I just checked and unfortunately the site my friend originally got his through, Pacific Exotica Flora, doesn't seem to exist any more. I don't want to give pans a bad name, the majority of people seem to report sublime experiences with them. It might be worth starting research with the Hawaiian strain perhaps.
Another possible species I will be researching over the summer that might be worth checking out is Psilocybe mexicana 'Jalisco'. Unlike the truffles which this species is famous for, this particular strain also fruits, producing mushrooms that are supposedly very potent indeed (same league as pans), and in later flushes they start to produce mushrooms with viable spores, so one can continue the line. This species has been used for at least 2,000 years, and was used by the Aztecs in their rituals (teonanacatl), and was, and still is the most highly prized species used by the Mazatec, including the late shaman Maria Sabina. The Mazatec really know their mushrooms, and so I suspect this species is worthy of more attention. What very few experience reports have read indicate they provide a very powerful, visionary, clean journey.
Another possible species I will be researching over the summer that might be worth checking out is Psilocybe mexicana 'Jalisco'. Unlike the truffles which this species is famous for, this particular strain also fruits, producing mushrooms that are supposedly very potent indeed (same league as pans), and in later flushes they start to produce mushrooms with viable spores, so one can continue the line. This species has been used for at least 2,000 years, and was used by the Aztecs in their rituals (teonanacatl), and was, and still is the most highly prized species used by the Mazatec, including the late shaman Maria Sabina. The Mazatec really know their mushrooms, and so I suspect this species is worthy of more attention. What very few experience reports have read indicate they provide a very powerful, visionary, clean journey.