Here’s Why Magic Truffles Are Legal In The Netherlands

Magic truffles are legal in the Netherlands, despite the Dutch government banning magic mushrooms in 2008. In this article, we'll explore why truffles are still legal in Holland.

The Netherlands has long been admired for its liberal drug policies. Unfortunately, the Dutch government made some changes to its drug laws in recent years, with tighter restrictions on how people buy, cultivate, and use various substances.

One of the biggest changes to Dutch drug policy came in 2008 with the prohibition of magic mushrooms. If you’ve been to the Netherlands recently, you may have noticed coffeeshops and smartshops selling “magic truffles”. In this article, we’ll explore truffles, what they are, and why they’re still legal in the Netherlands.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MUSHROOMS AND TRUFFLES

To understand why truffles are still legal in Holland, it’s important to understand how they differ from mushrooms.

Truffles and mushrooms are basically two different parts of the same fungus, which grows underground as a vegetative colony known as mycelium. Mushrooms, technically known as sporocarp, are basically fruit that grows out of the ground when conditions are just right.

Truffles are similar, but grow underground. Technically known as sclerotia, magic truffles are basically hardened masses of mycelium that serve as energy and food stores for the fungus to survive tough conditions.

While they obviously look very different, magic mushrooms and truffles tend to produce similar effects. Truffle trips, however, are often described as a little milder and fun, whereas mushroom trips tend to be deeper and more intense.

Some psychonauts claim that truffles contain more psilocybin than mushrooms, while others claim the opposite. Unfortunately, it's hard to know the difference between the two on a chemical level due to a lack of study and comparative testing.

WHY ARE TRUFFLES STILL LEGAL IN THE NETHERLANDS?

The Dutch government banned magic mushrooms in 2008. Prior to this, mushrooms could be bought legally at smartshops, which also sell a wide variety of other “soft drugs” and herbal medicines such as kratom, kanna, mescaline cacti, and more.

The move to ban mushrooms came after the suicide of a 17-year-old in March 2007 while under the influence of mushrooms. While the government banned over 100 different species of mushroom, they did not outlaw the fungi in sclerotium form.

Today, magic truffles can still be bought legally all throughout Holland, at coffeeshops, smartshops, and online. Mushrooms spores and home-grow kits are also still legal and available for purchase.