These mushrooms, now being sold for up to PLN 1,000 per kilogram, have sparked safety concerns. Dr. Paweł Grzesiowski, head of the GIS, in an interview with Polish news outlet o2.pl stated that the sale of these mushrooms should be treated like new psychoactive substances, or "legal highs."
Fly agaric mushrooms, known for their hallucinogenic effects, have appeared in online marketplaces. Sellers acknowledge that, while the mushrooms are primarily marketed for ointments, some people consume them for their calming or hallucinogenic effects, despite their potential danger.
While some claim the mushrooms have medicinal benefits, conventional medicine does not support such uses due to the mushrooms' toxicity.
Grzesiowski clarified that no product containing fly agaric mushrooms is legally registered for sale in Poland. He warned that the mushrooms can cause hallucinations and, in severe cases, heart failure.
The GIS plans to investigate and potentially classify these mushrooms as banned substances, following further research and reviews. The process could take three to six months, o2.pl reported.
(jh)
Source: o2.pl, Fakt