Spice

Spice is a widely sought out hallucinogen and psionic enhancing drug that has been naturally occurring all over the galaxy. It's created from a highly specific fungi that has been exposed to Isotope-10. The Fungi is thought to feed directly off of radiation. Spice can be farmed, however the conditions of which it can be farmed are highly specific from world to world. Spice is incredibly hard to synthetically produce in a lab, and extremely cost ineffective. Thus, when Spice is found naturally occurring on a world, it is usually sought after by all manner of competing entities. Its ability to feed on radiation can also transfer to the consumer of Spice. Many poisioned by radiation sickness have consumed spice to be cured. Wanderers regularly consume spice to avoid the steady radiation space travel exposes them to. Because it develops on different worlds, Spice can come in so many different forms. On some worlds, Spice can be farmed off of the spore collection, forming a dust like substance. It can be cured and aged, made into a hash like puck which can then be smoked. On other worlds, it might be a sludgy concentrate that can be filtered and condensed into a crystaline rock-candy type consumable. Some planets might see the fungi dried out made into a tea. The The Seer Collective seeks out Spice for its sensory altering experiences, and say that properly guided psionics can experience future events using the drug. Its consumption is prolific throughout the galaxy as a hallucinogen, despite the Empire having outlawed Spice for the average citizen. Regardless, it has found its way even to the Nobility, and some say the Emperor himself uses Spice to stay one step ahead of his enemies.

Effects

Spice can affect a person in widely different ways, and is depedent on the strain, the way the spice was harvested, and the mental fortitude of those consuming Spice. Some of the effects can include:

Mind Alteration: Spice can awaken dormant parts of the human mind, and expand their sensory perceptions. It allows some to see physical manifestations of the "Way" or the cosmic filaments of the galaxy produced by the big bang. Heavy doses in those gifted with Psionic abilities might enhance those abilities, or awaken new ones.
Physical Alteration: Regular spice use can manifest itself in a variety of physical ways. Most see their eyes become a deep glowing blue, representative of the substance itself. Some users even notice their skin or tongues turning completely blue. Heavy doses might alter these temporarily, but regular use will make these permenant.
Health Benefits: Spice has been known to help cure ailments, particularly those centered around the brain. It also has the side effect of enhanced sensory awareness. Spice has been known to help those struggling with jump sickness and cancer.