San Pedro is widely used in the West, but it is often technically illegal for consumption (see legality for details). Those who prefer to experience the plant in its natural habitat can participate in an increasing number of ceremonies and retreats in South America. In Andean countries (e.g. Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, etc.), San Pedro is generally legal, including as a psychedelic. [55] Prior to the (re)discovery of San Pedro in 1945, botanists were not aware of any cacti containing mescaline other than peyote. Although it contains less psychedelic compound than peyote (<2% dry weight and 0.12% fresh), San Pedro still represented a significant alternative source. [61] [28] However, when mescaline and peyote were banned in the United States in 1970, San Pedro seems to have escaped the attention of lawmakers: people continued to sell it freely as a "natural and legal" psychedelic, and even traditional garden centers continued to sell the plant. [22] Police have confirmed that this matter is not under investigation and say that when Mr. Small spoke to staff today, he was advised to seek legal advice on his plans – and he did just that. Curing mood disorders is easier to believe, and although research into the psychtherapeutic potential of mescaline is still limited, there is evidence of its effectiveness. As with many other psychedelic drugs, the potential of mescaline as a therapeutic substance was studied in the 1950s and 1960s – especially when combined with LSD. Early results showed that mescaline could be used successfully to treat addiction and depression, but research was stopped when the drug was made illegal. [66] AlbertKLloyd.
(January 13, 2014). Correction of San Pedro myths (work in progress) [online forum comment]. Message to www.dmt-nexus.me/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=52630. It is legal to grow San Pedro cacti in most countries, which is why you can find them regularly in garden centers. Learn how to harvest and grow San Pedro at home in our latest article. This is a list of the legal status of psychoactive cacti by country. These include peyote, San Pedro and Peruvian torch. [23] Barton, S.
(1994, September). FAQs about the power of San Pedro. Excerpt from erowid.org/plants/cacti/cacti_sanpedro_potency_faq.shtml. Therefore, recreational use of mescaline is illegal in most Western countries, but in some countries, such as Canada, traditional peyote is exempt from the legislation. In New Zealand, cacti such as the San Pedro are allowed to be grown for ornamental purposes, but not for recreational purposes. Mescaline is a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This means you can be imprisoned for up to six months for possession and up to life for care. Traditionally, San Pedro was eaten alone or with other plants in a ceremonial beverage called cimora.
Although its use as a psychedelic is technically illegal in the United States, the plant itself can decorate yards and gardens across the country. It can also be found in abundance in the witch markets of Peru (such as San Pedro or Huachuma), Bolivia (such as Achuma) and Ecuador (such as Aguacolla or Gigantón). The San Pedro, also known as Trichocerous Pachanoi, is a fast-growing columnar cactus native to the Andes at 2,000-3,000 m altitude. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. The same family of Cactaceae, requires less attention and yet is a very unique and pleasant plant. Suitable for growing both indoors and outdoors with low maintenance, making this plant the perfect gift for someone who doesn`t have much space or time. A minimalist friend would really appreciate San Pedro! The San Pedro cactus is a fast-growing, multi-stemmed plant or small tree that grows about 2 m wide and up to 6 m tall. The plant can be toxic to dogs and cats if ingested in large quantities. Warning: In New Zealand, cacti such as San Pedro can be grown for ornamental purposes, but not for the treatment and ingestion of mescaline, which is a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. This means you can be imprisoned for up to six months for possession and up to life for care.
ExoticaNZ assumes no responsibility for illegal activities committed by the customer after taking possession of this facility. Doc plant care instructions It is legal to grow San Pedro in most countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, but often not for human consumption (see legality). It is also very easy to grow from cuttings and can thrive in a variety of conditions, both indoors and outdoors, although it prefers much more water than most cacti. [66] You can even graft fresh cuttings (including cuttings from other species) together by fixing them with string for a few days. [9] Be aware that if you grow San Pedro for mescaline, the common horticultural form of T. pachanoi (aka “Pachanot”) has little or nothing of the compound. [24] For more information, click here. [45] Smith, p. 45. The deviant spirit. Excerpt from volteface.me/features/the-diverging-mind/. [59] Sharon, D.
(2001). Ethnoarchaeological finds for the use of San Pedro (Trichocereus pachanoi) in northern Peru. Eleusis, 5:13–59. From www.researchgate.net/publication/7154032_Mescaline_and_the_San_Pedro_cactus_ritual_Archaeological_and_ethnographic_evidence_in_northern_Peru [29] Kovacic, P., Somanathan, R. (2009). New unifying mechanism of mescaline in the central nervous system. Oxidative Medicine and Cell Longevity, 2(4): 181-190. doi.org/10.4161/oxim.2.4.9380. It could be a coincidence, but Ms Habib thinks recent news of a Christchurch man selling parts of his cactus may have drawn people`s attention to the matter. The man defended the sale of his San Pedro, saying he was not a drug dealer.
[28] Stafford, P. (1992). Psychedelics Encyclopedia (3rd edition). Berkeley, California: Ronin Publishing. A Christchurch man who sells parts of a cactus containing a Class A substance says he is not a drug dealer. Learn about different psychedelic drugs, how to use them, and methods to acquire them safely with Third Wave`s Ultimate Guide to Psychedelic Drug Supply. There is actually some controversy as to whether “San Pedro” refers only to T. pachanoi or a number of species of Trichocereus (echinopsis), including T. peruvianus/E. peruviana (Peruvian torch).
For clarity, most uses of the term refer only to T. pachanoi, but it is common to find other closely related species sold under the name San Pedro. [58] Cordy-Collins, A. (1982). Peruvian plants painted psychoactively: The textile of shamanism. Journal of Ethnobiology, 2(2):144-153. Excerpted from ethnobiology.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/JoE/2-2/cordy-Collins1982.pdf [8] Sharon, D. (1972). The San Pedro cactus in Peruvian folk medicine. In Furst, P.T. (ed.), Flesh of the Gods: The Ritual Use of Hallucinogens (pp.114-135).
New York, NY: Praeger Publishers. San Pedro may not be safe in combination with MAO inhibitors (natural or synthetic), including the antidepressants phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate). Some use MAO inhibitors such as moclobemide (Amira, Aurorix, Clobemix, Depnil, Manerix) to enhance effects or prevent nausea, but they may not be safe for everyone`s biochemistry. In fact, MAOIs can actually increase or induce nausea. [39]. Pure mescaline is usually available as a white or brownish crystalline powder, in bulk or packaged as a pill in capsules. It can also be found in the form of a liquid solution or infusion.