The Pentagon will begin testing service members for psilocin, the hallucinogenic compound produced when psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, are consumed, starting in October 2025, according to a Defense Department memo issued in August.
The directive expands the military’s standard drug panel, which already includes marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, MDMA, and delta-8 THC.
Psilocin can cause psychedelic effects such as altered reality, hallucinations and emotional swings. Physical effects may include dilated pupils, increased heart rate, nausea, dizziness, and impaired coordination. Effects usually last 4–6 hours.
Both psilocin and psilocybin are classified as Schedule I substances by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, meaning they are considered to have no federally accepted medical use and carry a high potential for abuse.
Despite this classification, psilocybin-assisted therapy has been legalized in Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon, while several other states have passed or are considering legislation to allow further medical research, according to a tracker by Psychedelic Alpha, a site maintained by the University of California, Berkeley.
The memo explained that the update was necessary “due to the risk of impairment and subsequent deterioration of security, military fitness, readiness, good order and discipline.” Testing will prioritize specimens collected under probable cause, consent, or command. In proportion to laboratory capacity, second priority will be given to special testing requests, routine inspections, or even random testing, the memo added.
The change comes as the military continues strict bans on cannabis and hemp-derived products, despite their growing legality outside the ranks.
The Department of Defense and military branches have repeatedly warned service members and other personnel that the use of cannabis products are prohibited. In February, a memo to Air Force personnel in Massachusetts clarified that the ban extends not only to marijuana but also to hemp-derived cannabinoids, including CBD and delta-8 THC.
