Amateur Microscopy:

MUSHROOMS,
PSILOCYBIN,
AND

YOU.
Presented by [Link]
AMATEUR MICROSCOPY MUSHROOMS, PSILOCYBIN, AND YOU.

Presented by [Link]

WHY ARE SPORES IN THIS REPORT, YOU'LL LEARN...

GREAT SUBJECTS?
WHY SPORES ARE GREAT
Have you ever wanted to explore a SUBJECTS FOR AMATEUR
MICROSCOPY
completely different world?
HOW TO HANDLE SPORE
SYRINGES
Your microscope is one of the best ways to "MAGIC" MUSHROOM LEGALITY
do exactly that! It’s a portal to the hidden THE BENEFITS OF PSILOCYBIN
world that’s all around us—the world of the THE SHARED HISTORY BETWEEN
HUMANS AND MUSHROOMS
very small.
WHERE TO ORDER MUSHROOM
SPORES ONLINE
Amateur microscopy is a wonderful way to

pique the interest of any home scientist, both

young and old. Since research-grade

microscopes can be acquired for such little

cost, and to use them effectively requires no

formal training or previous experience, this

hobby has a very low barrier of entry.

The things you can study under a microscope

are all around you: plants, insects, rocks,

minerals, and so much more.

Having said that, among the most popular

subjects for the amateur microscopist to

study are mushroom spores. Spores are

fascinating to research and catalog, and

come in a practically endless amount of

diversity. The identification of mushroom

spores requires the observer to understand

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their unique characteristics, including colors,

textures, patterns, and shapes, and being

HOW TO PROPERLY
able to spot these things will develop the

student’s microscopy skills in a real and

HANDLE A SPORE
tangible way.
SYRINGE TO AVOID
Studying mushroom spores is also an CONTAMINATION
invaluable learning resource for amateur and

professional mycologists. If a student wishes Before study can begin, the amateur

to better understand how fungi propagate microscopist must learn how to avoid

themselves or to identify the kind of contamination or damage by handling his or

mushroom a spore could someday become, her spore syringes properly.

microscopic research is fundamental.

A single syringe can contain millions of

One could even make a compelling argument mushroom spores, which are usually

that studying mushroom spores would provide suspended in a sterile solution. Typically,

unique insights for historians, since as we’ll syringes are stored in a cool environment.

learn later in this report, humans and Refrigeration isn’t usually necessary,

mushrooms have a long and storied history, especially if you plan on studying your spores

extending many millennia into the past. right away. Just make sure to keep your spore

syringes away from excessive heat and light.

Until they’re ready to be placed under a If your spores have been refrigerated, leaving

microscope and studied, mushrooms spores them out for up to 12 hours before study will

are kept in syringes. Spore syringes for make them easier to handle.

research are easy enough to come by, and

aren’t terribly expensive. Once you’re done When working with a spore syringe, make sure

reading, visit [Link] and begin that the area where your research will take

your trip to another world—a microscopic place is clean. Disinfecting one’s hands or

world, that is! wearing sterile gloves while handling the

spores will reduce the chances of

contamination.

"Spores are
fascinating to Spore syringes are usually sealed with a

special kind of cap called a Luer lock.

research and Whenever you remove this cap, make sure

catalog, and come that your syringe is pointing upward. Unscrew

in a practically
the cap and attach a sterile needle to the

syringe. Your spores are now ready to place

endless amount of on a microscope slide.

diversity." Make sure that your slides are clean. When

you’re ready to prepare a sample, shake the

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syringe gently and add a single drop of the

spore solution to the slide. Cover the slide

and place it under the microscope—you’re

ready to study!

As mentioned previously, mushroom spores

are so popular as subjects because they’re

available in such great variety. However,

some researchers may be concerned about

the legality of certain kinds of mushroom

spores where they live. As you might know,

mushrooms containing psilocybin or psilocin

are illegal to possess in the United States and

other countries.

