It's Magic Mushroom season

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Our area is having its first rains of the season which means that mushrooms will be popping up. Because of the continual tillage, mushrooms aren’t seen too often in the paddocks. It was different when I was a child. However, an area near us has quite a reputation for ‘magic mushrooms’ which grow in the bushland there. About this time, some free-spirited foragers will be making their way to this area and searching for these fungi which give a psychedelic high when eaten. The correct name for the variety is psilocybin mushrooms and, while the effect can be mild when eaten, it can also be very hazardous and result in bizarre behaviour. One German backpacker, while under the influence of the fungi, drove to Perth, sold his $10,000 car for just $1,000 and worked out in a random gym for three hours. He told police he had no control over himself whatsoever. Another went missing for four days and was found sleeping under a log. At the moment, police are patrolling back roads trying to stop people from this dangerous practice. Those found with the mushrooms can be fined for drug possession. I think we’ll continue to buy our mushrooms from the supermarket. Photo is of some fungi that grows in our bush.