Did Michael Pollan Reveal Paul Stamets’ Magic Mushroom Patch?

What do you think is responsible for that shift from Ted of 2008 to Ted of 2019? Michael Pullen's book probably. Michael Pullen's book was the big bridge. He has 40 pages on me and Michael, if you're listening, buddy, dude, I told him not to reveal my secret mushroom touch. Never trust a journalist. And Michael Pullen, bless his heart, I love him. He's a great guy. But he said in his books, so to speak, he says, Paul told me not to tell you where his secret mushroom patch is, but I can tell you that we slept in a yurt. There are three state parks along the Columbia River and two of them have yurts. He just basically... He gave up your spot. He gave up my spot. And it's like, okay, Michael. Why did he do that? I think it's the urge of a writer trying to give something to their readership. So what happened to that spot? Get trampled? It's run over with people collecting soul-sight mushrooms. They have big signs everywhere they arrest people. It's a huge income source now. For the cops? For the cops because they bust people. But the good news about that is I have gone on to these state parks and because there's big signs of no mushroom picking and law enforcement's there, there's lots of mushrooms. They're everywhere. And so I can photograph them, but you're not allowed to touch them. So what do they check you on your way out? Oh, they're bees on honey, so to speak. Come on. They are hiding in the bushes. That is so crazy. There are alpha male types. You imagine that? They've got drugs growing out of the ground. And they're like, go touch it. They swarm it. Don't touch it. I had a lot of fun with my friend because I got a stick. And I go, okay, I touch the mushrooms with a stick. Now, am I actually touching the mushrooms or not? Because if you touch the mushrooms. Did they check your pockets? They will search you. Yeah. They'll search you for just randomly. No, if they have reason to believe. Reason to believe they can search you. Stuff them in your underwear, bro. Just take a big fat baggie. Or swallow them quickly. But it is preposterous. Yeah, what if they find you lying down with your eyes dilated? You'd have to talk to them. I don't know if they would do a fecal sample later on or what. But it approaches the absurd. And this is when the law enforcement, because of absurd, even the law enforcement officers I know, who you've been in the martial arts a lot all your life, myself as well. I had several schools for about 30 years. And I had several law enforcement officers with students. Yeah, they don't want to be involved in that nonsense. No, they get roped into it by the system. Yeah, like this is not something they want to do. I know a ton of cops. None of them give a shit about mushrooms. Yeah, some. Yeah, it's hugely, hugely unfortunate consequence of really ridiculous laws. And the idea of grown adults telling other grown adults that they can't do something that is incredibly beneficial, that they themselves have never experienced, so they have no knowledge of it at all, other than the ancient stereotypes. Mushrooms being bad, mushrooms being for burnouts and losers and hippies and, oh, you can't handle life. Or they're walking hypocrites and they know it. They use it themselves. That's the word. And they're tormented, but they have to do this. So I found that most law enforcement officers are extremely reasonable, as long as you show intent. Your intention and respect. Yeah, 100%. So it's never been... But I don't subscribe to the defense that someone's doing for spiritual purposes, and they have hundreds of pounds with Ziploc bags with scales in the basement and they're doing a commercial operation. Right. You're avoiding taxes. You're producing this as a factory. Take it in the chin. You get busted. Hey, it comes with the territory. Eyes wide open. Don't cloak it in the veil of spirituality. You're trying to create a spiritual revolution. Unless you're a true saint and you're giving that shit away. Yeah. Well, that would be different. But I have a phrase nature provides I don't, because I don't want to be responsible for another person's experience. Oh, for sure. What if they have a meltdown and they blame Joe Rogan. Yes. The day Paul Staunes. Yes. I can't control that circumstance. I don't want their responsibility. That's one of the reasons why I've hesitated on getting involved in medical marijuana or commercial marijuana, have been offered. And I'm always like, I just don't think this is the right... Because you can't, especially with edibles, you can't control people. You don't know what they're going to do.