shroomverse

THE JOURNAL · TIMELINE

Psilocybin, through time.

From mushroom stones in ancient Guatemala to the 1958 papers that named psilocybin, the 1971 UN treaty, Canada’s drug laws and today’s clinical trials. Each event links to the sourced guide that explains it.

6history and culture

16science and research

10law and policy elsewhere

13Canadian events

45 events. Dates and wording come from the linked guides, which cite the original sources. Company statements and weaker evidence are labelled.

Event by event.

Showing 45 of 45 events

Before 1900

  1. History

    Mushroom stones at Kaminaljuyú

    Miniature mushroom stones were buried at Kaminaljuyú, in today’s Guatemala, by Borhegyi’s dating. What they meant is still debated.

    Evidence: Unresolved: meaning debated

    Sourced in: The history of magic mushrooms

  2. History

    Spanish chroniclers describe mushroom feasts

    Sahagún and Durán describe mushroom feasts in Mexico. A 2024 review says colonial authorities prohibited the mushrooms as idolatrous.

    Evidence: Established (the feasts); limited evidence (the ban)

    Sourced in: The history of magic mushrooms

1930s

  1. History

    Teonanácatl identified as a mushroom

    Richard Evans Schultes publishes his identification of teonanácatl as a mushroom, after Safford had argued in 1915 that it was peyote.

    Sourced in: The history of magic mushrooms

1950s

  1. Canada

    Humphry Osmond moves to Saskatchewan

    The psychiatrist Humphry Osmond moves from England to Saskatchewan and spends a decade experimenting with hallucinogens.

    Sourced in: How magic mushrooms became illegal in Canada

  2. History

    The Wassons’ first visit to Huautla

    R. Gordon and Valentina Wasson make their first visit to Huautla de Jiménez in Oaxaca, Mexico.

    Sourced in: “Seeking the Magic Mushroom”: the 1957 Life article

  3. History

    María Sabina’s velada

    María Sabina leads the night vigil, or velada, that Wasson and Allan Richardson attend in Huautla de Jiménez.

    Sourced in: The history of magic mushrooms

  4. History

    Life publishes “Seeking the Magic Mushroom”

    Wasson’s account of the 1955 velada runs in Life magazine, vol. 42 no. 19.

    Sourced in: “Seeking the Magic Mushroom”: the 1957 Life article

  5. Science

    The word “psychedelic”

    Humphry Osmond’s word “psychedelic”, defined as “mind-manifesting”. Sources date it to 1956 (first recorded use) or 1957 (his published paper).

    Sourced in: Psilocybin meaning and word origins

  6. Science

    Psilocybin is reported

    Albert Hofmann, Roger Heim and colleagues name psilocybin as a psychotropic substance from Psilocybe mexicana, in Experientia. Psilocin is reported the same month.

    Sourced in: Albert Hofmann and psilocybin

  7. Science

    Structure and synthesis

    A second Experientia paper announces the structure and synthesis of psilocybin.

    Sourced in: Albert Hofmann and psilocybin

  8. Science

    Both compounds in crystalline form

    A Helvetica Chimica Acta paper reports psilocybin and psilocin isolated in crystalline form, from fruit bodies, cultivated mycelium and sclerotia.

    Sourced in: Albert Hofmann and psilocybin

1960s

  1. Science

    Harvard psilocybin project begins

    Timothy Leary’s psilocybin project at Harvard begins.

    Sourced in: “Seeking the Magic Mushroom”: the 1957 Life article

  2. Science

    Harvard ends Alpert’s appointment

    Harvard announces it has ended Richard Alpert’s appointment, after the controversy over work with psilocybin.

    Sourced in: “Seeking the Magic Mushroom”: the 1957 Life article

  3. Canada

    Le Dain Commission appointed

    Canada appoints its commission of inquiry into the non-medical use of drugs (P.C. 1969-1112).

    Sourced in: How magic mushrooms became illegal in Canada

  4. Canada

    A “restricted drugs” category

    A category of restricted drugs is created under the Food and Drugs Act.

    Sourced in: How magic mushrooms became illegal in Canada

1970s

  1. Law worldwide

    US Controlled Substances Act

    The United States enacts the Controlled Substances Act, listing psilocybin and psilocyn in Schedule I. Most of it, including its offences, takes effect on 1 May 1971.

    Sourced in: The history of magic mushrooms

  2. Law worldwide

    UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances

    The Convention is signed in Vienna with psilocybine and psilocine in its Schedule I. It lists the compounds, not the mushrooms.

    Sourced in: How magic mushrooms became illegal in Canada

  3. Canada

    Le Dain final report

    The commission’s final report notes that psilocybin is not on any Canadian schedule.

    Sourced in: How magic mushrooms became illegal in Canada

  4. Canada

    Canada restricts psilocybin

    Psilocybin, psilocin and their salts are reportedly added to Schedule H of the Food and Drugs Act.

    Evidence: Secondary sources only; the regulation itself was not opened

    Sourced in: How magic mushrooms became illegal in Canada

  5. Law worldwide

    The Convention enters into force

    The 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances comes into force.

    Sourced in: How magic mushrooms became illegal in Canada

1980s

  1. Canada

    Canada joins the Convention

    Canada accedes to the 1971 Convention, with a reservation for peyote.

    Sourced in: How magic mushrooms became illegal in Canada

1990s

  1. Canada

    Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in force

    Psilocin and psilocybin are listed in Schedule III of the new Act.

    Sourced in: How magic mushrooms became illegal in Canada

  2. Science

    The 5-HT2A receptor link

    In a study of healthy volunteers, a drug that blocks 5-HT2A serotonin receptors blocked psilocybin’s effects.

