Shrooms have the ability to change perception, produce visual and auditory hallucinations, and warp time and space. As a result, the question of whether driving under the influence of shrooms or any other psychedelic is safe may look simple to many people. Nonetheless, this question lingers, especially among young adults or those who are unfamiliar with the mind-altering effects of magic mushrooms.
The short answer is no, you should not drive while on shrooms. No matter how much you feel in control.
Key Takeaways
- Shrooms, as psychoactive substances, can affect sensory perception, reaction time, and visual acuity.
- Don’t drive while on shrooms.
- Regardless of the dose taken, driving under the influence of shrooms is never advised.
- While it’s unsafe to drive under the influence of shrooms, alternative modes of transportation such as walking, running, biking, or using public transit are viable options.
- Wait at least 4 hours after the effects wear off before driving.
How Do Shrooms Affect Your Driving Ability?
Shrooms are potent hallucinogenic, meaning that their consumption can affect sensory perception, reaction time, and visual acuity due to their psychoactive characteristics according to research. While the feeling of tripping on mushrooms can be fun, partaking in activities such as driving while high carries substantial risks and should never be done.
What Dose Did You Take?
While you should definitely not drive while under the influence of any substance, it’s important to note that the dose you took will define how impaired your cognitive function is, which will determine whether you are good to drive or not.
We are not talking here about whether you took 2 grams or 4 grams, as both doses would make driving extremely dangerous and increase the risk of having an accident. Let’s break the dosage into two different models, microdosing and macrodosing.
Microdosing
To put it simply, microdosing is the practice of ingesting a very small dose of shrooms, so that it won’t cause any perceptual changes such as hallucinations or feeling high. This will allow you to continue with your daily tasks as you normally would as if you had taken nothing at all.
Driving while microdosed is generally considered safe as it does not change your perception. However, there are some dangers of microdosing, therefore it is best to avoid driving on your microdosing days.
Macrodosing
Macrodosing is the practice of taking higher doses of shrooms that will most likely change your perceptions, you will experience visual and auditory hallucinations followed by a distorted sense of time and space. For this reason, driving on shrooms is extremely dangerous and should never be done.
Not only will you be a danger to yourself and others, but due to the hallucinogenic properties of shrooms you may actually end up badly injuring yourself, which could have fatal consequences.
Is Driving on Shrooms Illegal?
It is not only dangerous, but it is also illegal to drive while under the influence of magic mushrooms. While no specialized roadside test exists for this, authorities may easily detect signs of impairment from consuming psilocybin.
Consumption of psychoactive drugs has serious health hazards and impairs one’s capacity to concentrate and make sensible decisions. The use of illegal substances or alcohol has a variety of consequences on the body, many of which make driving dangerous and illegal.
Walking, running, or biking is okay during this time without encountering problems or drawing attention. Taking public transportation while high on mushrooms is another possibility, albeit the level of obvious effects may influence how discreet you look to others.
How Long To Wait Before Driving After Taking Shrooms?
Researchers discovered that approximately 66% of the compounds present in magic mushrooms are removed from the body within the first three hours of intake. The length of time shrooms remain detectable in a person’s system varies depending on factors such as mushroom potency, dosage consumed, and individual body characteristics. Weight, metabolism, and the type of mushrooms consumed all have an impact on how the body absorbs these substances.
Depending on the strength of your mushrooms and the amount consumed, you may be able to get back to driving 6 hours after dosing. While the majority of the effects usually decrease within this time frame, it is best to wait a few hours before driving any vehicle. Even though users have reported a steady onset of mushroom effects over time, it is generally not recommended to drive lightly even after 4-6 hours. It is critical to be aware of your situation, realizing that even after the trip is over, there is still a risk involved with driving.
Final Word
So can you drive on shrooms? The clear answer to this question is NO. Magic mushrooms are powerful hallucinogens that alter perception, and cause visual and auditory hallucinations, while distorting time and space at the same time. Driving under the influence of mushrooms is extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
For beginner mushroom enthusiasts it’s best to have a trip sitter. This person will ensure you stay safe during the journey and should prevent you from doing dangerous activities such as driving a vehicle.
It’s crucial to bear in mind that while psychedelics like shrooms may have therapeutic and transformative qualities, this does not grant the right to disregard the safety of others. The notion that you are in control is often misguided, and driving under the influence is not only illegal and dangerous but also irresponsible and morally objectionable to the majority of people.