This timeline of articles from the Guardian newspaper tracks the prohibition of fresh psilocybin ('magic') mushrooms, the "[criminalisation of a] trade that... poses little danger to anyone".
There's no evidence magic mushrooms are addictive, cause harm to people or are a public order problem. The bill is completely disproportionate.
This Bill was conceived in prejudice, written in ignorance and is being enacted with incompetence... It will ensure that a legal trade that causes no problems and is conducted by many businesses will end and be replaced by an illegal trade.
There has been no meaningful consultation on this move that is not supported by any of the leading drug organisations. It is clearly an attempt to appear ‘tough on drugs' rather than being the result of rational evidence based thinking.
| Sat 29th Nov 2003 |
High times in magic mushroom business - and it's perfectly legalSales of psychedelic fungi and growing kits are booming as retailers take advantage of a loophole in British law |
2004 | |
| Tue 14th Dec 2004 |
Trip over?Magic mushrooms have never been more popular. More than 400 apparently legal 'shroom' shops have sprung up in the past two years, and growing kits have become a must-have Christmas present. So why has the government suddenly turned tough on sellers? |
| Wed 15th Dec 2004 |
Magic mushroom case judge tells prosecutor: chill out |
2005 | |
| Sat 19th Feb 2005 |
Magic mushroom dealers face new test cases |
| Sat 16th Apr 2005 |
Peers and MPs join furore over 'rushed' ban on magic mushroomsRetailers to challenge class A classification amid claims that new law will drive trade underground |
| Wed 18th May 2005 |
Mushroom cloudA new law puts a harmless fungus on a par with crack and heroin |
| Sat 25th Jun 2005 |
Last orders for magic mushroom enthusiasts |
| Mon 18th Jul 2005 |
Law spells end for mushrooming trade |
| Tue 2nd Aug 2005 |
Headache sufferers flout new drug lawCalls for clinical trials and rethink of legislation as patients claim that magic mushrooms can relieve excruciating condition |
2006 | |
| Mon 31st Jul 2006 |
MPs savage government's 'ad hoc' drug policy |
2020Mushrooms legalised again?Sign the petition | |