How Penis Envy Became the Most Desirable Magic Mushroom Today

Disclaimer: Psilocybin is a largely illegal substance, and we do not encourage or condone its use where it is against the law. However, we accept that illicit drug use occurs and believe that offering responsible harm reduction information is imperative to keeping people safe. For that reason, this document is designed to enhance the safety of those who decide to use penis envy mushrooms and other psilocybin-containing substances.

This article has been medically reviewed by Katrina Oliveros, MSN-ED, BSN

As their name suggests, penis envy mushrooms are a kind of mushroom known for resembling a human penis, with a bulbous cap and thick stem. More notably, they’re a potent and sought-after psychoactive substance, with unusually high concentrations of psilocybin and psilocin, contributing to a reportedly more intense, visual, and euphoric experience. Conversely, they also take longer to mature and don’t produce as many spores, making them notoriously difficult to find or cultivate, which, perhaps, is where the envy comes from.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE EXPERIENCING PENIS ENVY MAGIC MUSHROOMS

What Type of Mushroom is Penis Envy?

Penis envy (PE) is the colloquial name for a particular strain of Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms prized as one of the most psychoactive magic mushrooms. While other members of this species are similar in effect and widespread due to the ease of growing indoors, PE mushrooms are among the strongest and hardest to cultivate Psilocybe cubensis strains.

With multiple varieties in circulation and only several decades of known history, PE is a mushroom worth getting to know before working with it as medicine.

What Are the Varieties of Penis Envy Shrooms?

The genetics of psilocybin mushrooms can be hard to parse due to the substances’ spotty legality in most jurisdictions. Nevertheless, there are several different penis envy mushroom strains in circulation today, distinguished by their hybridized genetics and certain physical characteristics.

The most commonly known penis envy varieties include:

• Albino penis envy: a slightly smaller hybrid with the albino A+ strain, with caps sometimes tinged deep blue.
• Penis envy uncut: another albino cross, named for having caps that adhere to the stem, known as the most potent PE variety.
• Albino penis envy revert: a stabilized mutant substrain of albino penis envy.
• Penis envy #6: a hybrid with Texas cubensis for increased spore production.
• Trans envy: a hybrid with the South African Transkei strain, with slightly thinner stems and less potency than other PE varieties.

Albino penis envy mushrooms may also be known as blue penis envy due to the bluish bruising that occurs when they are handled even lightly, which is considered an indicator of their high psilocin content.

Where Does Blue Penis Envy Grow Naturally?

Blue penis envy and other penis envy strains don’t grow naturally anywhere, as far as anyone knows. Instead, they’re the lab-grown product of multiple recessive mutations from a spore print of Psilocybe cubensis allegedly found deep within the Amazon rainforest (more on that later). So, while other cubensis strains are among the most naturally ubiquitous, the only surefire way to get your hands on some penis envy is to cultivate them yourself or get them from someone who did.

What’s the History of Psilocybe Cubensis Mushrooms?

As one of the most common magic mushrooms, the history of Psilocybin cubensis largely parallels that of psilocybin mushrooms as a whole.

Humans’ relationship with mind-altering psilocybin mushrooms goes back thousands of years before the dawn of history or civilization as we know it, as evidenced by the ceremonial, shroom-like iconography found in ancient artworks across multiple continents.

They were first introduced to the general Western audience by a 1957 Life magazine article titled “Seeking the Magic Mushroom.” In it, author Robert Gordon Wasson recounted his experience in Mexico finding and ingesting the psychotropic fungus, which his fellow mycologist Roger Heim later identified as Psilocybe cubensis.

For the next decade-plus, thousands of doses of psilocybin were administered in clinical experiments, not to mention taken recreationally, before their widespread international prohibition under the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

What’s the History of Penis Envy Mushrooms?

As for penis envy mushrooms, famed ethnobotanist and psychedelic advocate Terence McKenna is generally credited with their discovery, though the details of that discovery remain shrouded in hearsay.

As the legend goes, in the early 1970s, McKenna stumbled upon a massive, healthy patch of psychedelic mushrooms deep within the Amazon rainforest with the help of several local guides. Then, he smuggled his findings undetected back to the US by taking spore prints of the culture and sandwiching them between microscopy slides labeled with a different genus name.

One such spore print he gave to his colleague Steven H. Pollock, a medical doctor and fellow believer in the potential of psychedelic plant medicines. Over several years, Pollock refined this culture by selectively fruiting mushrooms from generation to generation until he found one mutation, with an exceptionally thick stem and pallid cap, that could reliably propagate its recessive genetic characteristics. Thus, the penis envy mushroom strain was born.

What Is the Potency of Penis Envy Mushrooms Compared to Other Types of Magic Mushrooms?

