Can You Smoke Shrooms?

As interest in magic mushrooms continues to grow, many people wonder whether alternative consumption methods—such as smoking—can enhance or change the psychedelic experience. While shrooms are traditionally eaten or brewed into tea, some users experiment with smoking them in hopes of achieving a faster or more intense high. But does it actually work, and is it safe? Here’s everything you need to know.

How Can Shrooms Be Taken?

Most people consume magic mushrooms by eating them raw or dried. The simplest method is chewing them directly, but many prefer grinding them into powder for easier dosing or for blending into foods and drinks. Shroom tea is another popular choice, offering a gentler come-up with a smoother taste.

Powdered mushrooms are also used in microdose capsules or infused into psilocybin edibles. However, psilocybin degrades under high heat, so baked or cooked recipes must be kept at lower temperatures to preserve potency.

What Are the Effects of Smoking Shrooms?

Reports from online forums suggest that smoking shrooms does not produce the same psychedelic effects as eating or brewing them. Most users describe:

• Little to no noticeable high
• A slightly unpleasant or harsh taste
• Increased nausea compared to traditional methods

There is currently no scientific evidence supporting the idea that smoked psilocybin becomes active through inhalation. Psilocybin breaks down at high temperatures, meaning the compound is likely destroyed before it can be absorbed.

In addition, smoking anything—especially plant matter that may contain mold—poses respiratory risks. People often mix shrooms with cannabis when smoking, which increases the likelihood of anxiety or a disorienting “bad trip.”

How Do People Smoke Shrooms?

Although not recommended, some people still attempt to smoke shrooms by mixing small amounts with cannabis or other herbs. Because mushrooms do not burn evenly, cannabis is typically used as the base.

If someone chooses to proceed despite the drawbacks, they often:

• Use no more than 0.5g of dried mushrooms
• Grind the mushrooms into a fine powder
• Sprinkle the powder over a bowl or mix it into a joint
• Smoke using a pipe, bong, or rolling papers

However, this method is extremely inefficient and wasteful. Most of the psilocybin is destroyed by heat, meaning high-quality mushrooms offer no added benefit when smoked.

Dangers of Smoking Shrooms

Smoking shrooms carries risks beyond simple inefficiency. These include:

• Respiratory irritation: Inhaling burnt mushroom material can irritate lungs and airways.
• Mold exposure: Dried mushrooms may contain microscopic spores that can cause respiratory infections.
• Unknown chemical behavior: Heating mushrooms can create byproducts that have not been studied for inhalation safety.
• Bad trips: Combining shrooms with cannabis can intensify anxiety, confusion, or panic.

Individuals with asthma, allergies, or compromised immune systems face an even higher risk when inhaling fungal particles.

Can You Get Addicted to Smoking Shrooms?

Research indicates that psilocybin is not physically addictive. It does not activate the brain’s dopamine reward system in the same way as substances like opioids, nicotine, or stimulants.

However, psychological dependence can occur with frequent use—especially when individuals come to rely on the emotional or spiritual effects of psychedelics. While physical addiction is not expected, unhealthy patterns can still develop if someone uses psilocybin to avoid stress or negative emotions.

Final Word

While it is technically possible to smoke shrooms, it is unlikely to produce meaningful psychedelic effects and may come with unnecessary health risks. If your goal is to trip safely and effectively, ingesting mushrooms—whether eaten, brewed into tea, or taken through psilocybin edibles—is far more reliable.

Smoking destroys much of the active psilocybin and exposes your lungs to irritants and spores. For a consistent, controlled experience, stick to established consumption methods and always prioritize harm reduction.

If you’re exploring safer alternatives, consider browsing:

• Dried magic mushrooms
• Psilocybin edibles
• Microdose capsules