{"id":10317,"date":"2024-08-08T19:56:16","date_gmt":"2024-08-08T19:56:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/?p=6495042"},"modified":"2024-08-08T19:56:16","modified_gmt":"2024-08-08T19:56:16","slug":"state-investigating-two-people-sickened-after-taking-magic-mushroom-edibles-made-with-synthetic-psilocybin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/state-investigating-two-people-sickened-after-taking-magic-mushroom-edibles-made-with-synthetic-psilocybin\/","title":{"rendered":"State investigating: Two people sickened after taking \u201cmagic mushroom\u201d edibles made with synthetic psilocybin"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/state-investigating-two-people-sickened-after-taking-magic-mushroom-edibles-made-with-synthetic-psilocybin\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><div class=\"media_block\"><\/div>\n<p>It is standard practice for scientists and drug companies to use synthetic psilocybin formulas when conducting clinical studies or drug trials. But synthetic psilocybin is now also showing up outside the lab in illicit \u201cmagic mushroom\u201d edibles that are making consumers sick.<\/p>\n<p>Products made by California\u2019s Prophet Premium Blends, and sold under the Diamond Shruumz brand, have been linked to 113 illnesses in the U.S., including at least two Colorado, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration\u2019s latest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/food\/outbreaks-foodborne-illness\/investigation-illnesses-diamond-shruumz-brand-chocolate-bars-cones-gummies-june-2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">outbreak report<\/a>. The agency is also investigating two potentially related deaths.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said the local illnesses were tied to products purchased in Mesa County and Denver. CDPHE is now investigating those cases with assistance from the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety, Mesa County Public Health, and Denver Department of Public Health and Environment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople should not eat, sell, or serve any flavors of Diamond Shruumz chocolate bars, cones, or gummies, and should discard products that have been purchased,\u201d the agency said.<\/p>\n<p>In June, the FDA tested two Diamond Shruumz chocolate bars and found they contain a compound called 4-acetoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, also known as 4-acO-DMT. One of the products also contained several compounds found in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/topics\/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science\/kavalactones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">kava plant<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Local experts say synthetic psilocybin is pervasive in so-called mushroom edibles sold at head shops throughout Colorado and the U.S. Not only is that misleading \u2014 4-acO-DMT does not occur naturally in psilocybin mushrooms \u2014 it\u2019s also potentially dangerous when you consider the hazardous chemicals needed to create synthetics. In the underground, manufacturers aren\u2019t subject to oversight that ensures their products are safe for human consumption.<\/p>\n<p>Diamond Shruumz edibles <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/media\/180576\/download?attachment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">were sold at 50 stores<\/a> in Colorado before being recalled, and other similar products are likely still available. The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are still investigating the link between Diamond Shruumz products and the illnesses, which include symptoms such as seizures, abnormal heart rate and vomiting.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, it\u2019s worth knowing more about 4-acO-DMT and why some in the psychedelic space are wary of it.<\/p>\n<h4>What is 4-AcO-DMT?<\/h4>\n<p>Simply, 4-AcO-DMT is a synthetic tryptamine that doesn\u2019t occur naturally in mushrooms. It\u2019s known as synthetic psilocybin because it converts into psilocin when metabolized in the human body, according to Scott Thompson, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Psilocin is the psychoactive compound that causes trippy effects like hallucinations.<\/p>\n<p>Psilocybin, on the other hand, does occur naturally in mushrooms. It goes through the same conversion process when ingested and becomes psilocin. The difference is that synthetics are man-made in a lab using chemicals and solvents.<\/p>\n<h4>Why is 4-AcO-DMT showing up in psychedelic mushroom products?<\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6495101\" class=\"wp-caption alignright size-article_inline_half\"><img class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/state-investigating-two-people-sickened-after-taking-magic-mushroom-edibles-made-with-synthetic-psilocybin.jpg\" alt=\"Diamond Shruumz's Birthday Cake Chocolate Bars and other products were recalled after making people sick. As of July 16, the FDA reported 69 people had fallen ill, 36 had been hospitalized and one potentially related death is being investigated. (Provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration)\" width=\"184\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/state-investigating-two-people-sickened-after-taking-magic-mushroom-edibles-made-with-synthetic-psilocybin.