In the next section, we’ll take a closer look at or psilocin (the psychedelic components of

whether or not you can study these kinds of magic mushrooms) are considered Schedule I

mushroom spores depending on where you controlled substances in the United States

live. The good news is that if you don’t live in and are thus illegal to possess, use, distribute,

California, Idaho, or Georgia, it’s probably transport, or cultivate.

legal to research psilocybin mushroom spores.

But what about spores? Since psilocybe

ARE “MAGIC”
cubensis mushroom spores don’t contain

psilocybin or psilocin, or any controlled

MUSHROOM substances, they’re legal in most parts of the

country to buy and sell, possess, study, and so

SPORES LEGAL IN on.

THE UNITED However—and that’s a real big however—what

STATES?
is illegal in the United States is the cultivation

of these kinds of spores, because they can

mature into magic mushrooms, which are

As with so many things concerning the law, illegal in most areas. Quality Spores provides

the best answer here is “it depends.” spores to researchers who intend to use them

for microscopic research and identification

With that in mind, you’ll be pleased to know purposes only, and we do not have or provide

that at the time of this writing it is completely any form of cultivation instructions

legal to sell, purchase, and/or possess so- whatsoever.

called “magic” mushroom spores in the United

States, except in the states of California, Many amateur and professional mycologists

Idaho, and Georgia. are hopeful that eventually these laws may

change. As more and more people discover

Cultivated mushrooms containing psilocybin the benefits of psilocybin mushrooms, activist

[Link]
groups—including scientists, medical Interestingly, a Global Drug Survey found that

professionals, and religious leaders—are “magic mushrooms” are the safest of all drugs

spearheading the way to decriminalization. used for recreational purposes, as reported

by The Guardian in 2017.

For example, The possession of psilocybin

mushrooms by adults has been decriminalized An important area of research into the

in the cities of Denver, Colorado and benefit of psilocybin is how it has the

Oakland, California. These milestones may potential to help common mood disorders

lead to a future where the benefits of found in late-stage cancer patients. In other

psilocybin can be realized by a greater words, people who are struggling with facing

portion of the society. Let’s discuss those their own mortality—studies have found that

benefits in a bit more detail in the next psilocybin may substantially reduce feelings

section. of depression or anxiety for end-of-life

WHAT IS
patients. In one study, the result lead to

dramatically improved optimism, mood, and

PSILOCYBIN, AND
overall quality of life for these patients.

DOES IT HAVE ANY Unfortunately, at the time of this writing,

there isn’t any definite indication that the FDA

BENEFITS? will approve the use of psilocybin for the

purposes discussed here. Furthermore, some

The topic of psilocybin and its potential as a experts believe that complete and

highly beneficial medicine is, to say the least, widespread decriminalization of “magic

extensive. It’s something we talk about at mushrooms” or psilocybin is unlikely,

length on our website, so please feel particularly outside of controlled therapeutic

encouraged to visit [Link] to settings.

learn more about the status of professional

research in this area. Consider this section of Only time will tell. But one may note that the

Amateur Microscopy: Mushrooms, Psilocybin, benefits of other mushrooms are widely

and YOU to be a brief primer on the topic recognized to the point that even casual

only. observers in the mainstream are likely to

recognize varieties like cordyceps, maitake,

While at the time of this writing psilocybin reishi, or turkey tails.

advocates haven’t received FDA approval for

anything yet, research has indicated that Psilocybin advocates would simply like to look

psilocybin has the potential to treat a broad past outdated social stigmas associated with

range of disorders, including psychiatric and psilocybe cubensis so that these beneficial

behavioral disorders like depression, anxiety, mushrooms can join their counterparts as

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), severe widely accepted treatments for common

headaches, and even addiction to drugs disorders.

which are actually harmful, such as alcohol or

cigarettes. After all, mushrooms have been an important

part of human society for a very long time...

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HUMANS AND
PSILOCYBIN
MUSHROOMS HAVE
A LONG AND
FASCINATING
SHARED HISTORY
Researching mushroom spores can be a

wonderful way to get a “closer” look at the

ancient relationship shared between humans

and mushrooms.

