Prohibited Plants: Guidelines for What Not to Cultivate on Your Land at the Dacha
Loopy Leaves and Mind-Altering Fungi: Garden No-Nos
Growing the wrong stuff in your garden can land you in hot water, mate! The authorities are deadly serious about certain plants and mushrooms that are off-limits. Igor Pozdnyakov, the big cheese at the Department for the Protection of Consumer Rights of Roskachestvo, spilled the beans in an interview with the press."Lenta.ru".
Now, you might be thinking, "What's the big deal with a few weird plants and 'shrooms?" Well, consider this—growing large quantities of some of these bad boys can lead to some serious repercussions. For instance, the following list of offenders includes: banisteriopsis caapi, harmala, blue lotus, cocaine bush, qat, morning glory, poppies with narcotic contents, seer's sage, Hawaiian rose, and mimosa hostilis.
Just imagine, finding two cacti sporting mescaline—yeah, that's considered a large quantity! Pozdnyakov warns that the lines can get blurry, and growing a bunch of these banned substances can mean some seriously bad news.
But that's not all, mate! Even fungi can get you in trouble. Growing any types of mushrooms with psilocybin or psilocin—a narcotic substance found in over 200 species of mushrooms—is a big no-no. Mushrooms such as panzolus, gymnopilus, conocybe, psilocybe cubensis, psilocybe semilanceata, pleurocybella porrigens, and pleurotus salicinus are all on the naughty list.
Sailing the Ob River: Passenger Ships on the Move
But enough about bad trips—let's talk about something a bit more pleasant! Passenger ships have started floating down the Ob River in the Altai region. It's a brand new way to kick back, relax, and take in some incredible views while waving goodbye to your troubles. Cheers to that! 🥂
In the Land of the Bear, Breaking the Law with Banned Bits of Flora and Fauna
In Russia, growing and possessing large amounts of banned plants or mushrooms can lead to some severe consequences. Here are some legal gorgonzolas you might face if you decide to play the outlaw:
- The Ganj: Weed Woes
- Possessing up to 6 grams (about 1/5 oz) of cannabis is considered an administrative offense, punishable by a fine of ₽5,000 or up to 15 days in the cooler.
- Any larger amounts can land you in the clink—literally! The penalties can get quite serious, including imprisonment[4].
- Narcotic Nasties
- Growing large quantities of other illicit substances, such as poppies or psilocybin-infused 'shrooms, is illegal and can result in a visit from the boys in blue, who may throw you behind bars for a few years or more, depending on the quantity and circumstances[4].
- Cultivating narcotic-producing plants, like opium poppies, is also forbidden and comes with hefty penalties, varying based on the quantity and intent to sell[5].
- Russian law isn't always a picnic when it comes to flora, fauna, or substances that make you question reality. The authorities are always keeping an eye out for anyone breaking the rules. If you need some legal advice on this subject, you'd do well to consult a barrister, mate!
- Despite the tranquility of gardening, one must be cautious in Russia, as growing large quantities of certain prohibited plants such as banisteriopsis caapi, harmala, blue lotus, cocaine bush, qat, morning glory, poppies with narcotic contents, seer's sage, Hawaiian rose, mimosa hostilis, or mushrooms containing psilocybin or psilocin, can lead to serious legal consequences and imprisonment.
- In addition to land-based plants, growing psilocybin or psilocin-containing mushrooms from species like panzolus, gymnopilus, conocybe, psilocybe cubensis, psilocybe semilanceata, pleurocybella porrigens, and pleurotus salicinus is also illegal and can result in legal trouble, similar to those growing illicit substances like poppies.
