United Kingdom (U.K.) #
Psilocybin and psilocin are both illegal to possess and sell in Britain. As of July 18, 2005, fresh psilocybin mushrooms are now also controlled. See U.K. Mushroom Law Timeline 2002+. The law does not appear to cover spores, because the wording added to the Misuse of Drugs Act (Class A drugs) is: "Fungus (of any kind) which contains psilocin or an ester of psilocin." And no further wording is present in that section of the law regarding seeds or spores. However, the Home Office has published a FAQ that implies spores might be controlled: "Will it be illegal to supply grow kits? The law covers production so it applies to the sale and importation of kits." Frequently Asked Questions about Magic Mushrooms.
* 2005, Jul 18: Mushroom ban in U.K. began on July, 18, 2005 when the Home Office clarified that the accidental picking of psilocybin mushrooms or having them grow inadvertently on property would not be subject to the law. Fresh mushrooms are now considered a Class A drug under this new law.
* 2005, Apr 7: The British government has passed a new Drugs Bill expanding police powers and explicitly making fresh mushrooms illegal. Drugs Bill Receives Royal Assent, Drugs.gov.uk, Text of Drugs Bill.
* 2005, Feb 19: U.K. government recently went ahead with prosecuting new cases against vendors of fresh mushrooms despite the previous court ruling that prosecution under the current law would be an "abuse of process" because the laws are too vague. The Guardian : Magic mushroom dealers face new test cases, Feb 19, 2005
* See British Mushroom Law Timeline 2002-2005
Dried magic mushrooms have a Class A drug status, which means that the prison sentence for possession and distribution could be similar to that of other Class A drugs such as L.S.D, Heroin, Cocaine & Crack, but even dried shrooms are not considered a police priority. It is uncommon for someone to be seriously prosecuted for simple possession, and 'accidentally dried' mushrooms have generally been overlooked.
