Our Top 5 Documentaries About Magic Mushrooms

Of all the psychedelics out there, magic mushrooms the most dear to us here at the Zamnesia outpost. Though we also fond of many of the exotic plants and potions, it is the ease with which magic mushrooms can be found and grown right here in the wilds of Europe that make them the staple of the dedicated psychonaut’s arsenal.

Combine this with the fact that all kinds of new and interesting research is emerging about the ways mushrooms interact with the brain, and how they can be a benefit to society, makes learning all there is to know about them all the more worthwhile.

To help you on your quest for knowledge, we have put together a list of the top five magic mushrooms documentaries worth your time.

LITTLE SAINTS

“Eat a mushroom, talk to God”. Little Saints follows the journey of a crew of six as they travel to Mexico to meet a shaman and partake in a fungal sacrament. Each member of the group carries a psychological or physical state they hope to ease by consuming psilocybin mushrooms in a ceremonial setting. Mazatec shaman Nalia—who claims magic mushrooms help people find themselves—guides the group through their psychedelic experience.

FUNGIMENTARY: THE MAGIC MUSHROOMS OF BALINGUP

This somewhat tongue-in-cheek documentary set out to explore how magic mushrooms growing in a local forest were impacting a small rural town in Australia. The film crew interviewed everyone they could, getting a whole range of opinions, including from local residents, the police, ‘shroomers, and even a professional mycologist. They used these varying opinions to paint a larger picture and reflect on the War on Drugs as a whole. The insights offered by Fungimentary led it to win multiple awards.

THE RISE OF THE PSYCHEDELIC TRUFFLE IN AMSTERDAM

This documentary from the great minds at VICE explores the growth of the magic truffle industry in the wake of magic mushrooms being banned in The Netherlands. They take a look at how the industry is shaping Amsterdam, and how it has managed to evade the long arm of prohibition – despite the incidents that led their mushroom counterparts to be banned in the first place.

DR. ROBIN CARHART-HARRIS – PSILOCYBIN AND THE PSYCHEDELIC STATE

A little harder hitting than the others, Psilocybin and the Psychedelic State is an in-depth and academic look at how magic mushrooms affect the mind. It is a talk led by Dr Robin Carhart-Harris, one of the leading scientific researchers in the field of psychedelics. While it may be a little heavy on the science for some, it gives a concise and interesting insight into the way our brains work on psychedelics and the mechanisms behind it all. If you truly want to understand what is going on, you can’t miss it.

MYCOLOGY OF PSILOCYBIN MUSHROOMS – PAUL STAMETS

Mycology of Psilocybin Mushrooms looks at things from a different perspective, documenting a lecture given by the famous mycologist, Paul Stamets – a mycologist being a biologist specialised in the study of mushrooms. This in-depth talk is both eye-opening and highly educational – you are learning about magic mushrooms right from the source here!

So there you go! Our top 5 documentaries to watch if you want to learn more about the magic behind your mushroom trips. They cover a wide range of material, and go from a full on journalistic view to one of deep and intense science. And we have only just scratched the surface – there is still so much more to discover.

Adam Parsons

Professional cannabis journalist, copywriter, and author Adam Parsons is a long-time staff member of Zamnesia. Tasked with covering a wide range of topics from CBD to psychedelics and everything in between, Adam creates blog posts, guides, and explores an ever-growing range of products.

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