Psychedelic Drug Laws in Romania
Psychedelics have potent hallucinogenic effects that people use for both recreational and medical purposes. Unfortunately, they are illegal in most parts of the world, including Romania.
This article will inform you of the Romanian laws on psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA, among others. You will also learn about their many therapeutic benefits, which scientists have only recently discovered.
Summary of Psychedelic Drug Laws in Romania
- Almost every form of a psychedelic substance is illegal in Romania
- You can be imprisoned for up to three years for possessing small amounts
- Cannabis is only legal for medical use
- Magic mushrooms grow wild throughout the country
Chart of Romania’s Drug Laws
| Class | Substance | Psychedelics | Penalties for Personal use |
| I (High risk) | Heroin, oxycodone, THC, PEPAP, | LSD, mescaline, DMT, DET, MDMA, MMDA, psilocin, psilocybin, STP, DOET, TCP | 6 months to 3 years in prison; possible integration into a drug program |
| II (High risk) | Amphetamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, codeine, poppy straw extract, morphine and salts, thebaine, fentanyl, opium | PCP | 6 months to 3 years in prison; possible integration into drug program |
| III (Risk) | Cannabis resin and oil, cathine, some benzos, some barbiturates, | None | 3 months to 2 years in prison; possible integration into a drug program |
| IV (Precursors/substances frequently used in drugs manufacturing) | Ergotamine, isosafrole, pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, safole, methyl ethyl ketone, sulfuric acid | Lysergic acid | 3 months to 2 years in prison; possible integration into a drug program |
Are Magic Mushrooms Legal in Romania?
No, magic mushrooms are not legal in Romania.
Romanian Law 339 adheres to the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which classifies psilocybin as a Schedule I substance. In addition, according to Law 143, penalties related to illicit drugs can be very harsh.
For example, you can be imprisoned from six months to three years for possessing or cultivating psilocybin for personal consumption.
Even so, a recent study by Johns Hopkins Medicine supports the therapeutic benefits of magic mushrooms. The university even advocates for the reclassification of psilocybin, arguing the compound has clear evidence of medicinal value and low potential for abuse.
Where to Buy Magic Mushroom Spores in Romania
Magic mushroom spores are probably legal in Romania since the law doesn’t specifically mention them. You can also find several spore sellers on the Internet offering cultivation kits.
However, keep in mind that if you cultivate magic mushrooms, you can go to jail, as once spores germinate, they generate psilocybin and become illegal.
Do Magic Mushrooms Grow Wild in Romania?
Yes, there are wild magic mushroom species in Romania.
About four species of magic mushrooms grow naturally in Romania. This section will tell you where and when you can find them.
Still, we do not recommend foraging for them, as they are easy to confuse with other poisonous species.
Panaeolus cinctulus
It is a common species that can be found both solitarily and in groups. It grows mainly after heavy rains on compost heaps, lawns, well-fertilized gardens, or horse manure.
Pholiotina cyanopus
You can easily distinguish this species due to its large size and peculiar ocher color. You can find it on stumps and fallen branches of planifolia, and rarely, on conifers.
Psilocybe semilanceata
This species is one of the most famous in the world, as it grows wild in almost every country. Wait until autumn, and search in nitrogenous herbaceous soils to find it.
Psilocybe serbica
This species grows mainly in groups on deciduous and well-decayed coniferous wood. Look for it in damp places, near streams, forest roads, and roadsides.
What Are the Medicinal Uses of Shrooms?
Psilocybin and other psychedelics can be excellent tools for treating various illnesses and disorders when combined with adequate therapy.
That is why an increasing number of countries — mainly in Europe and North America — are considering changing their laws in this regard. For example, in Canada, psychedelic-assisted therapy with MDMA and magic mushrooms is legal.
Psilocybin and other psychedelics can help combat:
Depression
Unfortunately, depression is a common disorder in our society and is difficult to manage. Doctors usually prescribe antidepressants to treat it, but they can produce dependence, which is not entirely convenient.
Psychedelics may be helpful for depression since they create new thought patterns and facilitate epiphanic episodes. They allow the user to enter a calm headspace and better delve into the root of their problem in therapy sessions.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
A 2021 study shows that psychedelics may help reduce complex trauma symptoms and internalized shame [1].
