NZ approves medicinal use of ‘magic mushrooms’

AFP :

New Zealand on Wednesday approved the medicinal use of psilocybin, a hallucinogenic compound notably found in so-called “magic mushrooms”.

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour said rules had been relaxed so psilocybin could be used to treat certain types of depression.

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in some species of mushroom and can cause hallucinations and an altered state of mind.

“Psilocybin remains an unapproved medicine, but a highly experienced psychiatrist has been granted authority to prescribe it to patients with treatment-resistant depression,” Seymour said.