Pubdate: Sat, 11 Mar 2000
Source: Daily Times, The (MD)
Copyright: 2000 The Daily Times
Contact:  (410) 749-7290

CRACKDOWN ON 'MUSHROOMS'

While we always heard that some people were prone to consuming
hallucinogenic mushrooms, we never suspected there was money to be made
growing the strange mind-altering fungi. But this week the Wicomico County
Narcotics Task Force raided a Salisbury home and charged a resident with
eight counts related to manufacturing, distributing, possessing and storing
the mushrooms.

Police said they confiscated 48 jars of the mushrooms, known as Psilocybin.

Police also said they found a serious mushroom-growing operation in the
basement of the raided home.

Where and how these mushrooms might be sold and distributed is a bit of a
mystery to us. Are mushrooms sold on the corner like crack cocaine? Are
they popular with the high school crowd or baby boomers? Should we look for
legislation next year in the Maryland General Assembly seeking to legalize
mushrooms for medicinal purposes? Either way, police are apparently
cracking down on mushroom growers and moving to stop this "Mushroom
Madness," and that's a good thing - at least we think so.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D