Rare mushroom growing operation seized in Lumpkin County

DAHLONEGA - A Dahlonega man has been charged with possessing and growing mushrooms and marijuana in his home.

Lumpkin County Sheriff Mark McClure said deputies arrived at the home of Evan Leon Lee Sunday night.

"At this residence off Laurel Circle in Dahlonega, we did seize an indoor psilocybin mushroom growing operation along with the production of marijuana," said McClure.

He said growing psilocybin mushrooms is extremely difficult and requires a high level of intelligence which makes this a rare drug bust.

"I've been in law enforcement for over 22 years," McClure said. "I've actually seized psilocybin mushrooms before, but never have I even observed a growing operation."

McClure said psilocybin mushrooms are hallucinogens. He said possessing or maufacturing this kind of drug leads to a two to 15 year sentence.

Lee is being held at the Lumpkin County Detention Center on $25,100 bond.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/2/207236