Mushrooms are everywhere in California—literally and figuratively. Some are edible, some are psychoactive, some are toxic. And in the case of Amanita muscaria mushrooms, they can be all three.
You may not yet have heard of Amanita muscaria, also called “fly agaric,” but you certainly have seen images of it. The orange-, yellow- or red-capped mushroom with white spots is in everything from “Alice in Wonderland” to Super Mario video games. In our recent report on the use of psychedelics for the Rand Corp. think tank, we estimated that about 3.5 million American adults used Amanita muscaria in 2025, compared with 11 million who reported using psychoactive psilocybin mushrooms.
Psilocybin mushrooms and Amanita muscaria are not the same. Given the growing popularity of so-called “magic” mushrooms for recreational and therapeutic use, as well as possible confusion between these different mushrooms, policymakers and health officials should not ignore health concerns related to Amanita muscaria.
This is especially true because of the media attention psilocybin has received. Emerging clinical research has shown promise in using psilocybin for treating a variety of mental health ailments. Yet despite growing public interest, psilocybin has not been approved as a medicine by the Food and Drug Administration and remains illegal under federal law. Federal prohibition has not stopped some states and localities from moving ahead. In addition to three states legalizing supervised psilocybin use, more than 30 cities and counties have “deprioritized” the enforcement of certain offenses related to psychedelics, including psilocybin.
Oakland was an early mover in this space. In 2019, the City Council passed a resolution making the investigation and arrest of adults “for planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, engaging in practices with, and/or possessing” psilocybin mushrooms and other naturally occurring psychedelics one of the lowest priorities for local law enforcement.
But not all psychedelic mushrooms are the same.
Unlike the vast majority (PDF) of mushrooms containing psilocybin, Amanita muscaria can be quite toxic. If not properly prepared, effects can include nausea and vomiting, with more severe cases involving seizures, coma and, in extremely rare instances, death.
Most people who use Amanita muscaria do not run into problems, but a recent international review highlighted some troubling anecdotes. In one case report, an older couple was rushed to the hospital after consuming Amanita muscaria. They both went into severe comas, and one had a seizure, in addition to other serious symptoms. Thankfully, after intensive medical treatment, each made a full recovery.
The main active compound in Amanita muscaria is muscimol, which acts primarily on neurotransmitters in the brain. The most common self-reported effects are an intoxicated feeling similar to alcohol, sleepiness (sometimes with altered dreams) and relaxation. Others report that it can help reduce substance use or alleviate anxiety, but no clinical trials have confirmed these health claims.
The mushroom is not hard to find.
Amanita muscaria grows in many parts of the country. The California State Parks Foundation website even features a picture of it growing in Salt Point State Park in Sonoma County. It is also sold in unregulated gummies, chocolates and other products.
And, yes, people report using it to microdose, too.
Amanita muscaria is not illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act. And only one state, Louisiana, prohibits it. A 2024 assessment by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (PDF) found that it is not safe to eat or add to food, but minimal action has been taken to get these products out of brick-and-mortar and online shops.
Given its risk profile and legal status, there are concerns about unregulated products advertising with images of Amanita muscaria or claims that they contain it. These products may contain Amanita muscaria, or they may not. They may also contain a mix of other unregulated intoxicants that can be harmful. A 2026 review from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified 180 cases of severe illness in 34 states associated with eating mushroom-containing products, including some that contained compounds from Amanita muscaria and psilocybin mushrooms along with other substances. The California Department of Public Health has also raised concerns about the substances that are in widely available mushroom products.
State and federal policymakers have many options when it comes to Amanita muscaria and products claiming to contain it, and each has unique costs and benefits.
For example, prohibition is an option, although enforcing the law against those foraging for mushrooms would be difficult. Jurisdictions could also allow adults to grow and possess Amanita muscaria but prohibit retail sales, as Colorado has done with psilocybin mushrooms and some other nature-based psychedelics. If states decide to regulate production and sales, they’ll confront many decisions around child-proof packaging requirements, product testing, marketing restrictions, taxes and how these products can be sold.
Regardless of any legal or regulatory changes, the popularity and accessibility of Amanita muscaria suggests public health agencies should step up education campaigns that highlight their specific risks.
Not all mind-altering mushrooms are the same. In the current environment, consumers need to know that what they are buying is unregulated and may contain other harmful products.
Although Amanita muscaria isn’t as popular as psilocybin, it’s time for policy and public health conversations to include the other magic mushroom.
– Michelle Priest is a research project specialist at RAND, focusing on psychedelics and mental health policy. Beau Kilmer is codirector of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center and a senior policy researcher. Published courtesy of RAND.