Psychedelics such as psilocybin and LSD are experiencing renewed scientific interest as researchers continue to study their potential therapeutic benefits. Several states have legalized or decriminalized certain psychedelics, primarily psilocybin, for supervised therapeutic use. But how many Americans support psilocybin legalization?
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According to a new survey from RAND, nearly one in four Americans (23 percent) support legalizing psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in so-called magic mushrooms. That’s compared to nearly 65 percent of respondents who said they support legal cannabis.
Those figures mirror national support for cannabis reform in the 1990s, just before medical marijuana laws began to expand.
Among respondents who support legal psilocybin, views on acceptable use varied. Approximately 56 percent said mushrooms should be legal to address mental or physical health concerns. Nearly 43 percent said it should be permitted for traditional Indigenous practices, while about 36 percent supported non-Indigenous spiritual use.
Around 39 percent believe psilocybin should be legal for recreational use, while 42 percent said mushrooms should be legal “for any reason.” Among respondents who had tried psilocybin, nearly two-thirds supported legalization.
When asked where people should obtain psilocybin if it became legal, most respondents favored strict regulation. Roughly 49 percent said mushrooms should be available at licensed treatment facilities, much like in Colorado or Oregon. Around 28 percent were in favor of mushroom dispensaries, while 23 percent endorsed home cultivation or foraging for personal use.
It appears that public opinions of mushrooms are far more favorable than those of other psychedelics. The survey revealed just under 10 percent of Americans support LSD legalization, while just over nine percent favor legal MDMA. In comparison, roughly eight percent of respondents approve of cocaine.
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RAND surveyed 10,122 U.S. adults 18 or over between Sept. 9 and Oct. 1, 2025, using the probability-based NORC AmeriSpeak panel. Breaking results down by demographic, there were discrepancies. Notably, nearly 29 percent of men polled support legal mushrooms compared with 18 percent of women.
Younger people were also more likely to support reform. Around 31 percent of adults ages 18 to 29 favor legalization, along with 32 percent of people ages 30 to 44. By contrast, only 11 percent of people over 60 support legal psilocybin.
It’s estimated that one in four people has tried a psychedelic drug at least once in their life. A separate poll from 2025 showed that roughly 10 million Americans microdosed psychedelics in the past year.
As more is revealed about the possible benefits of psilocybin and communities continue to enact reform, shifting public perception may influence policy moving forward.
