The trouble with psychedelic cacti: conflicting meanings of San Pedro and Peyote

Liam B. Engel; Mitchell Low

doi:10.1177/00914509251318751

The trouble with psychedelic cacti: conflicting meanings of San Pedro and Peyote

Liam B. Engel, Mitchell Low

NICM Health Research Institute

The Mescaline Garden

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

24 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Using autoethnography, this article considers conflict surrounding the psychedelic, mescaline cacti, San Pedro, and Peyote. We reflect on themes emergent in the lead authors’ lived experiences with growing, researching and working with mescaline cacti; Indigenous culture, psychopharmacotherapy research, psychedelic markets and ecology. These themes are considered relative to varied San Pedro and Peyote stakeholders. Among these stakeholders, powers of medicine and prohibition dominate, but are also met with resistance.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	104-117
Number of pages	14
Journal	Contemporary Drug Problems
Volume	52
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/00914509251318751
Publication status	Published - Mar 2025

Keywords

ethnography
hallucinogens
Indigenous communities
medicalization
participatory methods
pharmaceuticals

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The trouble with psychedelic cacti: conflicting meanings of San Pedro and Peyote

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