By its very nature, cannabis isn’t about looking back. A new year means new strains, a new crop, and new states opening their adult-use floodgates. 2024 is looking brighter and brighter, Leafly Nation, but we think it’s also worth looking at how far we’ve come, and what resonated with us in 2023. We can’t keep pushing forward without acknowledging what worked and what didn’t to get us here, right?
So, we’ve compiled here our most popular stories of 2023. We saw some trends with our traffic—namely, you all seem to have an interest in optimizing your lives with shrooms, seeking out the heat when it comes to strains and products, and how to ensure cannabis gives you treats, not tricks. Did you find a new favorite cultivar or go-to product this year? We hope so. See you in 2024!
Shrooms
If you think interest in shrooms came out of nowhere, you haven’t been paying attention! Magic mushrooms, psilocybin, and other psychedelic plants and substances have histories that date back thousands of years to various civilizations, just like cannabis. As activists and legislators in more and more states and cities work to decriminalize and de-stigmatize them, sky’s the limit for what kind of role they’ll eventually play in our society and the world at large. If you’re feeling lost, these articles are a great place to start.
Related
How to order weed delivery online with Leafly
Strains & Products
As we tally up the ever-growing list of cannabis cup and competition winners for the year, it appears that our readers are snobs. Just kidding—y’all just have amazing taste and refuse to letter for less. Our Head of Brand Experience and career terp sleuth David Downs has a keen eye for picking winners—many of the cultivars on his seasonal and monthly lists topped best-of lists, sold out, and won big awards.
Science, Lifestyle, and Politics
Beyond the weed itself, we love to see that our community of readers take their health seriously, and keep an eye on policy. Cannabis has so much potential, be it as a conduit for intimacy or a tourism draw, and that resonated with readers. And as the map of the US gets greener and greener every year (welcome, Ohio!), 2024 is sure to take us to even further heights.
In an extraordinary leap for biohybrid technology, researchers have managed to create roboshrooms – a robot controlled by a mushroom, a development that could revolutionize the way we think about both robotics and biological systems. The research taps into the electrophysiological signals generated by mycelium, the root-like network of a mushroom, to control a robotic body. This breakthrough highlights how living organisms can be integrated with machines, leading to self-sufficient, adaptable robots capable of interacting with their environments in real-time.
The roboshrooms – a fusion of fungi and robotics are a part of a growing field of biohybrid systems, where biological components are merged with mechanical structures to create living machines. These robots, unlike traditional artificial counterparts, have the potential to adapt and respond to their environments dynamically. For example, these robots could be used to monitor ecological systems, manage crops, or even assist in search-and-rescue missions.
How the Roboshrooms Work: The Science Behind It
The key to this innovation lies in the mycelium, the underground network of fungal filaments that act like the “brain” of the mushroom. Mycelial networks have been compared to neural systems, as they transmit electrophysiological signals in response to changes in their environment, such as exposure to light, temperature shifts, or the presence of chemicals in the soil. By harnessing these signals, researchers were able to control the movements of a robotic body attached to the mushroom.
In the experiment, the mycelium of Pleurotus eryngii, a species of king oyster mushroom, was connected to a microcontroller that could interpret the mushroom’s natural electrical impulses. These signals were then used to drive the movement of a robotic structure. The robot, a soft-bodied machine with multiple appendages, was able to crawl and move autonomously in response to environmental stimuli like UV light.
This living-machine hybrid system relies on real-time feedback from the mushroom. The signals generated by the mycelium are processed by the robot’s control system, allowing it to make adjustments to its movements based on the mushroom’s reaction to its surroundings. The biological system, in this case, acts as a sensor and control unit, while the mechanical body executes the tasks.
Why Mushrooms? Resilience and Adaptability
Mushrooms, and fungi in general, are particularly attractive for biohybrid systems due to their resilience and adaptability. Fungi can survive in extreme environments, ranging from radioactive zones to deep-sea ecosystems, and can thrive under conditions where many other organisms would perish. This makes them ideal for applications that require robust, adaptive systems, such as monitoring environmental changes or operating in hazardous environments.
