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For millennia, peyote has held great mythical and religious meaning by the Aztecs, Chichimecs, Tarahumara, Huichol, Apache, Comanche, and other Native American groups of Mexico and the Southwestern United States. In many of these civilizations, peyote was considered a sort of god or demigod, and warriors often wore buttons of the cactus around their necks before going into battle, believing that it would shield them from fear, hunger, or thirst. Used by Aztec mystics, peyote was said to "give the prophets a key to see the future, the actions of the gods, and the destiny of people, as well as that of the entire universe". When used in small enough doses, peyote was excellent in treating migraines, fevers, and headaches. The Huichol, considering the cactus sacred, conducted an annual pilgrimage to Uilicuta Desert, one of peyote's growing grounds, believing that the drug combatted evil and brough good fortune.

"The Powers of Peyote." Encyclopedia of the Biosphere. Health & Wellness Resource Center, Apr. 2000. Web. 14 May 2016.

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Although peyote is considered a Schedule I drug, it is non-addictive and has no withdrawal symptoms. Tolerance to the cactus may develop, but will go away after one stops using the drug. However, peyote is known to be a potential gateway drug to LSD and psilocybin, along with  more 'edgy' hallucinogens.

Hoffmann, Candace A. "Mescaline." Drugs and Controlled Substances: Information for Students. Ed. Stacey L. Blachford and Kristine Krapp. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 291-299. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 May 2016.

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Shortly after its discovery, researchers investigated the possible utilization of peyote as a medicine. However, no studies have proven the use of the drug for any medical uses, and there is no legal use of it. Although widely available in the United States during the 1950-60s, peyote is currently outlawed in the US and Mexico. Laws regarding the cactus's purchase, creation, sale, trade, transport, carriage, or usage vary by state. In most cases, offenders will spend no more than 15 years in prison and face a maximum fine of $25,000. Peyote is still legally used for religious purposes by the Native American Church, although this is still under debate.

"Mescaline." UXL Encyclopedia of Drugs and Addictive Substances. Ed. Barbara C. Bigelow. Vol. 4. Detroit: UXL, 2006. 547-566. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 May 2016.

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Like most other hallucinogens, the effects of peyote's ingestion are unpredictable and will vary depending on the user's physical and mental characteristics, the properties of the drug, and its dosage.

Users may encounter rapid, severe mood swings and feelings of insanity, depression, and impending death.

Frightening hallucinations are not uncommon and are much akin to a person's worst nightmare.

Due to the initial taste of the buttons, nausea, tremors, and vomiting may occur, followed by sleeplessness, high blood pressure, and stomach and uterus contractions, which may be dangerous for pregnant women.

While on the drug, one's heartbeat and breathing will slow, almost to the point of life-threatening danger.

Using peyote could worsen already-existing mental illnesses/conditions and possibly induce panic attacks.

After the drug wears off, dysphoria (or a 'drug hangover') will follow. This happens when the user experiences a dip in serotonin and feels anxious, depressed, restless, or overall dissatisfied.

Long after taking peyote, flashbacks or psychosis are always a risk. During this, users may face continued hallucinations, mood swings, depression, or psychotic behavior

Adulterated drugs, commonly laced with heroin, LSD, or ecstasy, may have unpredictable and fatal effects

"Peyote." Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol & Addictive Behavior. Ed. Pamela Korsmeyer and Henry R. Kranzler. 3rd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2009. 214-215. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 May 2016.

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Peyote is sought after for its ability to induce a heightened sense of situational awareness, vividly colored and 'trippy' hallucinations, feelings of power, spiritual enlightenment, consistent laughter, happiness, warped senses, and suppressed feelings of hunger, thirst, and fear. Users also report experiencing a sensation called synesthesia, in which one may 'see sounds' or 'hear colors'. In the long run, some have reported an overall improvement in mood, focus, and loss of anxiety and depression. In religious ceremonies, historically practiced by Native Americans, the hallucinations and sounds experienced by using peyote are linked to spiritual connection and mysticism.

"Mescaline." UXL Encyclopedia of Drugs and Addictive Substances. Ed. Barbara C. Bigelow. Vol. 4. Detroit: UXL, 2006. 547-566. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 May 2016.

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Peyote can be ingested by:

Grinding the dried tops of the cactus and steeping them in tea

Eating the ‘buttons’ or tops of the cactus

Mashing the roots into a paste to apply on wounds or joints

Drying the buttons and crushing them into a powder that can be pressed into capsules

Peyote's effects normally last 10-12 hours  roughly 30 mins after consumption.

Hoffmann, Candace A. "Mescaline." Drugs and Controlled Substances: Information for Students. Ed. Stacey L. Blachford and Kristine Krapp. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 291-299. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 May 2016.

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Peyote is widely considered the world's oldest known hallucinogenic drug. The plant it is derived from is a small, round, spineless cactus that contains several psychoactive compounds, mescaline being the primary substance. The shoots may be gray-green or blue-green in color and grow across the southwestern United States and in Mexico. It was first used around 5000 BC by Native American gatherers who sought out food to eat, and was used by the Aztecs and pre-Colombian Mexicans to treat illnesses, communicate with spirits, and experience ‘otherworldly’ effects during religious rituals, further heightened by the vivid hallucinations the users experienced. Although the behavioral effects between taking peyote and pure mescaline differ slightly, the two drugs are very similar.

"Peyote." Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol & Addictive Behavior. Ed. Pamela Korsmeyer and Henry R. Kranzler. 3rd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2009. 214-215. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 May 2016.

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Official Name: Peyote [pAy-OH-tEE]
Classification: Schedule I Hallucinogen
Street Names / Common Names:
- buttons
- cactus head
- aztec
- blue cap
- chief / big chief
- mescal
- moon
- topi

Hoffmann, Candace A. "Mescaline." Drugs and Controlled Substances: Information for Students. Ed. Stacey L. Blachford and Kristine Krapp. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 291-299. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 May 2016.