[itomato]

Generally speaking, psychedelic species are uncommon in Northern California, and at Golden Gate Park in particular.

This report found one elusive group of only five mushrooms.

There are peak times are certain species are certainly psychoactive, but the average person isn't gonna walk around and 'get lucky'.

[ada1981]

^This is mostly incorrect, save the reference to peak harvest times.

Psilocybe allenii has been hunted regularly since at least the 1960's in Golden Gate Park, previously under its informal name Psilocybe cyanofriscosa.

According to Psychedelic Society of San Francisco lecturer and mycologist Alan Rockefeller, Psilocybe allenii occurs from BC, Canada to Los Angeles, and is common in San Francisco.[1]

Allenii is also one of the strongest psychedelic mushrooms known, possibly taking second place to Psilocybe azurescens.

Allenii is not alone in the Park either, "Psilocybe cyanescens is also very common in San Francisco. It is almost as potent. If you go to Golden Gate Park in December you will see hundreds of hippies looking at the wood chip landscaping for Psilocybe cyanescens and Psilocybe allenii." says Rockefeller.

The average person shouldn't be walking around hunting mushrooms, period, as there are several species that will kill you from ingesting even a small amount. However, there are a number of commercial services and recurring events[2] that offer to take folks on "day trips" through the park and point out where to find these mushrooms.

Relatively speaking, however, psychedelic mushroom species have a high concentration in the Pacific Northwest and CA in particular. [3]

Appreciate the chance to brush up on my mycology!

[1] Golden Gate Park magic mushroom finally classified, just in time for high season http://48hills.org/sfbgarchive/2012/12/18/golden-gate-park-m...

[2] IN THE WILD! Mushroom Hunt and Identification https://www.meetup.com/psychedelics/events/95388602/

[3] Map of Psychedelic Mushroom Concentrations https://www.shroomology.org/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-1-0...

[itomato]

Interesting stuff, but anecdotes about people searching non-native environments don't change my position.

Speaking as an amateur mycologist with first hand experience hunting GGP.

[ada1981]

What do you mean "non-native enviroments"? Wood chips? The mushrooms are native to the area for at least decades, probably millennia.. they are common.

Did you miss the part where the full blown professional mycologist says that the mushroom is common -- his words -- in GGP? As does the Psychedelic Society of San Fransisco?

Did you read any of the links I provided?

Who should we listen to? The self styled amature? Or the experts and people who discovered the mushroom?