Korody Law Sees Rare Military Positive Urinalysis for Mushrooms
In February 2024, Korody Law was retained to represent a servicemember who was notified he tested positive on a unit urinalysis for Psilocin, indicative of use of “magic mushrooms.” Psilocin is a hallucinogen that produces effects similar to LSD. Individuals using magic mushrooms experience hallucinations and an altered state of consciousness. Effects appear within 15-45 minutes and usually last for four to six hours.
Are Mushrooms Illegal to Use?
The movement to decriminalize psilocybin in the United States began in 2019 with Denver, Colorado, becoming the first city to decriminalize psilocybin in May of that year. The cities of Oakland and Santa Cruz, California, decriminalized psilocybin in June 2019 and January 2020, respectively. Washington, D.C., followed suit in November 2020, as did Somerville, Massachusetts, in January 2021, and then the neighboring Cambridge and Northampton in February 2021 and March 2021, respectively. Seattle, Washington, became the largest U.S. city on the growing list in October 2021. Detroit, Michigan, followed in November 2021.
Oregon voters passed a 2020 ballot measure making it the first state to both decriminalize psilocybin and also legalize its supervised use. Colorado followed with a similar measure in 2022.
The use, sale, and possession of psilocybin in the United States is illegal under federal law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
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Does the Military Test for Mushrooms on a Urinalysis?
On a typical urinalysis, the military does not test for mushrooms (Psilocin). However, the military does have the capability to test for mushrooms at the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES). AFMES’s Division of Forensic Toxicology is the DoD’s premier forensic toxicology laboratory. It is located in Dover, Delaware. It is an accredited laboratory. Though it oversees all military drug testing laboratories (Navy Drug Screening Laboratories and Army/Air Force Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratories), it also performs advanced toxicology testing on urine and blood samples sent to AFMES. It can test for for virtually any illicit drug, and the results can be used for disciplinary action against service members including Article 15, administrative separation, or court-martial.
How Does a Sample Get Tested by AFMES for Mushrooms?
Generally, a special request has to be made for AFMES to test a sample, whether blood or urine. Typically, samples are sent to AFMES after incidents, such as a member being observed displaying hallucinogenic behavior. Samples may also be sent to AFMES if one military member incriminates himself and others in using a drug that is not tested for in the standard urinalysis program.
How Long Does It Take AFMES to Test a Sample?
You can expect it to take a few months from the sample being collected until AFMES reports results back to the command.
What Happens if the Urinalysis is Positive for Mushrooms?
A positive urinalysis for mushrooms (psilocin) will be treate the same way that any other positive urinalysis is treated. Please check out this post for guidance on what to do and what not do if you test positive on a military urinalysis.