Denver officials are warning consumers that they have found edible products made with psilocybin mushrooms for sale, illegally, at local gas stations and vape stores.
Officials recently tested chocolate bars from a brand called West Coast Gold Caps and confirmed the presence of psilocybin, a psychoactive ingredient in “magic mushrooms.” While psilocybin is decriminalized for personal use, cultivation and sharing in Colorado, it is illegal to sell the drug.
These chocolates and similar products “might not be labeled with their actual ingredients and pose a danger to public health,” stated a bulletin from the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses.
That was the case last summer when edibles from a company called Diamond Shruumz poisoned more than 100 people, including a couple in Colorado. The brand advertised with trippy iconography and language promoting “microdosing,” suggesting they contained psilocybin. But because these products are not regulated, it is difficult to know what is in them.
The Food and Drug Administration tested several Dimaond Shruumz edibles and found they contained a compound called 4-acetoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, also known as 4-acO-DMT, which is a synthetic version of psilocybin. The FDA also found other chemicals, such as the prescription drug Pregabalin and compounds extracted from the kava plant. Some products contained psilocin, which occurs naturally in psychedelic mushrooms. (Psilocybin converts to psilocin in the human body when ingested.)
If you see intoxicating products that you suspect may be illegal, including West Coast Gold Caps, Denver officials recommend submitting a complaint at Denvergov.org/ConsumerProtection or by calling 311.
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