Psilocybin is a notorious hallucinogen found in “magic mushrooms”—a federally controlled substance that the U.S. deems to have “no currently accepted medical use” and “a high potential for abuse.” But not everyone agrees with that assessment: New Zealand on Wednesday became the latest country to approve the use of the substance for therapeutic purposes.

New Zealand on Wednesday approved the medicinal use of psilocybin, a hallucinogenic compound notably found in so-called "magic mushrooms".

Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound once primarily known as a party drug, is increasingly being recognised for its medical potential.