How about psychedelic mushrooms and those so-called ‘smartshops’?

In The Netherlands, and specifically Amsterdam, there are so-called 'Smartshops'...

A smartshop is a shop which is specialized in the sales of psychoactive substances, as well as related literature and paraphernalia.

The main reason for the smartshops popularity in Amsterdam over the years was the possibility to buy Magic Mushrooms. Until 2008 it was legal for smartshops to sell these psychedelic mushrooms containing psilocybin and psilocin. Although those 2 substances were listed on List I in The Netherlands since a long time, the mushrooms themselves were not specifically mentioned in the law as illegal. A result of that was that the mushrooms in a fresh state were not illegal.

Unfortunately in 2008 the Dutch government changed the law and fixed that 'error' by mentioning the word 'mushroom' within the law.

There's an alternative though! Sclerotia... (aka truffles, philosopher's stones). Sclerotia also contain psilocybin and psilocin and give an almost identical effect as the 'real' magic mushrooms. It's a too difficult and too long story how it's possible that these are not illegal. They are just not, luckily. And yes, they look (and taste) awful...

Other popular products sold in Amsterdam smartshops:

• Herbal XTC
• Energizers
• Aphrodisiacs
• Peyote/San Pedro cacti
• Kratom
• Salvia divinorum
• Ayahuasca
• Various other herbs
• Mushroom growkits
• Literature
• Paraphernalia

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