BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)

Guidelines for Field Mycologists - the practical interpretation of Section 21 of the Drugs Act 2005: http://www.britmycolosoc.org.uk/files/DrugsAct2005_Guidelines.pdf

The 2005 Drugs Act classed all fungi containing Psilocin or its esters as Class A Drugs. This makes it a criminal offence to possess such fungi.

This was a poor piece of legislation for the following reasons:

1. it singles out Psilosin and ignores other psychotropic chemicals so will probably not achieve its aim of removing hallucinogenic plant material from legal sale.

2. it makes no mention of concentration so even possession of fungi containing medically irrelevant traces still constitute an offence. Furthermore, as detection methods become more sensitive, the number of fungus species concerned will inevitably "mushroom". With the growing number of species of imported wild-collected and cultivated mushrooms on supermarket shelves it can only be a matter of time before one of these species falls into the net.

3. it potentially criminalises a harmless and previously legal activity - ie the study of wild fungi.

The British Mycological Society has produced these guidelines to help field mycologists to work within the law.

Web site	http://www.britmycolosoc.org.uk/files/DrugsAct2005_Guidelines.pdf
Comments and Corrigenda	Includes Panaeolina foenisecii which more recent research has shown does not contain such substances.

Malcolm Storey

Taxonomic Scope

Conocybe cyanopus (G.F. Atk.) Kühner, 1935 (a conecap)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Conocybe velutipes (Velen.) Hauskn. & Svrcek, 1999 (a conecap)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Panaeolina foenisecii (Pers.) Maire, 1933 (Brown Mottlegill, Haymaker)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters, but more recent research has shown this to be incorrect.
Panaeolus acuminatus (Schaeff.) Gillet, 1874 (Dewdrop Mottlegill)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Panaeolus cinctulus (Bolton) Sacc., 1887 (Banded Mottlegill)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Panaeolus fimicola (Pers.) Gillet, 1874 (Turf Mottlegill)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Panaeolus olivaceus F.H. Møller, 1945 (a mottlegill)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Panaeolus papilionaceus (Bull.) Quél., 1872 (Petticoat Mottlegill)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Panaeolus semiovatus (Sowerby) S. Lundell, 1938 (Egghead Mottlegill)	Background Reading	Current	Suspected of containing Psilocin or its esters so possibly as a Class A Drug.
Galerina steglichii Besl, 1993 (a fungus)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Gymnopilus junonius (Fr.) P.D. Orton, 1960 (Spectacular Rustgill)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Gymnopilus liquiritiae (Pers.) P. Karst., 1879 (a rustgill)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Gymnopilus purpuratus (Cooke & Massee) Singer, 1955 (a fungus)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Inocybe corydalina Quél., 1892 (Greenflush Fibrecap)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Inocybe haemacta (Berk. & Cooke) Sacc., 1887 (a toadstool)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Pluteus cervinus P. Kumm., 1871 (Deer Shield)	Background Reading	Current	Suspected of containing Psilocin or its esters so possibly as a Class A Drug.
Pluteus ephebeus (Fr.) Gillet, 1876 (a shield)	Background Reading	Current	Suspected of containing Psilocin or its esters so possibly as a Class A Drug.
Pluteus salicinus (Pers.) P. Kumm., 1871 (Willow Shield)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Psathyrella candolleana (Fr.) G. Bertrand, 1913 (Pale Brittlestem)	Background Reading	Current	Suspected of containing Psilocin or its esters so possibly as a Class A Drug.
Psilocybe coprophila (Bull.) P. Kumm., 1871 (a brownie)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Psilocybe crobula (Fr.) Singer, 1961 (a brownie)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Psilocybe cyanescens Wakef., 1946 (Blueleg Brownie)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Psilocybe inquilinus (Fr.) Bres., 1931 (a brownie)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Psilocybe merdaria (Fr.) Ricken, 1915 (a brownie)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Psilocybe montana (Pers.) P. Kumm., 1871 (Mountain Brownie)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Psilocybe semilanceata (Fr.) P. Kumm., 1871 (Magic Mushroom, Liberty Cap)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Psilocybe strictipes Singer & A.H. Sm., 1958 (a brownie)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Stropharia aeruginosa (Curtis) Quél., 1872 (Verdigris Agaric)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Stropharia caerulea Kreisel, 1980 (Blue Roundhead)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Stropharia coronilla (Bull.) Quél., 1872 (Garland Roundhead)	Background Reading	Current	Suspected of containing Psilocin or its esters so possibly as a Class A Drug.
Stropharia percevalii (Berk. & Broome) Sacc., 1887 (a roundhead)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Stropharia pseudocyanea (Desm.) Morgan, 1908 (Peppery Roundhead)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Stropharia semiglobata (Batsch) Quél., 1872 (Dung Roundhead)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Stropharia squamosa (Pers.) Quél., 1873 (a roundhead)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Stropharia squamosa var. thrausta (Schulzer ex Kalchbr.) Massee, 1892 (a roundhead)	Background Reading	Current	Listed as containing Psilocin or its esters so classified as a Class A Drug.
Hygrocybe psittacina (Schaeff.) P. Kumm., 1871 (Parrot Waxcap)	Background Reading	Current	Suspected of containing Psilocin or its esters so possibly as a Class A Drug.
Mycena amicta (Fr.) Quél., 1872 (a bonnet)	Background Reading	Current	Suspected of containing Psilocin or its esters so possibly as a Class A Drug.
Rickenella fibula (Bull.) Raithelh., 1973 (Orange Mosscap)	Background Reading	Current	Suspected of containing Psilocin or its esters so possibly as a Class A Drug.
Rickenella swartzii (Fr.) Kuyper, 1983 (Collared Mosscap)	Background Reading	Current	Suspected of containing Psilocin or its esters so possibly as a Class A Drug.

Related Publications

casts doubt on some species in the list

Stijve, T. & Kuyper, T.W., 1988

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