Nearly One in Four Americans Support Legal Use of Psilocybin 'Magic' Mushrooms; Similar to Support for Cannabis Prior to Passage of Medical Cannabis Laws

For Release

TuesdayFebruary 24, 2026

Nearly one quarter of U.S. adults believe the use of psilocybin “magic” mushrooms should be legal, according to a new RAND report detailing public opinion toward the legal use of psychedelic substances.

The study draws on data from the 2025 RAND Psychedelics Survey and shows that public attitudes vary significantly depending on the substance, with 23% of U.S. adults supporting legal use of psilocybin mushrooms, compared with roughly 10% for LSD and MDMA.

“This study reveals that Americans' views on psychedelics are far from binary,” said Ben Senator, the report's lead author and a policy researcher at RAND. “Perspectives shift depending on the substance and the reason for use. Recognizing these nuances can help shape more informed research and policy discussions.”