The first thing to understand is that historians

don’t really know when humans first started

consuming psilocybin mushrooms, but some

estimate that it could have been as far back

as 11,000 years ago.

But could it have been even earlier than that?

What about a lot earlier than that?

The late ethnobotanist and author Terence

McKenna’s famous “Stoned Ape Theory”

proposes that the ancestors of humanity

(Homo erectus) may have been consuming

psilocybe cubensis mushrooms to such an

extent that the effects of psilocybin sparked

an evolutionary leap into the humans that we

are today (Homo sapiens).

Regardless, in times much closer to our own,

we know that prehistoric peoples were likely

consuming magic mushrooms. There are many

indications, including 6,000 year old rock

paintings found in Spain which may depict

psilocybe hispanica as part of a religious

ritual.

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The Mayas and the Aztecs had many artistic It wasn’t until 1968 at the United States

works depicting psilocybin mushrooms, banned psilocybin at the federal level. By

including paintings, statues, and other 1970, psilocybin mushrooms and a great

symbols, all of which indicate that psilocybin number of other psychoactive drugs including

was an integral component of their spiritual mescaline and cannabis where classified as

beliefs and religious rituals. The Aztecs Schedule I drugs. After this point, practically

referred to magic mushrooms as teonanácat, all research into psilocybin came to a halt,

or “the flesh of the gods.” including for medical or therapeutic

purposes.

In more modern western society, mushrooms

came to prominence in the mid-1950s when a

For a half hour we waited in
Wall Street banker named R. Gordon Wasson
silence. Allan felt cold and
wrote an article for Life Magazine in which he wrapped himself in a blanket.
detailed the experiences he had in a remote A few minutes later he leaned
Mexican village. Wasson and his friend, over and whispered, ‘Gordon,

photographer Allan Richardson, shared in a I am seeing things!’ I told him

religious ceremony with the locals, where they not to worry, I was too. The
visions had started.
consumed “divine” mushrooms.

In the Life article, Wasson wrote, “For a half The state of psilocybin research remained this

hour we waited in silence. Allan felt cold and way for decades. It wasn’t until the late 1990s

wrapped himself in a blanket. A few minutes that FDA restrictions were loosened enough

later he leaned over and whispered, ‘Gordon, to allow for scientific research. The findings

I am seeing things!’ I told him not to worry, I of this research has, over the past twenty

was too. The visions had started.” years, revitalized the public’s interest in

psilocybin and its potential benefits—among

The author continued to describe his the most noteworthy being a study conducted

experience in great detail, which ultimately in 2011 at the John Hopkins School of

became the first exposure many Americans Medicine.

had to the psychedelic experiences possible

through the use of psilocybin. You can read As R. Gordon Wasson and Timothy Leary had

the article in its entirety here. suspected half a century prior, the John

Hopkins study indicated that a majority of

After Wasson’s article, in the 1960s, Dr. subjects provided with psilocybin experienced

Timothy Leary would be the next major public positive changes of personality, including for

figure to popularize the use of psilocybin late-stage cancer patients experiencing

mushrooms (and indeed psychedelics overall, chronic anxiety and depression.

as readers may already know). Like R. Gordon

Wasson and Allan Richardson, Dr. Leary What the future holds for psilocybin research

traveled to Mexico where he ingested is anyone’s guess, but few would deny that

psilocybin mushrooms and reported about his this topic is both interesting and diverse for

experiences. medicine, law, and sociology.

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 WHERE CAN I PURCHASE MUSHROOM
SPORES ONLINE?
We hope that after reading this report that you’re excited to start your mushroom spore

research!

If you’d like to explore “the world of the very small” with just your microscope and the highest

quality mushroom spores around, please visit our website at [Link].

You’ll find dozens of strains, additional information on many of the topics introduced here, and

everything else you need to enter the fascinating and fulfilling hobby of amateur microscopy.

Thank you for reading—and enjoy your trip to another world!

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consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. The information provided in this report does not,

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