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Liminal spaces, seasonal faces: Challenging drug market assumptions via an exploration of naturally occurring magic mushroom markets in rural Kent

Simpson, George Henry Robert, Chatwin, Caroline, Van Hellemont, Elke (2023) Liminal spaces, seasonal faces: Challenging drug market assumptions via an exploration of naturally occurring magic mushroom markets in rural Kent. International Journal on Drug Policy, 114 . Article Number 103973. ISSN 1873-4758. (doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.103973) (KAR id:100498)

Abstract

This article presents an exploration of naturally occurring Class-A magic mushroom markets in the UK. It aims to challenge some of the mainstream narratives about drug markets and to identify features of this specific market, which will extend our understanding of how illegal drug markets operate and are structured more generally. The research presented comprises a three year ethnography of sites of magic mushroom production in rural Kent. Observations were conducted at 5 research sites over three consecutive magic mushroom seasons and interviews were conducted with 10 (8 male; 2 female) key informants. It finds that naturally occurring magic mushroom sites are reluctant and liminal sites of drug production, distinct from other Class-A drug production sites due to their: open and accessible nature; lack of invested ownership or evidence of purposeful cultivation; and lack of law enforcement disruption efforts, violence or organised crime involvement. Seasonal magic mushroom picker participants were found to be a sociable group, often acting in a cooperative nature, and without evidence of territoriality or violent dispute resolution. These findings have wider application in challenging the dominant narrative that the most harmful (Class-A) drug markets are homogenous in their violent, profit driven, hierarchical nature, and most Class-A drug producers/suppliers are morally corrupt, financially motivated and organised. A greater understanding of the variety of Class-A drug markets in operation can challenge archetypes and discrimination in understanding drug market involvement, will allow the development of more nuanced policing and policy strategies, and contributes to the presentation of a fluidity of drug market structure that permeates beyond bottom level street markets or social supply.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.103973
Additional information: For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.
Uncontrolled keywords: Psilocybin, Drug markets, Drug production sites, Magic mushrooms, Ethnography
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Funders: Economic and Social Research Council (https://ror.org/03n0ht308)
SWORD Depositor: JISC Publications Router
Depositing User: JISC Publications Router
Date Deposited: 17 Mar 2023 14:35 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 19:35 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/100498 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Simpson, George Henry Robert.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Chatwin, Caroline.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7124-2264
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Van Hellemont, Elke.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8044-5549
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