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"6495101\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/state-investigating-two-people-sickened-after-taking-magic-mushroom-edibles-made-with-synthetic-psilocybin.jpg 620w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/TDP-Z-diamondshruumz.jpg?fit=310%2C9999px&amp;ssl=1 310w\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Diamond Shruumz\u2019s Birthday Cake Chocolate Bars and other products were recalled after making people sick. As of July 16, the FDA reported 69 people had fallen ill, 36 had been hospitalized and one potentially related death is being investigated. (Provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The psychoactive effects caused by 4-AcO-DMT are similar to psilocybin because the two compounds are similar in structure, said Noah Novello, founder and lead scientist at Friday Ventures drug testing lab in Louisville. But most people won\u2019t notice a difference, he added.<\/p>\n<p>The process of extracting psilocybin from mushrooms is labor-intensive and produces a low yield. To manufacture edibles, it would be potentially more efficacious and cheaper to use something synthetic.<\/p>\n<p>Once Novello learned about the synthetic tryptamine, he developed a method for testing it and found it widespread among edibles marketed as containing psilocybin.<\/p>\n<p>The chances of finding 4-AcO-DMT in psychedelic mushroom edibles are \u201cat least 50\/50 if you\u2019re buying stuff online,\u201d he estimates. \u201cIf you\u2019re buying something from a head shop or a convenience store that\u2019s labeled mushrooms, well over 50%.\u201d<\/p>\n<h4>Is 4-AcO-DMT dangerous?<\/h4>\n<p>4-AcO-DMT has not been studied extensively, so it\u2019s unclear exactly what risks it carries when ingested. Experts say in theory it should be safe, but there are inherent dangers when buying unregulated products that contain it.<\/p>\n<p>According to Colton Brook, lab manager at <a href=\"https:\/\/altitudeconsultingllc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Altitude Consulting<\/a> in Englewood, pure 4-AcO-DMT is likely non-toxic because it is very similar to natural psilocybin, which has a low risk of overdose and addiction.<\/p>\n<p>In clinical trials, professional scientists in regulated labs conduct testing to ensure their formulations have been purged of the toxic chemicals and solvents used to make synthetics. But when 4-AcO-DMT is manufactured underground, there\u2019s no guarantee that happens.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTypically you\u2019re going to have leftover impurities. That\u2019s where it becomes the question of, well is 4-AcO-DMT, 100% pure, safe? That\u2019s a different question than ingesting a chocolate bar that maybe contains it. Because how do you know it\u2019s 100% pure 4-AcO that went into there? You really don\u2019t,\u201d Brook said.<\/p>\n<p>Thompson at CU Anschutz agrees. \u201cIt\u2019s still a mystery to me as to why it should kill somebody because I don\u2019t think the 4-AcO-DMT should be toxic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h4>Is 4-AcO-DMT legal?<\/h4>\n<p>No, 4-AcO-DMT is not legal in\u00a0 Colorado. It is banned in here because the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2022\/11\/08\/colorado-results-prop-122-legalizing-psilocybin-psilocin-mushrooms\/\">Natural Medicine Health Act<\/a>, passed in 2022, prohibits the use of synthetics in psychedelic-assisted therapy. It is also not included in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2024\/02\/05\/colorado-psychedelics-decriminalization-law-psilocybin-shrooms-dmt-mescaline-arrest\/\">list of decriminalized psychedelics<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4>What can consumers do if they are concerned about 4-AcO-DMT in their products?<\/h4>\n<p>The FDA recommends anyone who has purchased Diamond Shruumz products dispose of them or return them to Prophet Premium Blends for a refund.<\/p>\n<p>Locals can bring their products to Friday Ventures for testing to identify what\u2019s in it, Novello said. His rule of thumb: \u201cDo not believe what the packaging says.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Novello also advises being skeptical of any lab results published by a mushroom brand, as they may not tell the whole truth.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"related right\"> <\/aside>\n<p>Diamond Shruumz, for one, has a robust trove of lab results available to the public. The certificate of analysis (COA) for its dark chocolate bar shows the sample does not contain 12 various cannabinoids, including THC and CBD. The results do not include an analysis of tryptamines or synthetic drugs. A COA\u00a0 for Diamond Shruumz\u2019s birthday cake-flavor chocolate bar shows the lab did not detect \u201camanita analytes\u201d or \u201cmushrooms analytes,\u201d suggesting it does not contain amanita or psilocybin mushrooms, Novello said.<\/p>\n<p>Both the aforementioned products were tested by the FDA.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe COA can only tell you what the lab is looking for. This lab is not looking for 4-AcO-DMT, or LSD, or rat poison,\u201d Novello said.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re a consumer, he suggests joining local groups like the <a href=\"https:\/\/pcodenver.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Psychedelic Club of Denver<\/a> or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenowaksociety.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nowak Society<\/a> where you can connect with Colorado\u2019s plethora of home growers, who are legally permitted to share their stash.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/myaccount.denverpost.com\/dp\/preference\">Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"media_block\"><\/div>\n<p>Local experts say 4-AcO-DMT is more pervasive in so-called mushroom products than you might think. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7038,52,5788,6811,1843,7143,1345,7153,6892,7938,4995,77,9,8146,5019,8147,8148,1778,1,3,18,7072,6923,61,1736],"tags":[7039,2632,5789,6816,4411,7144,3915,7155,6893,7939,4996,2655,8151,5022,8152,8153,4346,2622,7073,6924],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10317"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10317\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}