It’s important to know that the psychoactive fungi are a tiny, tiny fraction of fungal life. The role of fungi in the ecosystem has really only started to be deeply studied over the past decade or two. It’s kind of like microbiome research writ large. We don’t know what we don’t know, and what we are learning is wild stuff. Like, forests only exist because mushrooms farm trees (see the Radiolab episode).
And even the more...Experienced...advocates are finding wild stuff in the greater fungal world. Paul Stamets, for example, has gotten contracts with DARPA because he’s finding all kinds of very effective antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial compounds in different species’ mycelia. He may have found a simple cure for colony collapse disorder—the experimental results look good. So don’t ignore their contributions when they get results—just maybe skip their TED talks ;)
there’s a long history, starting way back with Timothy Leary, of psychedelic drug promoters doing sloppy, dubious science.
but there’s also a growing orthodoxy in some circles around psychedelic drugs — any mention of possible long term negative effects really offends people.
anyway i am glad to see the botanical aspects are understood and accepted by people who aren’t also evangelists.