Bogusz M.J., Maier R.D., Driessen S.

Institute of Forensic Medicine, Aachen University of Technology, D-52057 Aachen, Germany

In 1996 some samples of suspected honey preparations were confiscated on the Dutch-German border. The labels on the 50 ml jars indicated that the honey contained Stropharia cubensis (better known as Psilocybe cubensis). The jars were filled with honey with an approximately 1 cm-layer of fine particles on the top. The particles were collected and subjected to microscopic and chemical analysis. In microscopy, in all samples a mushroom tissue (plectenchym) and spores typical for the genus Psilocybe were identified. The HPLC analysis with atmospheric pressure mass spectrometry and diode array detection revealed psilocin. Psilocybin was not found. The quantitative analysis was not possible due to matrix problems. On the labels of the honey preparations the phone numbers were printed. The investigation showed, that the honey with Psilocybe can be purchased in Dutch coffee shops, without any limitations. Psilocin and psilocybin are scheduled drugs according to the Dutch law.