Can You Smoke Shrooms? Risks, Effects, and What You Need to Know

Have you ever wondered, can you smoke shrooms? In recent years, the popularity of psychedelic substances has grown, particularly among those looking for spiritual awakening, creative breakthroughs, or therapeutic relief from conditions like depression and anxiety. One of the most well-known psychedelics is psilocybin, the active compound in what people often call “magic mushrooms” or simply “shrooms.” But as the curiosity around psychedelics increases, so do the experimental methods of using them. One question that continues to surface is: how can one avoid the adverse effects of using psychoactive substances?

At first glance, smoking shrooms might seem like a convenient or more intense way to experience their hallucinogenic effects. But before you roll up those dried fungi or crush them into a bowl with your cannabis, it’s worth navigating the risks associated with smoking mushrooms. What happens when you smoke shrooms? Are there benefits, or are the risks just too high?

Let’s look into what science, anecdotal reports, and common sense say about this controversial method of consuming psilocybin mushrooms.

What Are Shrooms?

“Shrooms” or “magic mushrooms” are slang terms for a specific group of fungi known as psilocybin mushrooms. These mushrooms contain psilocybin and psilocin, natural compounds that have powerful psychedelic properties. When consumed, they interact with serotonin receptors in the brain, leading to a variety of altered states, including:

• Hallucinations
• Distorted sense of time
• Euphoria
• Profound introspection
• Emotional shifts can occur as a result of the psychoactive effects of shrooms.

Traditionally, people consume magic mushrooms by eating them raw or dried brewing them into a tea, or incorporating them into edibles like chocolates to experience their psychoactive effects. These methods allow the digestive system to convert psilocybin into psilocin, the compound responsible for the psychedelic effects.

So, Can You Smoke Shrooms?

The short answer: Yes, you should be aware of the potential adverse effects of substance use. can smoke shrooms—but you probably You shouldn’t underestimate the potential effects of shrooms on your mental health.

While it is technically possible to crush dried shrooms into a powder and roll them into a joint or smoke them in a pipe, doing so likely won’t give you the experience you’re looking for. Unlike substances such as cannabis or tobacco, the active ingredients in magic mushrooms aren’t heat-stable. In other words, Psilocybin and psilocin break down when exposed to high temperatures, which can affect their psychoactive properties, rendering them ineffective when smoked.

Lack of Research

There is currently a growing interest in addiction treatment methods that incorporate psychoactive substances. very little scientific research on the effects of smoking psilocybin mushrooms. Most available information comes from anecdotal reports—many of which are conflicting. Some users say they experience mild effects or a “body buzz,” while others report no effects at all aside from nausea and headaches.

The consensus? Smoking shrooms is unreliable at best and harmful at worst.

How Do Shrooms Normally Work?

To understand why smoking shrooms is ineffective, it's important to understand how psilocybin works in the body.

When you consume psychedelic mushrooms, you may experience altered perception, ingest psilocybin mushrooms (via chewing, tea, or capsules), your body metabolizes psilocybin into psilocin, the compound that actually interacts with serotonin receptors in your brain. This process takes place in your liver, and it’s key to the psychedelic experience.

But when you smoke shrooms, that metabolic process is largely bypassed. Moreover, the high temperatures from smoking likely destroy the compounds before they can be absorbed into the bloodstream. That’s why users who smoke shrooms often report no psychedelic experience, just side effects.

Common Effects of Magic Mushrooms (When Taken Orally)

When consumed properly (i.e., not smoked), magic mushrooms can cause a wide range of physical and psychological effects. These may include:
Psychological Effects:

• Euphoria
• Enhanced perception
• Altered sense of time and space
• Vivid visual and auditory hallucinations
• Introspective or spiritual experiences
• Sudden mood changes can be linked to the psychoactive effects of shrooms.
• Increased creativity is often reported as a positive effect of shrooms.

Physical Effects:

• Dilated pupils
• Nausea or vomiting (especially at higher doses)
• Headaches
• Increased heart rate can be a side effect of both substance abuse and the effects of shrooms.
• Sweating or chills
• Muscle weakness or uncoordinated movements

For many, these effects are described as pleasant or enlightening. However, it’s not always a smooth ride, and there are potential adverse effects to consider.

Bad Trips

Not all shroom experiences are positive. A so-called “bad trip” can involve:

• Paranoia
• Anxiety can be a concern when discussing the effects of shrooms.
• Fear
• Disorientation
• Panic attacks
• Hallucinations that feel threatening or overwhelming

Your mental state and environment play a major role in how your trip unfolds. That’s why setting and mindset are so crucial when using psychedelics.

