Magic mushroom kits are ready-to-use packages that simplify the cultivation process for beginners. They include substrate already inoculated with mushroom spores, as well as care and maintenance instructions. They make it possible to grow mushrooms without having to germinate psilocybin spores yourself, which is illegal in many jurisdictions, and can be difficult for the average person to accomplish.

The most common type of mushroom grow kit comes with colonized psilocybe cubensis magic mushroom mycelium and a bag that can be inflated to create the optimal growing conditions for the mushrooms. Depending on the manufacturer, the kit may also come with a hygrometer or thermometer for measuring temperature and humidity and a misting bottle to keep the environment moist. Ideally, the kit should be kept in a clean and sterilized environment. This is important because mushrooms are susceptible to contamination from bacteria and other organisms that can cause them to not grow correctly or even to produce non-psilocybin fungi.

While the church’s co-founder says his kits are legal because he’s confident Utah law exempts homegrown mushrooms from prosecution under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, experts say the church still faces a number of risks, including the risk that prosecutors might consider the kits to be drug paraphernalia and prosecute them for possession or sale. Moreover, while spores don’t technically contain psilocybin and psilocin (and thus aren’t a Schedule 1 substance under federal law), they do require cultivation to produce edible mushrooms.