In addition, mushrooms are known for their decomposing capabilities and are often seen as nature’s recyclers. Their ability to break down complex organic material makes them useful in agricultural and ecological applications, where biohybrid robots could be programmed to monitor soil quality, manage crops, or even remediate contaminated land by delivering nutrients or absorbing pollutants.
Moreover, mycelial networks have been found to exhibit intelligent behaviors, such as resource allocation, responding to stimuli, and even “learning” from previous experiences. These traits make fungi a prime candidate for biologically integrated robotics, where living organisms add adaptive and learning capabilities to machines.
Potential Applications of Mushroom-Controlled Robots
The ability to control a robotic body using mushroom mycelium opens up a range of potential applications, especially in fields where adaptability and real-time environmental feedback are critical. Some potential uses include:
Environmental Monitoring: Mushroom-driven robots could monitor and respond to changes in environmental conditions such as pollution levels, soil health, and air quality. Because fungi are highly sensitive to chemical changes in their surroundings, these biohybrids could serve as early warning systems for ecological disturbances.
Agriculture: Fungal networks play a key role in plant health by helping plants absorb water and nutrients. Robots controlled by mushrooms could be deployed in fields to monitor soil conditions, dispense fertilizers, or control pests, improving crop yield while reducing the need for artificial chemicals.
Search and Rescue: The adaptability and resilience of fungal-based robots could be useful in search-and-rescue operations, especially in hazardous environments. These robots could navigate through rubble or extreme conditions to locate survivors, providing real-time data based on the mushroom’s sensitivity to environmental changes).
Medical Diagnostics: Mushrooms’ ability to sense chemical changes at a microscopic level could potentially be adapted for medical diagnostics. For example, a mushroom-robot hybrid could be developed to sense changes in the human body, such as chemical imbalances or the presence of toxins, offering new ways to detect diseases.
Ethical and Environmental Considerations
While the potential applications of roboshrooms are exciting, the integration of living organisms with machines raises important ethical questions. For instance, do these biohybrid systems, composed of both living organisms and mechanical parts—deserve the same considerations as other life forms? Furthermore, as we develop more advanced roboshrooms, how will we regulate their use to ensure that we don’t exploit living organisms?
Moreover, environmental concerns need to be addressed. The deployment of roboshrooms in natural ecosystems must be carefully managed to avoid unintended consequences. These robots could potentially disrupt natural processes if not designed and tested properly, leading to ecological imbalances.
Despite these challenges, the mushroom-controlled robot demonstrates the profound possibilities of merging biology with technology. The future of biohybrid systems promises innovations that will make robots more adaptable, responsive, and intelligent, bringing us closer to a world where machines don’t just interact with their environments but become a part of the living ecosystem.
Conclusion
The integration of a mushroom’s mycelium network with a robotic body represents an extraordinary step forward in the world of roboshrooms. With applications in environmental monitoring, agriculture, and medical diagnostics, these living machines could reshape how we interact with and monitor the world around us. As researchers continue to explore the potential of mushroom-controlled robots, the future holds exciting possibilities for creating more intelligent, adaptable systems that blur the line between living organisms and machines.
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, recently shared how a weekend retreat in Mexico, where he participated in a guided psychedelic session, changed his life. During this retreat, he ingested psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms, and experienced profound emotional breakthroughs that altered his perspective on both his personal and professional life. Sam Altman’s openness about his psilocybin retreat reflects a growing trend of prominent figures exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for personal growth and mental health healing.
Sam Altman’s Psilocybin Journey: How a Mexico Retreat Transformed His Life
Psilocybin: The Compound Behind Altman’s Transformation
Psilocybin has a long history of use in indigenous cultures, particularly in regions like Mexico, where it has been employed in spiritual and healing ceremonies for centuries. It is a psychedelic substance that, once ingested, converts to psilocin in the body, which interacts with the brain’s serotonin receptors, altering perception, mood, and cognition. Psilocybin has been at the forefront of the psychedelic renaissance, where both clinical trials and personal accounts like Altman’s highlight its potential to treat various mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
A Deeper Dive Into Psychedelic Retreats
Altman’s experience took place in a structured psilocybin retreat setting in Mexico, a country that has emerged as a popular destination for such experiences due to its relatively lenient legal framework around psychedelics. Retreat centers in Mexico often combine traditional healing practices with modern therapeutic approaches, offering participants an immersive and supportive environment to explore their inner worlds. The retreats are facilitated by experts in both plant medicine and mental health, ensuring that the process is safe and beneficial.