Why People Might Want to Smoke Shrooms

Despite the warnings, some users are still tempted to smoke shrooms, often for one of the following reasons:

• Curiosity about the altered perception induced by psychedelic mushrooms can lead to deeper exploration. People new to psychedelics may believe smoking is a faster or stronger method.
• Avoiding the taste: Dried mushrooms can taste earthy and unpleasant.
• Combining substances: Some users mix shrooms with cannabis or other drugs to enhance or modify the experience.

But these potential motivations don’t outweigh the risks or the lack of reliable outcomes.

Risks of Smoking Shrooms

Smoking shrooms doesn’t just lack benefits—it may also pose real dangers related to substance abuse. Here’s why:

1. Lung Damage From Smoke Inhalation

Like any burned material, smoking shrooms creates smoke filled with toxins and particulate matter. Inhaling this smoke can irritate your respiratory system and damage your lungs over time. Risks include:

• Chronic bronchitis
• Lung inflammation
• Increased risk of infections is a significant concern when smoking mushrooms.
• Long-term respiratory problems

Smoking anything regularly—whether it’s tobacco, marijuana, or mushrooms—can impact your lung health, especially if you already have asthma or another respiratory condition, increasing the risks associated with substance use.

2. Mold Spores

Mushrooms are fungi that grow in damp, organic environments, which makes them prone to developing mold. While some molds are harmless, others release mycotoxins—harmful substances that can cause serious health problems when inhaled.
If you smoke moldy mushrooms, you could expose your lungs to:

• Mold-related infections can pose serious risks associated with smoking mushrooms.
• Allergic reactions
• Chronic lung inflammation
• Potentially life-threatening fungal infections, especially if your immune system is compromised

3. Destruction of Active Compounds

As mentioned earlier, psilocybin and psilocin are not heat-stable. When exposed to high heat, these compounds degrade before they have a chance to reach your bloodstream. This makes smoking an inefficient and potentially pointless method of delivery for a psychedelic experience.

4. Unknown Side Effects

Because this method of consumption is largely undocumented The short- and long-term health effects of shrooms are unknown. You could be putting your health at risk for little to no reward.

Are There Any Safer Alternatives?

Yes. If you’re interested in the effects of psilocybin mushrooms, there are safer, more effective ways to consume them, including:

1. Eating Dried Shrooms

This is the most common method. Simply chew and swallow. The downside is the bitter, earthy taste and potential for stomach upset when you use shrooms.

2. Mushroom Tea

Boil the dried mushrooms in water and strain out the solids. This method is easier on the stomach and has a faster onset of effects.

3. Capsules or Edibles

Some people grind dried mushrooms into a powder and pack them into capsules for easy consumption. Others infuse them into chocolates or gummies.

All these methods are more predictable, safer, and effective than smoking.

Final Thoughts: Can You Smoke Shrooms?

So, can you smoke shrooms? Technically, yes. But should you? Absolutely not.

Smoking magic mushrooms is not only ineffective due to the destruction of psilocybin and psilocin at high temperatures, but it also introduces new health risks—particularly to your lungs, which can be exacerbated by the effects of smoking shrooms. You may expose yourself to toxic mold spores, respiratory irritation, and the general hazards associated with inhaling burned organic material.

If you're genuinely interested in seeking the psychedelic properties of magic mushrooms, stick to tried-and-true methods like ingestion or brewing them into a tea and always approach psychedelics with caution, intention, and awareness of your mental and physical health, especially considering the behavioral health implications.

FAQs

Q: What happens if you smoke magic mushrooms?

A: Most people report mild or no effects. The active ingredients—psilocybin and psilocin—break down when exposed to heat, making smoking largely ineffective. You also risk inhaling harmful toxins and mold spores.

Q: Can you get high from smoking Shrooms?

A: It’s unlikely that the effects of shrooms will be the same as those of weed and shrooms. Some users report very mild effects, but most say it doesn’t produce the classic psychedelic trip associated with oral consumption.

Q: Is smoking shrooms dangerous?

A: Yes. Inhaling any type of smoke is harmful to your lungs, and smoking fungi may introduce mold spores and other toxins into your body.

Q: What’s the best way to take shrooms?

A: Eating them dried, brewing tea, or using capsules are the most effective and commonly recommended methods to experience the effects of shrooms.

Q: Is there any benefit to smoking shrooms?

A: No known medical or therapeutic benefit exists for smoking psilocybin mushrooms.