The Danish Ministry of Health is intending to place, as early as July 1st, mushrooms on the black list. It will be illegal to grow, sell, or possess mushrooms.

A study done by the State Institute of Public Health shows that 3% of all 16-24 year olds have tried the mushrooms, which surprises is surprising since this figure is higher than that of ecstasy usage.

Anne-Marie Sindballe, a specialist from the State Institute of Public Health (and who is helping get the ban passed), said that the figure was previously thought to be under 1%.

Psilocybin has been banned for a long time, but this will be the first time that mushrooms containing it will also be banned. Up until now, mushrooms were easily acquired in shops and through the Internet.

"It is common knowledge," says Sindballe, "that psilocybin can cause psychosis, especially if you were born with a predisposition. It is dangerous stuff to play with, which is why it is important that police can now, with mushrooms being illegal, confiscate mushrooms and prohibit anyone from making a profit through the sale of mushrooms. "

Critics claim however that the sale will continue on the black market, just like other forbidden drugs.

In 1999, a woman in Marslet was stabbed by a 17-year old man, whose rage was caused by psilocybin mushrooms.

Also, a man in Viborg was convicted of abduction and rape after having smoked hash and eaten mushrooms.

In Copenhagen, the store Soma today is selling the future-forbidden product. But they better get used to selling their last psilocybin-mushroom.