Psilocybin vs. 4-AcO-DMT
Psilocybin vs. 4-AcO-DMT
What's the difference? And are the two really interchangable?
Ever heard of “synthetic shrooms”?
Maybe it wasn’t presented to you in this way.
Maybe it was offered to you as 4-AcO-DMT or psilacetin or even just psilocin (which, you’ll find if you keep reading, is an inaccurate description), or maybe it came into your peripheral as a form of “legal shrooms,” which, I guess, is kind of, sometimes, true.
In February 2024, Tryptonomics, a Colorado lab, tested 24 different magic mushroom chocolate bars purchased in the Bay Area, and found that eight of them, despite being marked “psilocybin,” actually contained 4-AcO-DMT. The findings were published online (check them out here), and sparked a lot of conversation in the psychedelic community online.
Tomas Garrett, a lab director for Oakland Hyphae, told SF Gate that “4-AcO-DMT contamination is “prevalent” in magic mushrooms thanks to “bad actors” in the psychedelic industry who are trying to make money quickly.”
I recall an incident around a year ago, where someone gave me a product labeled “psilocin;” shortly after handing it to me, the creator told me “It’s just 4-AcO, but don’t tell people that.”
Another 4-AcO-DMT product on the Canadian market was labelled as “psilocin” for a while and sold as a legal, synthetic version of psilocybin; a visit to their website today shows that they have changed the labelling to “psilacetin” (which is what 4-AcO-DMT actually is).
Is this ethical, even in an illegal market? Most people say no — especially given the low cost of producing shrooms to begin with.
Does it matter? Is there a sensory difference between 4-AcO-DMT and regular ol’ psilocybin? Is it really a legal alternative? Do they function and feel the same?
Here at Shroomtown, we want you to be informed, so we’re here to tell you all about it.
What is psilocybin?
Psilocybin is the naturally occurring psychedelic substance found in over 200 species of psilocybe magic mushrooms. It is biologically inactive, and it broken down into psilocin in the body after consumption. It is considered a prodrug of psilocin, meaning that it is metabolized in the body into an active drug.
What is psilocin?
Psilocin (4-HO-DMT), is a tryptamine alkaloid and a psychedelic substance found in most psychedelic mushrooms alongside psilocybin. Psilocin was first isolated in 1958 by Albert Hofmann, who later found ways to make a synthetic version of it. It is chemically very similar to psilocybin, but psilocybin is the phosphorylated version of psilocin, meaning that a phosphate group is added to its structure, which is later removed by enzymes in the body.
As mentioned, after consumption, psilocybin is metabolized into psilocin in the body. It is the active compound that is responsible for all the hallucinogenic and psychedelic effects of a mushroom trip.
It is generally considered to be more potent than psilocybin.
What is 4-AcO-DMT?
4-Acetoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine or O-Acetylpsilocin is a semi-synthetic substance noted for its psychoactive effects, similar to psilocybin. It is not particularly well-researched compared to psilocybin, and sometimes is seen through a negative perspective as a research chemical. It can be synthesized by acetylation of psilocin under strongly acidic conditions. Acetylation is a chemical process in which acetyl (two carbon atoms and one oxygen atom) are added to a compound.
Like psilocybin, when consumed, 4-AcO-DMT is metabolized into psilocin, which is why its effects are seen as very similar to the two, and making it also considered to be a prodrug of psilocin.
4-AcO-DMT: A History
4-AcO-DMT was first synthesized by the father of acid, Swiss biochemist Albert Hofmann, and his colleague, Franz Troxler, back in 1963, when researching psilocin analogs. It was patented alongside several other analogues of psilocin.
However, at the time, it was not tested for its psychoactivity, and remained on the backburner for some time, before appearing, in 1999, in a paper by famed American psychopharmacologist David Nichols proposing its potential as a psilocybin alternative. We have little information about any human testing around this time, but we have to assume that there was some, uh, experimentation going on behind the scenes.