Existential Anxiety
Existential anxiety is an overwhelmingly anxious feeling suffered mainly by elderly and terminally ill people who know that death is near.
A recent study shows that the main components of magic mushrooms — psilocybin and psilocin — can mimic serotonin, a neurotransmitter that influences our mood. Therefore, it can help change patients’ outlook on life and help them better accept their fate [2].
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headache attacks are intense pains that may produce tearing and nasal congestion. Fortunately, LSD and psilocybin can be excellent tools to combat it, as they can relieve the pain immediately.
Addiction
Psychedelics, especially psilocybin, have been proven effective in treating addiction. Studies show classic hallucinogens — like shrooms — help people overcome addictions, especially for alcohol and smoking [3].
Is LSD legal in Romania?
No, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is not legal in Romania.
LSD is a potent psychedelic that is illegal in most parts of the world. Like psilocybin, this substance is listed in the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances as a Schedule I controlled substance, making its medical and recreational use punishable.
If the Romanian police catch you with small amounts of LSD, penalties can go from six months to three years in jail.
Related: Introducing the Lysergamide Class of Psychedelics.
Is DMT Legal in Romania?
No, DMT (dimethyltryptamine) is not legal in Romania.
DMT is one of the most potent psychedelics available, which, when used with therapy, can help treat several conditions. Unfortunately, this substance is illegal in most parts of the world, and Romania is no exception.
The 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances also places DMT as a Schedule I controlled substance, so you can spend up to three years in jail for possessing it.
The law doesn’t address ayahuasca, yopo, or changa directly — but if the police catch you with them, they’ll most likely impose the same penalties.
Is MDMA Legal in Romania?
No, MDMA is illegal in Romania.
Although known primarily as a party drug, MDMA also has many therapeutic benefits. In fact, Canada allows this psychedelic to be used for treating mental disorders.
Still, it remains illegal in Romania, as it is also included in Schedule I of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Therefore, for possessing just small amounts of MDMA, you can be imprisoned for up three years.
Is Ketamine Legal in Romania?
There are no regulations regarding ketamine in Romania, but most experts suggest it’s illegal here.
Although Romanian law omits ketamine, we recommend that you consider it illegal, as almost all psychedelics are banned here, including dissociative drugs like PCP or ketamine.
Interestingly, some countries and US states are considering legalizing it for use against treatment-resistant depression and PTSD.
Is Marijuana Legal in Romania?
Cannabis is illegal both for medical and recreational use here.
Romanian Law 339 technically allows the cultivation, importation, and sale of cannabis for medical use. However, it hasn’t been removed from Schedule I of the country’s controlled substances list, and as such, its use is prohibited.
In addition, all THC derivatives, such as delta 8, delta 9, and delta 10, are illegal under the same law — only plants with less than 0.2% THC content (hemp plants) are tolerated.
What’s the Difference Between Legalization & Decriminalization?
This section will show you the principal differences between legalization and decriminalization. Understanding them can save you legal problems when traveling abroad.
If the police catch you with small amounts of a decriminalized substance, you will not go to jail. The fine or punishment is greatly reduced.
On the other hand, should the substance be legal, you will not receive any punishment for possessing certain amounts.
Key Takeaways: What’s the Future of Psychedelics in Romania?
Psychedelics are mostly illegal in Romania, and possession penalties range from six months to three years in prison. Unfortunately, local lawmakers are not interested in changing the legal situation of psychedelics for now, not even for medical purposes.
However, as research into the powerful benefits of these substances grows, the more likely they are to bring it up for debate.
References
- Healy, C. J., Lee, K. A., & D’Andrea, W. (2021). Using psychedelics with therapeutic intent is associated with lower shame and complex trauma symptoms in adults with histories of child maltreatment. Chronic Stress, 5, 24705470211029881.
- Davis, A. K., Barrett, F. S., May, D. G., Cosimano, M. P., Sepeda, N. D., Johnson, M. W., … & Griffiths, R. R. (2021). Effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy on major depressive disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 78(5), 481-489.
- Bogenschutz, M. P., & Johnson, M. W. (2016). Classic hallucinogens in the treatment of addictions. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 64, 250-258.