These retreats typically include guided sessions, where participants consume psychedelics in a controlled environment, often accompanied by meditation, music, and sensory experiences that enhance the journey. For many, the experience leads to ego dissolution, a state where the sense of self fades, often resulting in a greater sense of connectedness to others and the world around them. Altman’s encounter with psilocybin allowed him to gain new insights into his emotional life and work responsibilities, echoing the experiences of many who have undergone psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Scientific Research: Psilocybin’s Role in Mental Health
Research on psilocybin has grown exponentially over the past decade. Leading universities like Johns Hopkins and Imperial College London have conducted clinical trials demonstrating psilocybin’s effectiveness in treating treatment-resistant depression, end-of-life anxiety, and even addiction. One study at Johns Hopkins revealed that a single high-dose session of psilocybin, when combined with psychotherapy, produced a lasting reduction in depressive symptoms, with participants reporting benefits up to six months after the session.
The mechanism behind psilocybin’s success is its ability to increase neuroplasticity, which allows the brain to form new connections and break free from rigid patterns of thought—one of the hallmarks of mental health disorders like depression. This altered brain state, coupled with the powerful emotional experiences that often accompany psilocybin use, helps patients process trauma, grief, and existential anxiety in ways that traditional therapies may not be able to achieve.
Psilocybin’s Impact Beyond Therapy: Personal Growth and Creativity
Beyond its therapeutic uses, psilocybin has gained attention for its ability to foster personal growth, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Silicon Valley executives and creatives alike have explored psychedelics as tools for enhancing creativity and breaking free from habitual thought patterns. Altman’s experience adds to the growing anecdotal evidence suggesting that psychedelics can unlock new perspectives on life challenges, relationships, and professional dilemmas. His participation in the psilocybin retreat not only deepened his emotional understanding but also allowed him to reflect more clearly on complex decisions related to his role at OpenAI.
Mexico’s Role in the Psychedelic Renaissance
Mexico’s role as a hub for psychedelic retreats is partly due to the country’s rich tradition of plant medicine and its more relaxed attitude toward certain psychedelics compared to the United States. In regions like Oaxaca, Mazatec communities have long used psilocybin mushrooms for ceremonial purposes. This ancient practice has blended with modern wellness tourism, as individuals from around the world seek healing and spiritual exploration in these culturally immersive retreats.
As more people travel to Mexico for psilocybin retreats, the demand for safe and professional experiences has led to the development of well-structured programs that include integration support—guidance on how to apply the insights gained during the psychedelic experience to everyday life. This integration is crucial, as it ensures that the deep emotional and psychological breakthroughs experienced during a session lead to long-lasting changes in behavior and outlook.
The Future of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Altman’s openness about his psychedelic experience comes at a time when psychedelics are gaining mainstream attention. Several U.S. cities and states have decriminalized or legalized psilocybin for therapeutic use, including Oregon, which became the first state to legalize psilocybin therapy in 2020. As more public figures and entrepreneurs embrace the potential of these substances, the cultural stigma surrounding psychedelics is slowly eroding.
In the coming years, experts predict that psilocybin therapy will become a widely accepted treatment for a range of mental health conditions, especially as ongoing research continues to validate its efficacy. The FDA has already granted breakthrough therapy status to psilocybin for its ability to treat major depression, paving the way for potential federal legalization in the future.
Conclusion: A Life-Changing Experience with Far-Reaching Implications
Sam Altman’s transformative weekend retreat in Mexico underscores the growing interest in psychedelic therapies among high-profile individuals seeking not only emotional healing but also personal and professional insights. His story reflects the broader psychedelic renaissance, where plant medicines like psilocybin are being recognized for their powerful effects on mental health, creativity, and self-awareness. As research continues to explore the potential of psychedelics, their role in modern therapy and wellness is set to expand, potentially revolutionizing how we approach mental health and personal growth.
The Amanita muscaria mushroom, known for its iconic red and white appearance, has a long history of use in traditional cultures, but recently it has gained renewed attention as individuals explore alternative methods to consume its psychoactive compounds, including smoking. However, smoking Amanita mushrooms and ingesting muscimol, its psychoactive compound, come with significant risks. Recent cases involving muscimol-infused edibles have even resulted in deaths, highlighting the dangers of unregulated use.
