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Welcome To the Shroom Liberation Front

At one second past midnight on 18th May 2005 the British Government caused outrage among the magic-mushroom using community by amending its drugs Bill with clause 21, making all fungi containing psilocybin or its ethers illegal to possess or process in any way.  Overnight a wide, interesting and versatile, cross-section of the British population was essentially criminalised and turned into outlaws.  At two seconds past Midnight on 18th May 2005, the Shroom Liberation Front was born.

The Government's draconian, backward actions, were in response to a new magic mushroom boom that had arisen due to people being able to legally buy and sell fresh magic mushrooms in their natural unprocessed forms.  The speed at which this Mushroom trade flourished, and its unfortunate timing, coinciding with the then 'New' Labour's preparation for the May 2005 general election played an important part in what was to follow.  As far as they were concerned this humble and benign mushroom was seen as an electional liability too far.  They could ill afford to be seen weak on crime, weak on the causes of crime (despite the fact that no crime was being committed!!!). 

The government went on full alert and flexed the full weight of its muscle behind getting the magic mushroom problem eliminated by any means necessary in the quickest time possible.  Little if any assessment or consultation was conducted, and what objections were raised were simply brushed aside.  The Bill gained Royal Ascent in almost record-breaking time - a clear example of the British Government’s true colours and its unconstitutional approach to government, decency and democracy. 

The passing law was viewed as a deep and disrespectful insult to users who feel they have not been listened to, or shown any respect, for something that plays a massive spiritual and positive part in their everyday lives.  These mushrooms are also widely regarded as generating a deep affinity for the Natural World in its user's 'tuning in' to our amazing environment in ways that cannot be achieved by any other means, and in ways that only true 'shroomers' (as we like to be known), understand.  After all how can you explain what it is like to see, to someone who has been blind their whole life?? And on this point alone, this is one of the reasons for the existence of the Shroom Liberation Front. We aim to present an accurate, only marginally biased, assessment of the facts, and portray the unique and amazing world of the magic mushroom and its equally impressive community.

The government's rashness in criminalising magic mushroom use has many flaws, not least that it will not stop magic mushroom use in the UK, in the same way it has not stopped it anywhere else in the world.  It simply drives magic mushroom use and its users underground, where they can't be monitored or controlled but instead flourish regardless. Perhaps there is an argument to say that this development of the mushroom ban has meant that the magic mushroom is now only available to its most dedicated users. And, for as long as these mushrooms remain outlawed, this user group, will continue to nurture this ancient art, and campaign with the SLF for the law to be changed. There is simply no need to criminalise us. We are not criminals, and our mushrooms should not be illegal.

It is out of the ashes of this situation that the Shroom Liberation Front rises.  We share the shrooming community's anger and frustration at this shocking and unjustified development.  Yet we also want to pay homage to our great culture and underground community spirit  and way of life, as well as highlight its many deep, interesting, spiritual and magical nuances. We are determined to publicise the importance magic mushrooms play in people's lives and in doing so we want the Shroom Liberation Front to be a place of education and enlightenment, for all concerned. And in the spirit of magic mushrooms we want the Shroom Liberation Front to be about fun and happiness, and spiritual fulfillment. We are also environmentalists at heart, and part of the reason we are so passionate about mushrooms is the deeply spiritual connection one can get with the Natural World and environment around them. Shrooms are all about getting close to and being a part of nature, and realising one's place in it. It crystalises also what role we have still yet to play in safekeeping the well-being of our planet, and its precious biodiversity, so that it may be enjoyed not least by ourselves but by future generations also.

In criminalising magic mushrooms and making its law-abiding users outlaws, we have essentially become freedom fighters for OUR cause in the truest sense of the word.  The right to simply pick and eat a magic mushroom represents at its most basic level one of the simplest freedoms available.  It is a human right.  Yet this very act today turns one into a criminal. If this is not 'Cause to Cause', we don't know what is.

Yet despite our rhetoric, the Shroom Liberation Front is an ideology to aspire to. It is something that only really exists in the hearts and minds of those who believe in it. It is through our actions that we can liberate Shrooms, but we NEED to respect the law and to argue from a position of strength why it should be changed, keeping our feet firmly on the ground and basing our arguments on reasonable and sensible perspectives that our law-makers and the general public can understand and relate to.  We still have to convince these groups that magic mushrooms are safe, culturally accepted, and with many positive aspects, along with minimal risk involved to all concerned.  And it is only Shroomers that can do this - we set our own best example, and so it is important we all move forward with the same shared vision, as to how to achieve it.  The Shroom Liberation Front is a worthy and noble cause for the future.  So please join us, and together we can make a real difference to our world for the better and liberate these amazing mushrooms to their rightful place.