    Sourced in: What is psilocybin, and how does it work?

2000s

  1. Science

    A double-blind study in 36 adults

    A double-blind psilocybin study of 36 hallucinogen-naive adults who took part in religious or spiritual activities is published.

    Evidence: Preliminary findings

    Sourced in: The history of magic mushrooms

2010s

  1. Science

    Studies in people with life-threatening cancer

    Three small studies (12, 29 and 51 participants) report lower anxiety and depression scores after psilocybin with psychotherapy in adults with life-threatening cancer.

    Sourced in: Psilocybin for end-of-life distress: the evidence

  2. Science

    Breakthrough Therapy designation

    Compass Pathways says the FDA gave COMP360 Breakthrough Therapy designation for treatment-resistant depression.

    Evidence: Company statement

    Sourced in: COMP360 and the FDA: what it would mean for Canada

2020s

  1. Science

    The blue-bruising enzymes

    A study identifies two enzymes in Psilocybe cubensis, PsiP and PsiL, that turn psilocybin into the blue products of bruising.

    Sourced in: Why do magic mushrooms turn blue?

  2. Canada

    Individual section 56 exemptions

    Health Canada grants individual exemptions for psilocybin: CBC reported one patient’s exemption was first granted in October 2020, and that 19 practitioners received exemptions that year.

    Sourced in: Section 56 exemptions for psilocybin, explained

  3. Law worldwide

    Oregon passes Measure 109

    Oregon voters pass Measure 109, creating a state-licensed psilocybin services program.

    Sourced in: Oregon and Colorado psilocybin programs explained

  4. Science

    A self-blinding microdosing study

    In a study that 191 people completed, both the microdose and placebo groups improved, and the differences between them were not significant.

    Sourced in: Microdosing psilocybin: what the trials show

  5. Canada

    Special Access Program route restored

    Practitioners can again request psilocybin for patients through Health Canada’s Special Access Program.

    Sourced in: How magic mushrooms became illegal in Canada

  6. Science

    A phase 2 depression trial with a Toronto site

    A phase 2 trial of a synthetic psilocybin in 233 adults with treatment-resistant depression, with sites in 10 countries including CAMH in Toronto, is published.

    Evidence: Preliminary findings

    Sourced in: The history of magic mushrooms

  7. Science

    An alcohol use disorder trial

    A 95-person US trial finds fewer heavy drinking days than with an active placebo, but nearly everyone guessed which group they were in.

    Sourced in: Psilocybin for alcohol use disorder: the trials

  8. Canada

    Practitioner exemptions refused

    The Minister refuses a group of exemption applications from health care practitioners. A court challenge is filed on 11 July 2022.

    Sourced in: Section 56 exemptions for psilocybin, explained

  9. Law worldwide

    Colorado Proposition 122

    Colorado’s Proposition 122, on natural medicine, is on the general election ballot.

    Sourced in: Oregon and Colorado psilocybin programs explained

  10. Law worldwide

    Oregon service centres open

    Oregon’s licensed psilocybin service centres begin opening to clients.

    Sourced in: Oregon and Colorado psilocybin programs explained

  11. Science

    How Panaeolus got the psilocybin genes

    A study says the genus Panaeolus acquired the psilocybin genes by gene transfer about 40 million years ago.

    Sourced in: Panaeolus cyanescens and the Blue Meanies name

  12. Law worldwide

    Mislabelled “mushroom” edibles outbreak

    A US outbreak linked to one brand of “mushroom” edibles: CDC’s final 2026 analysis counted 180 cases in 34 states and two deaths. Tests found muscimol and other compounds.

    Sourced in: Fake magic mushroom products

  13. Law worldwide

    Colorado’s first healing-centre licence

    Colorado’s Natural Medicine Division approves its first healing-centre licence.

    Sourced in: Oregon and Colorado psilocybin programs explained

  14. Canada

    Court of Appeal sets aside refusals

    The Federal Court of Appeal sets aside the 2022 refusals of practitioners’ exemption requests as unreasonable and sends them back for a new decision.

    Sourced in: Section 56 exemptions for psilocybin, explained

  15. Science

    Phase 3 results reported

    Compass Pathways reports that its two phase 3 trials of COMP360, COMP005 and COMP006, met their primary endpoints.

    Evidence: Company statements

    Sourced in: COMP360 and the FDA: what it would mean for Canada

  16. Law worldwide

    Czech Republic allows medical use

    Psilocybin can be used medically in authorized psychiatric settings in the Czech Republic; otherwise it remains controlled.

    Sourced in: Psilocybin law tracker

  17. Law worldwide

    FDA rolling review

    Compass says the FDA granted a rolling submission and review for COMP360 and selected it for a national priority voucher.

    Evidence: Company statement

    Sourced in: COMP360 and the FDA: what it would mean for Canada

  18. Canada

    Bill C-286 introduced

    A private member’s bill, known as Thomas’ Bill, is introduced in the House of Commons. As of October 2026 it had had first reading only.

    Sourced in: Bill C-286 (Thomas’ Bill) explained

  19. Canada

    New federal regulations in force

    The Controlled Substances Regulations come into force, listing psilocin and psilocybin as restricted drugs. They do not make magic mushrooms legal.

    Sourced in: How magic mushrooms became illegal in Canada

How to read the timeline.

  • Dates are given as precisely as the sources allow. A year alone means the source gives no exact date.
  • Evidence labels appear where a guide rates an event as less than established, for example when it rests on one review or on secondary sources only.
  • Company statements about a drug in development are the company’s own claims, not regulator decisions.
  • This is a history, not legal or medical advice. For the law today, see the psilocybin law tracker; for current studies, the clinical trials tracker.

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