The potency of all penis envy mushrooms is consistently higher than that of any other Psilocybe cubensis strains. Consequently, they are often considered the most potent of all magic mushrooms, with up to 50% higher concentrations of the psychoactive ingredients psilocybin and psilocin. However, the lack of accessible test results differentiating between strains and their effects makes this hard to confirm.

Based on anecdotal reports, users’ experiences under penis envy cubensis can be comparable to those occasioned by more potent psychedelic substances such as DMT or LSD. Experiences tend to last between four to five hours, with typical effects including euphoria, synesthesia, temporal distortion, changes in visual perception, and profound spiritual introspection.

Is the Dosage Different with Penis Envy Mushrooms versus Other Psilocybin Mushrooms?

Yes. The recommended dose to start for other, milder Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms is between 1.0 and 1.5 grams of dried mushrooms per 100 pounds of body weight. However, due to their increased potency, you should reduce this dosage by at least 30% for penis envy mushrooms.

The exact amount to take depends on what kind of experience you want. You could, for example, try microdosing penis envy mushrooms for a more manageable, easily integrated psychedelic experience. Follow these dosage guidelines to start your journey with penis envy mushrooms:

• Micro – 0.1g to 0.5g
• Mild – 0.5g to 1.0g
• Medium – 1.0g to 2.0g
• Strong – 2.0g to 3.0g

What’s the Legal Status of Psilocybin Mushrooms?

To this day, psilocybin and psilocybin-containing mushrooms are illegal to cultivate, possess, or consume throughout most of the US and the world. The United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances first listed them as Schedule 1 drugs with high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.

However, much of the world is reevaluating this classification in light of new research clarifying psilocybin’s comprehensive mental health benefits. In the US, Oregon became the first state to legalize psilocybin for medical use, while more than a dozen local jurisdictions have decriminalized the substance or deprioritized enforcement against it. As of now, these include:

• Arcata, CA
• Oakland, CA
• Santa Cruz, CA
• Denver, CO
• Washington, DC
• Cambridge, MA
• Easthampton, MA
• Northampton, MA
• Somerville, MA
• Ann Arbor, MI
• Detroit, MI
• Washtenaw County, MI
• Seattle, WA

Also, thanks to a critical oversight in the law, the spores of magic mushrooms are legal to possess and sell in every state except Georgia, Idaho, and California, because they do not contain the banned substances of psilocybin or psilocin. Selling them with intent to produce hallucinogenic mushrooms, however, is still illegal. In Canada, you can find penis envy mushroom spores and other varieties in stores or online, generally in the form of spore syringes and grow kits.

By now, you should have a solid idea of what makes penis envy mushrooms special compared to most of their fellow magic mushrooms. While not recommended for newcomers to psychedelics, they’ve evolved from remote underground origins into a tantalizing treasure for experienced psychonauts and homegrown mycologists, owing to their pronounced psychoactive effects, stunted spore production, and striking phallic shape.

If you are looking to take your relationship with mushrooms to the next level, cultivating your own could be the most rewarding start to your journey. Our step-by-step, inexpensive Grow Kit and Course will give you most of what you need to grow a renewable supply of high-quality mushrooms from your own home.

Alternatively, you might prefer to source ready-to-ingest psychedelic mushrooms. If you’re interested in seeking psilocybin mushrooms from trusted sellers, check out Third Wave’s Ultimate Guide to Sourcing Psychedelic Medicines.

FAQ:

How do I grow Penis Envy?

We can’t tell you how to grow psilocybin mushrooms given their legal status, but we’ve curated our own growing guide, which will at least get you started on the right foot.

Where can I buy Penis Envy mushroom spores?

You can readily find and order penis envy spore syringes and microscopy kits online through many third-party vendors. They sometimes ship internationally and require alternative forms of payment, like cryptocurrency.

For a more comprehensive list of online psychedelic vendors, consider exploring Third Wave’s Ultimate Guide to Sourcing Psychedelic Medicines.

When should I harvest Penis Envy mushrooms?

The average growing cycle for psilocybin mushroom spores takes about four to six weeks from spore inoculation. While most strains are ready to harvest when the fruiting caps break their veil, penis envy mushrooms require an extra waiting period of around three to five days, or until the inner portion of their gills neighboring the stem begins to turn blue.

How much does an average Penis Envy mushroom weigh?

There’s no set weight of a penis envy mushroom, as they can vary based on size and whether they are dried or fresh. Generally, the weight of dried mushrooms trends at about 10% that of fresh ones, but it’s always safer for dosing purposes to dry them and go by that more precise weight.

How much do Penis Envy mushrooms cost?

Actual costs will vary depending on the particular strain and vendor. At the time of this writing, penis envy mushrooms can be found and ordered online for as low as $8 per gram, not including shipping and other fees, while their spores and spore syringes start around $18-25.