THAILAND – A British tourist has died after suffering a severe reaction to magic mushrooms while on holiday in Thailand, local media reports. The 25-year-old was enjoying a Christmas break with his girlfriend when he allegedly bought the hallucinogenic drug from a shop in Chiang Mai. He reportedly had a horrific instant reaction to the mushrooms and died soon after. Medics arrived at the luxury resort where he was staying and questioned his partner, who admitted they had bought the items over the counter from a nearby cannabis shop called The Glory Days. Officers today raided the shop and arrested the owner on suspicion of selling category 5 narcotics. Police allegedly found sacks containing 7kg of magic mushrooms in the store room. Police Major General Worapong Khamluea, Commander of the Investigation Division, said: “The tourist had been taking pictures at the Tha Pae Gate, a famous landmark, with his girlfriend then they went to a shop and bought magic mushrooms. He took them back to their hotel room and consumed them. But 40 minutes later he … collapsed from the reaction to the substance. Officers initially checked the store but found no mushrooms on the premises but discovered them in a storage room used by the owner. Four suspects were arrested, including the owner and three employees.”

“Possessing magic mushrooms is illegal and tourists should not buy them or use them in the country. The effects are similar to LSD and can be very dangerous.” Thailand legalised cannabis in 2022 causing an explosion in gaudy neon-lit dispensaries around the country.

But the poorly thought of legislation has seen a surge in mental illness, crime and the sale of other drugs through the stores. (Dailymail.co)