DON SALVADOR Benedicto Mayor Marxlen de la Cruz said they are investigating reports that the magic mushrooms recovered in a drug bust operation in Bacolod City reportedly originated from their town.
De la Cruz also said they will ask authorities if magic mushrooms are indeed included among the substances classified as illegal drugs and that they will ask their congressman to work for the possible amendment of the law to include the kind of mushroom having a hallucination effect.
He said before the Covid-19 pandemic, they had monitored some individuals pretending to be campers in the town, but they were going around the town at night looking for something with the use of flashlights.
It was only later on that they realized that it was the magic mushrooms they were looking for, the mayor said.
The mushrooms, he said, according to information, gathered are those growing in carabao manure.
He said they may choose the town because of its cold temperature, which is conducive for plants and algae.
"We cannot say yet if it is illegal or if this is included in substances classified as illegal drugs," de la Cruz said.
UnUnder Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, classified as dangerous drugs are opium, morphine, heroin, cocaine or cocaine hydrochloride, marijuana resin or marijuana resin oil, methamphetamine hydrochloride, shabu or other dangerous drugs such as but not limited to methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or "ecstasy," paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA), trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA), lysergic acid diethylamine (LSD), gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), and those similarly designed or newly introduced drugs and their therapeutic requirements.
Dela Cruz made the reaction after the anti-drug operatives of the Bacolod City Police Office seized a total of 3.61 kilograms of psychedelic or magic mushrooms valued at P361,000 from three suspects during a buy-bust in Barangay Cabug on Monday night, July 17.
The suspects were identified as siblings Diane Tuazon Tolmo, 35, and Franz Jovi Eleccion Tolmo, 26, and their companion Fierre Milabo Santillana.
It was alleged that magic mushrooms were from DSB.
Magic mushrooms are used as an illegal drug substitute as they can cause hallucinations, euphoria, and depersonalization when consumed. It also reportedly contains the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin.*