high temperatures which take place when smoking. Therefore, not a whole lot of the chemical will make it into your system. Whatever does make it into your bloodstream will be considerably less than if you directly ingested the shrooms. There is even questionability into how much mushrooms can burn, even if they have been dried. All this leads to the notion that you won’t be getting much from smoking them alone.
However, if you still want to give it a go, it might be worth experimenting with different variations to see which is most effective for you. Smoking with weed will never show the true potency of the shrooms as you won’t be able to determine which substance is giving you a reaction.
What Are The Effects Of Smoking Shrooms Like?
The effects of smoking shrooms are not highly documented, as not many people go as far as needing to try it. When ingesting the shrooms directly, the effects will feel much more potent so it’s understandable why people don’t tend to bother smoking them. That being said, however, there are of course some who have tried it out and let us in their experiences.
One online user claims to have felt a slight trip and change of headspace after smoking weed laced with shrooms. Others claim that no effects come from smoking mushrooms, and that it’s probably a placebo effect, or just the weed having an effect rather than any components that might be left of the psilocybin.
If the effects were similar to ingesting shrooms, but on a lighter version, you may feel increased awareness, relaxed, happy and have a new appreciation for colour, sounds and your environment. This will depend on the types of shrooms you decide to smoke, and external factors such as your environment and mental state at the time of smoking.
Some of the negative effects associated with shrooms are paranoia, anxiety and physical ailments such as excessive sweating and an increased heart rate. This may potentially come through as an effect when smoking shrooms too, especially if they are being mixed with other substances.
Side effects and dangers haven’t widely been recorded, however smoking shrooms comes with its own set of risks. Primarily, the act of smoking itself is what makes it harmful, as the spores from the mushrooms could get stuck in your throat or lungs. Dust residue combined with the spores can also be harmful and not something that is advised to be inhaled. This can lead to irritation, inflammation and you could even risk developing a chest infection.
Compared to eating or drinking shrooms, the risks are much higher if they are smoked.
How Do You Smoke Shrooms?
Now that you are aware of the effects and possible outcomes, the final step, the actual art of smoking shrooms, is a no brainer. Crush or grind the mushrooms, mix with your prefered choice of tobacco or weed (if you’re looking for an extra kick) and roll with paper. Seal it and smoke it.
The shrooms must be dried in order for any effect to possibly come through, as raw/fresh shrooms will hold too much moisture and trying to smoke them will probably be a bit of a disaster. Also, if the shrooms don’t burn, you might find small bits of them flying in as you inhale, so you may have to experiment with different methods before getting it right.
Be aware if you’re mixing substances, such as smoking with weed or other drugs, the effects will be unpredictable and may cause reactions that wouldn’t normally occur when ingesting shrooms. It’s always advisable to take shrooms with a trusted friend and in an environment where you feel comfortable and safe.
Some people might orally ingest shrooms whilst also smoking them, as a way of ensuring they experience a trip, however this is down to personal preference and there is not much proof to suggest that it increases the experience.
If you’re a regular weed smoker, you may consider trying to smoke shrooms using a bong. However, as mentioned above, the temperature at which psilocybin breaks down and becomes less potent means using a bong wouldn’t make the trip any stronger.
In summary, shrooms have been used by people for thousands of years as a way of spiritually connecting themselves to the world. Gaining meaning insights into some of the unanswered questions about life, and feeling in touch with those around them has long been the reason why so many people experiment with magic mushrooms.
Whether you choose to stick to conventional methods or you plan to experiment by smoking, it is important to know the facts beforehand and make the right decision that suits you.