Kerala High Court's magic mushroom ruling. Is the substance illegal or not? Expert explains

Many reports have been coming out stating that the Kerala High Court rules that magic mushroom isn't a narcotic substance. As per reports, the court said mushroom or magic mushroom cannot be treated as a mixture while hearing the bail plea of a petitioner who was arrested in October last year for possessing and transporting charas, ganja and 226 grammes of psilocybin-contained magic mushroom, and 50 grams of psilocybin-contained magic mushroom capsules. Apparently, the court said that mushroom is to be considered as a fungi and not a mixture and that the quantity seized in this case was not separately shown to determine whether the level of psilocybin was of a commercial quantity. Does this mean magic mushrooms aren't illegal anymore? A senior excise official explains:

Are magic mushrooms illegal or not in India?
Yes, any activity with magic mushroom is still illegal, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. However, if the quantity of the seized substances is small, it might be easier to get a bail. In this particular case, the quantity of magic mushroom along with the chemical substances it was mixed with was found to be quite low and hence, the bail. According to Section 22 of the Act, less than 2 grams of psilocybin is considered small quantity and more than 50 grams is termed commercial. The law states that you shouldn't cultivate, possess, sell, distribute, consume, import or export magic mushroom as it would be an offence.

What is magic mushroom?
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, magic mushrooms are a type of fungi that's found nearly on every continent and have a long history of use. They grow naturally in various regions in India like Kerala and Karnataka of Western Ghats, Meghalaya and Manipur of Northeastern India, and Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh of the Himalayan region. They grow on decomposing organic matter, in moist soil enriched with decaying wood or cow dung, and after the rainy season when the environment is damp, yet warm. They are typically consumed dried or powdered.

Are magic mushrooms good for health?
According to Medical News Today, consuming magic mushrooms or shrooms can have effects ranging from euphoria to hallucinations. However, it has a high potential for abuse and serves no legitimate medical purpose. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says people who use it can experience “flashbacks anywhere from weeks to years and also experience fear, confusion, delirium, psychosis and syndromes.”