The Pentagon has announced that psilocin — a substance produced in the body after consuming psychedelic mushrooms — will soon be included in the military’s drug testing program.

Psilocybin, the active compound in mushrooms, is converted to psilocin once ingested, creating hallucinogenic effects or altered states. Both substances are classified as Schedule I drugs by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, a category reserved for substances with no federally recognized medical use and a high potential for abuse.

Despite the federal classification, several states — including Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon — have moved forward with legalizing or exploring psilocybin-assisted therapy, according to Psychedelic Alpha, a tracker run by the University of California, Berkeley.

According to a Pentagon memo issued August 18, psilocin will officially be added to service member drug testing panels starting October 1, 2025. The change is aimed at strengthening military readiness and discipline, with the Department of Defense noting that its drug detection program is being updated to address “new and emerging drug threats.”

The military has long screened for substances such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines (including MDMA and ecstasy). In recent years, newer compounds like Delta-8, a cannabis-derived product, have also been added to testing.

A newly updated Department of Defense instruction further outlines the drug testing program, largely with administrative changes. It also confirms that the Pentagon will continue collecting urinalysis data to support long-term studies on drug use trends within the armed forces.

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