Mushroom Chocolate Bars: What You Should Know

Taking shrooms and consuming mushroom chocolate bars recreationally has become a big trend in the US. In fact, there are over 30 million individuals a year who take psychedelics. With psychedelics still being illegal in most states, psychedelic products and edibles are unregulated, which heightens the risk for adverse effects when taking them.

That’s why it’s important to stay informed and know the dangers and effects of taking psychedelic edibles. Read on to learn about mushroom chocolate bars, one of the most popular forms of psychedelic edibles in the US. 

What Are Psychedelics?

Psychedelics are a kind of psychoactive substance that can cause changes in mood, perception, and cognitive processes. Also known as hallucinogens, there are different types and they can come in various forms. Common forms of psychedelics are MDMA pills, like molly, or mushrooms. 

Some of the most popular psychedelics are:

• Salvia
• Psilocybin
• Ayahuasca
• DMT
• LSD
• Mescaline
• 2C-B
• NBOMes
• MDMA

Psychedelics can occur naturally—such as in the form of ayahuasca, psilocybin and salvia—or they can be synthetic, like MDMA and 2C-B.

Psychedelics have effects like:

• Increase in body temperature
• Loss of coordination
• Hallucinations 
• Distorted perceptions
• Disorganized thoughts
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Panic
• Euphoria

The Trend of Psychedelic Edibles

Psychedelics have been used for a very long time—some instances dating all the way back to 900 B.C. with the Chavin people of Peru using ayahuasca in cultural ceremonies. 

Fast forward several hundred years and psychedelics became popular for recreational use amongst people in the 1960s and 1970 following the synthesization of LSD in the late 1930s. 

Currently, psychedelics are decriminalized in Oregon and in Colorado. In other states, like California, Alaska, and Maryland, there is pending legislation to decriminalize psychedelics. However, no matter the state and the legality status of psychedelics, people across America are using psychedelics—so much so that there has even been a recent uptick in the consumption of psychedelic edibles. 

Mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, have become an especially popular ingredient in these edibles. Mushrooms are notorious for their terrible taste, and because of it, people have begun to think of ways to make taking these psychedelics more palatable. The result is a variety of mushroom edibles, and one of the most popular of its kinds is the shroom chocolate bar. 

What Are Mushroom Chocolate Bars?

So, what exactly is a magic mushroom chocolate bar? Although its main ingredients are in its name, it can be made with different kinds of hallucinogenic mushrooms and its effects can vary. 

What Are Shroom Bars Made Of?

Shroom bars are a kind of candy made by combining standard chocolate with mushrooms that contain the hallucinogenic psilocybin. They are packaged just like regular chocolate bars and often have a similar appearance.

The kind of mushroom that is used for a shroom chocolate bar varies, but most bars contain a blend of psilocybin mushrooms.  Sometimes, other ingredients are added into the bar for enhanced effects.

How Shroom Chocolate Works

Shroom chocolate works via the interaction of psilocybin in the body. Psilocybin is a psychedelic tryptamine. When ingested, the body works to turn it into psilocin. Psilocin causes the user to be in an altered state, often experiencing euphoria and well-being sometimes accompanied by visual and auditory hallucinations. Psilocin causes users to experience vivid perceptual changes, also known as hallucinations. 

Effects of Taking a Psilocybin Chocolate Bar

When you take a psilocybin chocolate bar, you are highly likely to experience psychedelic and physical effects. Some effects can feel good, like a sense of euphoria, while others can be negative, like a sense of paranoia or anxiety. 

Psychedelic Effects

Common psychedelic effects of taking a magic mushroom chocolate bar include: 

• Seeing colors, shapes, or scenes that aren’t real
• Having an altered sense of time; losing the sense of time and space
• Hearing things that aren’t real
• Mood changes, such as being in a “mystical state” in which an individual may have visions or relive memories
• A sense of loss of personal boundaries and feeling to be one with the universe, also called oceanic self-boundlessness

Physical Effects

Individuals who take mushroom chocolate bars may also experience the following physical effects:

• Headaches
• Drowsiness
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Stomach discomfort and nausea
• Vomiting
• Increased body temperature
• Facial flushing, sweating, and chills
• Fast breathing
• Diarrhea 
• Muscle weakness
• Dry mouth
• Panic
• Paranoia
• Agitation
• Psychosis 
• Seizures
• Coma

Although mushrooms aren’t usually associated with being deadly, high doses could lead to life-threatening conditions, especially if you have a preexisting condition.

Dangers & Risks Associated With Magic Mushroom Chocolate Bars

Magic mushrooms in all forms can still be dangerous and should be consumed with extreme caution because of complications that come with taking them. 

Legality

Psychedelics are nationally illegal, but have been decriminalized in some cities—like Seattle, Santa Cruz, and Ann Arbor—and are legal in the states of Oregon and Colorado. There is  currently pending legislation in California to decriminalize the possession and distribution of psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, DMT, MDMA, and more. 

Potential Medical Issues

Although magic mushrooms are not known to be deadly, they could still cause medical complications. For instance, the altering of body temperature could trigger a medical issue. Mushrooms are also known to cause gastrointestinal agitation, and could irritate the stomach or bowels.

More seriously, magic mushrooms could cause an onset of symptoms like paranoia, delusion, delirium, agitation, and confusion, which are all very similar to the symptoms of schizophrenia. 

Affect on Mental Health

For some individuals, eating a magic mushroom chocolate bar can have detrimental effects on their mental health. This is because shrooms can sometimes cause a condition known as hallucinogenic-persisting perception disorder. This is when people experience flashbacks for years after taking magic mushrooms.

Some people also have bad trips, which can be traumatizing. When you take shrooms or eat a shroom chocolate bar, there is the risk that you will relive bad memories or a past traumatic experience. This could take a toll on your mental health and lead to sadness, anxiety, fear, or despair after the comedown of taking mushrooms. 

However, some studies have shown that psilocybin, the common psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms, can have a positive effect on mental health. Research reports that taking psilocybin in controlled dosages and environments leaves users feeling an overwhelming sense of love, peace, and happiness. Other psychedelic drugs are also being researched for the treatment of depression. 

Addiction

Psilocybin mushrooms are classified as a schedule 1 drug, which means there is the potential for abuse and addiction. However, there is no medication to treat hallucinogenic addiction. Those who are abusing hallucinogens and psychedelics could benefit from a detox program at an addiction treatment facility or rehab center.