For many people, an “obvious” starting point is the internet. While the Silk Road black market is long gone, there has been a gradual increase in vendors selling their wares via the darknet and, more recently, even on social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, and, ironically, Facebook. Along with a variety of psychoactive compounds such as LSD, DMT, and ketamine, shrooms can often be found on these sites. The challenge? Not all of these sites are above-board. This can put you at risk of being scammed financially or being exposed to fraudulent behavior.
Some people try to overcome this challenge by asking a local cannabis dealer for guidance. This may make sense for cannabis, where the grower is often only a couple of degrees of separation from the purchaser. But with mushrooms, this can be a bit harder, because growing mushrooms is a different skill set.
Additionally, while the decision to buy magic mushrooms may seem straightforward, there are many legal consequences that need to be kept in mind. In most countries, psilocybin remains a scheduled substance (Schedule 1 in the United States, Schedule 9 in Australia, and Class A in the UK), which means the cultivation and sale of magic mushrooms is considered illegal. Unless you live somewhere that has decriminalized psilocybin (such as Jamaica, Samoa, and Brazil), being found in possession of psilocybin-containing mushrooms could result in a criminal record.
Given these realities, it may just be easier to grow your own magic mushrooms. Admittedly, the process of cultivating fungi is daunting for many: issues of space, time commitment, and lack of knowledge can all be barriers to entry.
Yet, in principle, growing mushrooms is relatively easy thanks to pioneers such as Oss and Oeric (AKA Terrance and Dennis McKenna), Professor Fanaticus (inventor of the PF Tek), and a fantastic network of experienced growers on Mycotopia and The Shroomery. While most of the necessary components can be purchased at your local supermarket, pharmacy, and hardware store, there are also readily available mushroom grow kits.