Smoking Amanita Mushrooms: Understanding the Risks
Can You Smoke Amanita Mushrooms?
Yes, smoking Amanita mushrooms is possible, but it differs significantly from smoking other psychoactive substances like cannabis or psilocybin mushrooms. The mushroom’s active compounds—muscimol and ibotenic acid—are heat-resistant, which allows them to remain intact when smoked. However, while smoking the mushroom might provide calming or sedative effects, users also report unpredictable reactions, ranging from mild euphoria to dissociative states.
Common effects from smoking Amanita muscaria include:
Relaxation or sedation
Altered perception of reality, sometimes described as dream-like or surreal
Distorted time perception
Heightened sensory experiences, such as increased appreciation for music.
However, it’s important to note that the psychoactive effects of muscimol are not as well studied or consistent as those of psilocybin. Smoking the mushroom doesn’t eliminate its risks, particularly because dosing is difficult to control and the effects vary from person to person.
Health Risks and Toxicity
Amanita muscaria is classified as toxic if consumed without proper preparation. Ibotenic acid, one of its key compounds, is neurotoxic and can cause nausea, vomiting, muscle spasms, and hallucinations when ingested in high doses or improperly prepared. The mushroom must be carefully dried to convert ibotenic acid into muscimol, which is less toxic but still presents risks when consumed, especially if smoked or ingested in high quantities.
When it comes to smoking, users are not always able to accurately measure the amount of muscimol they are inhaling, which can lead to unexpected outcomes, such as:
Anxiety or confusion
Paranoia
Disorientation
Mild hallucinations, often perceived as troubling rather than pleasurable.
The narrow safety window for muscimol, where the difference between a safe dose and a toxic one is small, makes smoking or consuming Amanita muscaria particularly hazardous. For most people, the effects are inconsistent and difficult to predict.
Recent Deaths Linked to Muscimol-Infused Edibles
Recent incidents in the U.S. have underscored the dangers of unregulated consumption of muscimol-infused edibles. In 2024, A few illnesses and even deathswere linked to Diamond Shruumz edibles, a product containing muscimol derived from Amanita muscaria. Individuals who consumed the edibles reported symptoms such as seizures, agitation, involuntary muscle contractions, and loss of consciousness. In some cases, the symptoms were severe enough to require hospitalization, and one individual died from complications related to muscimol poisoning.
The lack of standardized dosing in muscimol products has been a major contributing factor to these poisonings. Unlike psilocybin, which has undergone more extensive medical research, muscimol’s effects are unpredictable and its toxicity levels can vary widely based on preparation methods. When incorporated into edibles, these variations can be dangerous, as individuals often underestimate the time it takes for muscimol to take effect, leading them to consume more than their bodies can safely process.
Legal and Safety Considerations
While Amanita muscaria is legal in many regions where psilocybin remains banned, its psychoactive effects and toxicity make it a risky choice for recreational use. Unlike psilocybin mushrooms, which have gained recognition for their therapeutic potential, muscimol is less predictable, with fewer medical studies supporting its use. As more people explore this mushroom for its psychoactive properties, there is a growing concern among health officials that unregulated consumption will lead to more overdoses and poisonings, especially in the form of edibles.
Conclusion: Use Caution with Amanita Muscaria
The practice of smoking Amanita muscaria may appeal to those seeking an alternative psychedelic experience, but it carries significant risks. The mushroom’s toxic components, combined with the unpredictable nature of muscimol’s effects, make it a potentially dangerous choice, especially for inexperienced users. Recent cases of illnesses and deaths linked to muscimol-infused edibles serve as a reminder that this substance should be approached with extreme caution, if at all(
As more people explore psychoactive substances like Amanita muscaria, it is critical to increase public awareness about the risks and the importance of proper preparation and dosing guidelines. Until more research is conducted and better regulations are in place, individuals should be wary of experimenting with this mushroom in any form, including smoking.
For those curious about Amanita muscaria, it is advisable to seek expert guidance and to be fully aware of the legal implications and health risks associated with its use.