Are Magic Mushrooms Legal in Iowa? Psilocybin Laws (2026)

Psilocybin mushrooms are illegal in Iowa. Psilocybin and psilocyn are Schedule I hallucinogenic substances under Iowa Code 124.204(4)(s)-(t), and knowingly possessing them is a serious misdemeanor for a first offense under section 124.401(5); Iowa has no psilocybin therapy program or decriminalization law, and a 2025 bill tied to FDA approval was vetoed. For other states, see our guide to psilocybin mushroom laws by state.

Information last verified on 2026-10-11. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Iowa state law on psilocybin and psilocyn: the Schedule I listing in Iowa Code 124.204, the possession, manufacture and delivery offenses in sections 124.401 and 124.401A and the sentencing ranges in sections 902.9 and 903.1, the definitions in section 124.101, the research registration in section 124.302, overdose reporting protection in section 124.418, the operating-while-intoxicated statute (section 321J.2) and the 2025-2026 psilocybin bills, with one paragraph on federal law. It does not cover city or county measures, employer or school policies, military rules, federal land or other states' laws.

Are psilocybin mushrooms legal in Iowa?

No. Section 124.204(4) lists psilocybin and psilocyn among Iowa's Schedule I hallucinogenic substances. The subsection's lead-in covers:

"Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation, which contains any quantity of the following hallucinogenic substances, or which contains any of its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation ..."

Paragraph s lists "Psilocybin" and paragraph t lists "Psilocyn." The schedule names the two compounds rather than the mushroom, and the lead-in reaches any material that contains any quantity of either.

The 2026 session did not change these entries. Section 124.204 was amended in 2026 only by House File 2202, signed April 16, 2026, which added other substances to Schedule I.

Spores, growing and the definitions

Chapter 124 does not use the words "mushroom" or "spore." The Schedule I text names only psilocybin and psilocyn, and the code contains no spore-specific offense or exception.

Growing is addressed through the chapter's definitions. Section 124.101(28) provides that "'Production' includes the manufacture, planting, cultivation, growing, or harvesting of a controlled substance." Section 124.101(19) in turn defines "manufacture" as "the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, conversion, or processing of a controlled substance, either directly or by extraction from substances of natural origin," among other methods, so growing psilocybin mushrooms can fall within manufacture. Manufacturing a Schedule I substance such as psilocybin is a class C felony under section 124.401(1)(c)(9), described below.

What are the penalties for psilocybin in Iowa?

Iowa grades psilocybin offenses by conduct and criminal history, not by weight.

Possession. Section 124.401(5) makes it unlawful "knowingly or intentionally to possess a controlled substance unless such substance was obtained directly from, or pursuant to, a valid prescription or order of a practitioner while acting in the course of the practitioner's professional practice, or except as otherwise authorized by this chapter." A first offense is a serious misdemeanor. With a prior conviction under chapter 124, 124B or 453B it is an aggravated misdemeanor, and with two or more prior convictions it is a class D felony.

The same subsection sets a minimum term: "the court shall order the person to serve a term of imprisonment of not less than forty-eight hours." The court may suspend the sentence and place the person on probation.

Manufacture, delivery and possession with intent. Section 124.401(1) makes manufacture, delivery and possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a class C felony for "Any other controlled substance, counterfeit substance, simulated controlled substance, or imitation controlled substance classified in schedule I, II, or III" (paragraph (c)(9)). Psilocybin falls in this tier. The statute adds a fine "of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than fifty thousand dollars," in addition to the general felony sentence.

No weight tiers. The weight-based tiers in section 124.401(1)(a) and (b) apply to drugs the statute names separately, and psilocybin is not among them. The (c)(9) tier has no weight threshold, so the class does not rise with the amount.

Location enhancement. Under section 124.401A, an adult who manufactures with intent to distribute, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute a Schedule I, II or III substance to another adult in or within 1,000 feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school, public park, public swimming pool or public recreation center, or on a marked school bus, "may be sentenced up to an additional term of confinement of five years."

Firearm doubling. Under section 124.401(1)(e), a person in immediate possession or control of a firearm during a manufacture, delivery or possession-with-intent offense is sentenced to twice the term otherwise imposed, and the sentence cannot be deferred or suspended.

Overdose reporting protection

Iowa limits the use of information from a call for help during a drug overdose. Under section 124.418(2), protected information "shall not be considered to support probable cause and shall not be admissible as evidence against an overdose patient or overdose reporter" for simple possession under section 124.401(5), or for delivery under section 124.401(1) "if such delivery involved the sharing of the controlled substance without profit." The protection is subject to conditions in section 124.418(1).

Is there a psilocybin program or research route in Iowa?

Iowa has no state psilocybin therapy, decriminalization or psilocybin research program. The only route in the code for lawful work with a Schedule I substance is a Board of Pharmacy registration. Section 124.302 requires "Every person who manufactures, distributes, dispenses, or conducts research with any controlled substance in this state" to hold a registration issued by the Board, and registrants may work with those substances only "to the extent authorized by their registration."

City and county measures are outside the scope of this page; the state schedule and penalties in chapter 124 apply throughout Iowa.

