KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica health authorities say they have not approved psilocybin mushroom-containing products for use here and are warning that the drug and its byproducts “can be dangerous to one’s health”.
psilocybin mushroomIn a statement, the Ministry of Health and Wellness said it has not approved the drug for sale in the country amid an announcement by that Fontana, Jamaica’s largest pharmacy chain, that it will be selling magic mushroom products supplied by a local company called Patoo.
The drug, which is reportedly sold at some marijuana dispensaries, exists in a sort of grey area that requires no licensing
Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie said while it is not the ministry’s intention to block access to healthcare products but it “must ensure that any product offered to the public for use must meet the established standards within the respective legislative framework”.
The psychedelic product contains a property called psilocybin, which has long been on offer in Jamaica, mainly as a therapeutic or wellness remedy. Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic substance obtained from certain types of mushrooms called magic mushrooms.
In February, the Executive Director of the National Council on Drug Abuse Michael Tucker said while the drug was not illegal and some persons use it successfully for therapeutic reasons, other persons will abuse it. He called for the Dangerous Drugs Act to be amended to regulate its use.