There have been no controlled clinical studies to really distinguish the effects of 4-AcO-DMT, psilocin, and psilocybin (yet).
Comparing Psilocybin, 4-AcO-DMT, and Psilocin
Some people have claimed to prefer 4-AcO-DMT to natural psilocybin mushrooms due to the lack of nausea that they get from consuming it. Likewise, its effects have been noted to be almost reminiscent of DMT with their bright, almost neon colours and highly geometric shapes.
Dosing
Because 4-AcO-DMT is a synthetic compound and is therefore more potent, dosing it is different to dosing regular ol’ magic mushrooms.
Below, you’ll find a graph with a rough outline of dosing guidelines. Of course, we urge you to take these numbers with a grain of salt, especially if you’re new to psychedelics.
Is 4-AcO-DMT really a legal version of shrooms?
In many countries, 4-AcO-DMT is illegal because it is considered a derivative of DMT (Italy) or an analog of psilocybin, like in the USA, where it’s not explicitly listed as a controlled substance. However, law enforcement could penalize possession and sales since it is an analog of psilocybin.
In Canada, the law is a little bit different. To quote PsychedelicLaw.ca: “Psychedelic analogues may or may not be covered under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Several substance listings under the law’s Schedule III (including for LSD, psilocybin, psilocin, and DMT) do not prohibit analogues. Analogues of Schedule I psychedelics like MDMA and ketamine, however, often will fall under the legislation’s ambit.”
However, many companies in Canada sell 4-AcO-DMT as a legal alternative, or as a “research chemical” to avoid scrutiny from the FDA, which prohibits “manufacture and/or sale of “drugs” for human consumption absent regulatory approval. As such, certain analogues could be effectively legal in Canada, but only for personal possession.”
4-AcO-DMT is illegal in Australia for being an analog of psilocin, a Class A drug in the UK (drugs considered most dangerous and carry the strictest punishments for possession), Israel, Japan, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey, Germany, and Sweden. In the Czech Republic, as well as the UK, it has limited exceptions for research purposes.
Key Takeaways
There can be a lot of confusion with all these new products coming out on the market. Here are the main things you need to remember when getting involved with psilocybin and 4-AcO-DMT.
4-AcO-DMT is NOT psilocybin OR psilocin. Selling it under these names is incorrect. 4-AcO-DMT is psilacetin.
4-AcO-DMT and psilocybin are reported to have similar effects as both are metabolized into psilocin, the compound responsible for their psychedelic effects, in the body. However, every person is different, and some people report that 4-AcO-DMT has visual effects more similar to DMT than psilocybin.
4-AcO-DMT is illegal in many jurisdictions as it is an analogue or prodrug of psilocin.
4-AcO-DMT is a semi-synthetic substance, meaning that it is much more potent than psilocybin. Dosing is not the same as dosing mushrooms. Take note.
Harm Reduction
When experimenting with new drugs and substances, it’s important to prioritize your safety, even above your curiosity.
Experiment and do an allergy and reaction test with a small dose first
Do a lot of research so you know what dose you want to try and have an idea of what you’re getting yourself into
Consider having a trip sitter around you for your first time or let someone know what you’re doing
Make sure you’re in the right mindset and environmental setting
Test your substances to make sure the synthesis is pure and contains no potentially toxic or harmful additives
Do research on the website before you buy drugs online
Know your dose, pay attention to research and instructions, and measure responsibly.
Sources
Sofie Mikhaylova is a psychedelics, pop culture, and travel writer, and a cannabis and psychedelics marketing specialist. Her writing has appeared in Vice, leafie, Psychedelic Spotlight, The Washington Post, Fodor's Travel, Double Dot Magazine, and more. Find her on her podcast Sofieland and her website.
Just to clarify "psilocybin" doses listed here are apparently for dried mushrooms weights and not for "psilocybin". Actual Psilocybin oral doses are more similar to those listed for the 4-AcO-DMT, with therapeutic dosages being around 100th of those for dried cubensis mushrooms.