Psilocybin law in United Kingdom

Illegal Checked 4 October 2026

Any fungus containing psilocin is a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and magic mushroom supply is prosecuted, for example a 2025 Plymouth Crown Court conviction. A ceremony leader was also convicted in 2011 for supplying ayahuasca at a retreat. The UK fails the tolerated test.

Psilocybin is a controlled substance with no lawful route for retreats or personal use. Some of these states fund research or trials. A summary of published sources, not legal advice.

What the sources say

Schedule 2, Part I of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 lists "Fungus (of any kind) which contains psilocin or an ester of psilocin" as a Class A drug. The Home Office controlled drugs list shows it as Class A, Schedule 1. [Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2, Part I (Class A), legislation.gov.uk, read 4 October 2026] [List of most commonly encountered drugs currently controlled under the misuse of drugs legislation, Home Office (GOV.UK), read 4 October 2026]
In May 2025 a 61-year-old Tavistock man was found guilty at Plymouth Crown Court of producing and supplying magic mushrooms (Class A) between March 2020 and August 2023. [Tavistock man in court over supplying magic mushrooms, Tavistock Today, 2025-05-08, read 4 October 2026]
On 8 August 2011 Peter Aziz, who ran ayahuasca ceremonies at a week-long retreat in Somerset, was found guilty at Bristol Crown Court of producing and supplying a Class A drug; he was later jailed for 15 months. [UK ayahuasca prosecution concludes with a verdict of guilty, bialabate.net, 2011-08-14, read 4 October 2026]
Reason for exclusion: condition 3 fails (psilocybin supply is prosecuted and a retreat ceremony leader has been convicted). No openly operating UK psilocybin retreat was found either (condition 2). [Tavistock man in court over supplying magic mushrooms, Tavistock Today, 2025-05-08, read 4 October 2026] [UK ayahuasca prosecution concludes with a verdict of guilty, bialabate.net, 2011-08-14, read 4 October 2026]

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