UN's INCB Psilocybin Mushroom Policy
Sep 13 2001
Letter to Dutch Ministry of Health
See Also:
Vienna International Center PO Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Telephone: +43-1-28060, Telefax +43-1-26080-5857 / 5858
Email: secretariat@incb.org Internet Address: http://www.incb.org
Ref: INCB 114/3 NET - CBU/3
To Dr R Lousber
Dear Dr Lousberg
Chief
Inspectorate for Health Care
Den Haag
The Netherlands
Dear Dr. Lousberg, The International Narcotics Control Board Secretariat has recently received an inquiry from attorneys who represent deferendencts in a criminal case in your country regarding mushrooms that contain the substance psilocine and psilocybin. A copy of the letter is attached for reference.
The INCB Secretariat consulted with the Scientific Section and the Legal Advisory Section of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) in the preparation of this reply, which you may wish to share with the authors of the 5 September 1002 letter.
As you are aware, mushrooms containing the above substances are collected and abused for their hallucinogenic effects. As a matter of international law, no plants (natural material) containing psilocine and psilocybin are at present controlled under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. Consequently, preparations made of these plants are not under international control and, therefore, not subject of the articles of the 1971 Convention.
It should be noted, however, that criminal cases are decided with reference to domestic law, which may otherwise provide for controls over mushrooms containing psilocine and psilocybin. As the Board can only speak as to the contours of the international drug conventions, I am unable to provide an opinion on the litigation in question.
- Ananda Schouten's 2004 Overview of the legal status of Psilocybin mushrooms
- Original scanned FAX of this letter
Vienna International Center PO Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Telephone: +43-1-28060, Telefax +43-1-26080-5857 / 5858
Email: secretariat@incb.org Internet Address: http://www.incb.org
Ref: INCB 114/3 NET - CBU/3
To Dr R Lousber
Dear Dr Lousberg
Chief
Inspectorate for Health Care
Den Haag
The Netherlands
Dear Dr. Lousberg, The International Narcotics Control Board Secretariat has recently received an inquiry from attorneys who represent deferendencts in a criminal case in your country regarding mushrooms that contain the substance psilocine and psilocybin. A copy of the letter is attached for reference.
The INCB Secretariat consulted with the Scientific Section and the Legal Advisory Section of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) in the preparation of this reply, which you may wish to share with the authors of the 5 September 1002 letter.
As you are aware, mushrooms containing the above substances are collected and abused for their hallucinogenic effects. As a matter of international law, no plants (natural material) containing psilocine and psilocybin are at present controlled under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. Consequently, preparations made of these plants are not under international control and, therefore, not subject of the articles of the 1971 Convention.
It should be noted, however, that criminal cases are decided with reference to domestic law, which may otherwise provide for controls over mushrooms containing psilocine and psilocybin. As the Board can only speak as to the contours of the international drug conventions, I am unable to provide an opinion on the litigation in question.