Psilocybin bills in 2025 and 2026

Two psilocybin bills moved in Iowa's 91st General Assembly. Neither is law.

House File 383 veto. In her veto letter, Governor Reynolds wrote: "House File 383 surrenders state authority to make an informed determination about classification to federal officials at the FDA. Psilocybin should first be FDA approved and rescheduled by the DEA before the State of Iowa considers rescheduling." Because of the veto, Iowa law has no provision that changes psilocybin's schedule when the FDA approves a psilocybin drug.

House File 978. As passed by the House on April 21, 2025, the bill would have added a new paragraph to section 124.401(5) providing that "A person may knowingly or intentionally recommend, possess, use, dispense, deliver, transport, or administer psilocybin if the recommendation, possession, use, dispensing, delivery, transporting, or administering is in accordance with the provisions of chapter 124F." Senate committee amendments S-5119 and S-5248 were filed in 2026, and the bill record shows no Senate floor vote, so House File 978 is not law.

Federal psilocybin law

Federal law also lists psilocybin and psilocyn in Schedule I (21 CFR 1308.11(d)(29)-(30), as of the October 6, 2026 eCFR), covering any material or preparation that contains them, and simple possession of a controlled substance is a federal misdemeanor under 21 U.S.C. 844(a), punishable by up to one year and a minimum $1,000 fine for a first offense. No psilocybin drug has FDA approval. The FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to psilocybin development programs and, in April 2026, issued national priority vouchers to companies studying psilocybin; the agency says neither is a determination of safety or effectiveness. Executive Order 14401 (April 18, 2026) directs federal agencies to take steps toward psychedelic drug access and a rescheduling review, but it does not reschedule psilocybin. Federal law still lists psilocybin in Schedule I, in Iowa as in every state. Our psilocybin mushroom laws by state hub covers the federal layer in more detail.

Driving and criminal records

Iowa's operating-while-intoxicated statute reaches psilocybin two ways. Section 321J.2(1)(a) covers driving "under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or other drug or a combination of such substances," and section 321J.2(1)(c) covers driving "While any amount of a controlled substance is present in the person, as measured in the person's blood or urine," which includes psilocybin as a Schedule I substance. A first offense is a serious misdemeanor. See our guide to Iowa DUI laws.

A psilocybin possession or delivery charge can lead to a misdemeanor or felony record. For how Iowa handles clearing records, see Iowa expungement laws.

The Iowa Code sections on this page are quoted from the Iowa Code 2026 edition, compiled in December 2025. The 2026 session amended section 124.204 only through House File 2202, which did not change the psilocybin and psilocyn entries.

Related

• Psilocybin mushroom laws by state
• Iowa DUI laws
• Iowa expungement laws
• Iowa kratom laws

This article provides general legal information about Iowa state law as of October 11, 2026. It is not legal advice. Bills and federal scheduling actions can change the rules. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Iowa.

Last updated: 2026-10-11.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are magic mushrooms legal in Iowa?

No. Psilocybin and psilocyn are Schedule I substances under Iowa Code 124.204(4)(s)-(t), and the listing covers any material containing any quantity of them. Knowing possession is a serious misdemeanor for a first offense under 124.401(5).

What is the penalty for possessing psilocybin mushrooms in Iowa?

A first offense is a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year and a fine of $430 to $2,560, with a mandatory 48-hour term that the court may suspend for probation. A prior conviction under Iowa's controlled-substance laws (chapter 124, 124B or 453B) makes it an aggravated misdemeanor, and two or more priors make it a class D felony.

Is there a weight limit that changes the charge for psilocybin in Iowa?

No. Psilocybin falls under Iowa Code 124.401(1)(c)(9), the catch-all tier for other Schedule I, II and III substances, which has no weight threshold. Manufacture, delivery or possession with intent is a class C felony regardless of amount. Distribution by an adult to a person under 18 is a class B felony under section 124.406.

Does Iowa have a psilocybin therapy program?

No. House File 978, as passed by the House, would have created a psilocybin production establishment licensing board and let qualified medical psilocybin providers recommend psilocybin treatment to patients 21 and older under a new chapter 124F, but the Senate never passed it. No psilocybin program is in Iowa law.

Would Iowa legalize psilocybin if the FDA approves it?

Not automatically. House File 383 (2025) would have removed a specific psilocybin drug product from Schedule I once the FDA approved it, but the Governor vetoed it on June 11, 2025, writing that psilocybin should first be FDA approved and rescheduled by the DEA before Iowa considers rescheduling.

Are psilocybin mushroom spores legal in Iowa?

Iowa Code chapter 124 does not mention spores or mushrooms; the Schedule I entry names psilocybin and psilocyn and reaches any material containing any quantity of them. There is no spore-specific offense or exception in the code.

Can I be charged with OWI for driving after taking psilocybin in Iowa?

Iowa Code 321J.2(1)(a) covers driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or other drug, and 321J.2(1)(c) covers driving with any amount of a controlled substance in the blood or urine, which includes psilocybin. A first offense is a serious misdemeanor.