Combining Cannabis and Magic Mushrooms

This subject is being discussed more lately due to the overwhelming interest in psilocybin and the many benefits of micro dosing for depression, chronic anxiety and depression. Below we will break down the materials and the corresponding effects and receptors. This will help people who are considering the combination of Magic Mushrooms and Cannabis.

Effects of Cannabis

The effects of cannabis can vary widely depending on several factors, including:

the dose, strain, and potency
your method of consumption
Your tolerance, how often you use the substance
THC does build up in the brain unlike CBD Cannabidiol

When smoked or vaporized, the effects will kick in within minutes of use due to the decarboxylation ( the burning effect ). The experience peaks at around 1 hour and dissipates within 2 to 3 hours. For anyone who consumes too much and begins to feel paranoid, the best way to reduce this is to consume a moderate does of pure CBD which can counteract the high and paranoia.

Edibles

Edibles take longer to strike these receptors within 30 to 60 minutes. Some people feel more focused and productive after consuming cannabis. Others feel more relaxed. Again, each persona metabolism is unique so a strain for one person may not effect the other person the same.

Other potential effects include:

dry mouth
rapid heart rate
euphoria
openness to new ideas
anxiety and paranoia
more intense sensory perceptions of colors, sound, flavors, and touch
increased appetite
Reduction in nausea = reason for cancer patients cannabis use

Effects of Magic Mushrooms

While there are many types of hallucinogenic mushrooms, most are a variety of the species Psilocybe cubensis. It contains the psychedelic compound psilocybin. Just as with cannabis, mushrooms can alter sensory perception at the right dose. Mushrooms are usually dried and then eaten, steeped as a tea, or ground into powder. It can also be placed in capsules or even a great tasting gummy HERE. The psychological effects can take 1 hour or more to kick in and tends to build slowly. The entire experience can last for 4 to 6 hours.

A 2012 study suggests that psilocybin decreases activity in areas of the brain responsible for constraining your experience of the world and keeping it orderly. When this process slows down or deactivates, your perception of the world around you dramatically changes and your fear tends to dissipate. When this occurs, stationary objects might appear to move or melt. Images and people might appear distorted or lite up in colors, and .your perception of time and yourself changes. For some, these effects can lead to spiritual epiphanies and philosophical breakthroughs. For others, they can cause discomfort or paranoia and fear.

Other potential effects include:

fluctuating body temperature
euphoria
anxiety
increased heart rate
muscle twitching

Some people experience nausea and sometimes vomiting 30 to 60 minutes after consuming mushrooms, especially when taking too much too quick, but this usually subsides after an hour or so.

Comparing Cannabis and Magic Mushrooms

Cannabis and mushrooms can both affect your perception of the world, but in different degrees. Again, as stated above the specific strain of cannabis or type of mushrooms you use can affect the experience. Consuming high quantities of cannabis edibles or potent, high-THC strains can produce effects that more closely mirror those of mushrooms. Likewise, taking a low dose of mushrooms might feel similar to ingesting a small amount of cannabis, and a micro dose typically does not cause and impairment at all and is designed to just subtly relax the mind and reduce stress.

Cannabis During a Mushroom Trip

When used around the time the mushroom’s effects are peaking (around 2 hours after initial consumption), cannabis can greatly add to the overall intensity of the experience. When used 3 to 4 hours in (when the effects of mushrooms begin to fade), cannabis can slightly prolong the experience and help you contextualize the experience as a whole, according to anecdotal reports and empirical data from users.

Potential risks

Combining cannabis and mushrooms doesn’t appear to pose any serious health risks as far as the brain or nervous system. Still the Set & Setting you are in while going through this combined experience can be dangerous if you are at a concert and leaning over a balcony while being intoxicated. The loss of fear, and lightheadedness can be a risk so be sure to be responsible and be in a safe setting.

The primary concern is having an uncomfortable experience based on dose, especially if you don’t have much experience with either substance.

Should I Use Cannabis and Magic Mushrooms Together?

It’s best to stick with one or the other, at least until you know how your mind and body react to each substance on its own and your tolerance. 10mg of THC can make one person feel slight alteration and others can be very high and even dizzy. The elderly should always ask questions before buying Cannabis for pain as dispensary staff are typically just selling and not educating.

Study Results

Study results indicated that smoking weed influences the likelihood of experiencing a bad trip, which the study authors describe as a “challenging experience”. Interestingly, though, the data revealed that low doses of cannabis tend to reduce the chances of suffering such an uncomfortable psychedelic escapade, while high doses increase this likelihood. This was especially true for particular elements of these challenging trips. For example, people who mixed their psychedelics with low doses of cannabis tended to obtain lower scores on both the “fear” and “insanity” subscales than those who used no pot at all. So in summary, the use of high doses of cannabis appeared to enhance unpleasant aspects.

According to the authors, this may be evidence for the contradictory effects of cannabis, with low doses helping to relieve psychological anguish while higher doses enhance this mental turmoil. Additionally, it must be noted that different strains of cannabis contain different amounts of key cannabinoids such as CBD, CBG, CBN and THC. Given that the researchers did not analyze the chemical composition of the cannabis used by each participant, it’s hard to draw any firm conclusions from this data.

Regardless, they go on to explain that the apparent ability of cannabis to enhance psychedelic experiences “may be because cannabis itself induces subjective effects that are similar to some effects of psychedelics, such as euphoria, changes in perception of time, intensification of sensory perception and hyper-associative thinking.”

Conclusion

Summing up, the researchers explain that their findings may have important implications for the therapeutic use of psychedelics. Some of the therapeutically desirable psychological effects associated with psychedelics may, in theory, be enhanced by concomitant cannabis use.

Activated Receptors in the brain

There are two main endocannabinoid receptors: CB1 receptors, which are mostly found in the central nervous system. CB2 receptors, which are mostly found in your peripheral nervous system, especially immune cells. The cannabinoid receptors are G protein-coupled receptors that are activated by endocannabinoids or exogenous agonists such as tetrahydrocannabinol.

Psilocybin is rapidly dephosphorylated in the body to psilocin. This is ALSO an agonist for several serotonin receptors. They are also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors. So, in a factual statement they both stimulate the same receptors increasing mind altering events.

Our advice in closing is to always go slow, take the time to understand how your body reacts to the molecules before combining these two natural drugs.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30685771/