Author: James Anderson

A Simple Guide To Mescaline: How It Feels, Risks, Benefits, Dosage

Efforts to decriminalize “natural psychedelics” such as mescaline are underway in cities across the U.S., with successes in Oakland and Santa Cruz so far. Mescaline causes colorful visual distortions, hallucinations, euphoria, and a sense of wellbeing. People usually take it as a dried cactus, a tea, or a pure powder. Mescaline is illegal in the United States, with an exception for specific Native American Church ceremonies. Like most psychedelic hallucinogens, mescaline is not physically addictive; however, it can cause tolerance meaning higher doses are need to achieve the same hallucinogenic effect.

For reference, a 150-pound person would have to consume around 60 grams of pure mescaline—about 200 standard doses—for it to be fatal. Also keep in mind that at the time of this article’s publication, mescaline is illegal to possess or consume in the United States. Because cacti are natural products, levels of mescaline vary and it can be difficult to dose mescaline precisely. You can also grow San Pedro cactus easily and legally in many parts of the United States.

Peyote: History, Facts, and Hard Truths About This Psychedelic Cactus

Other than the naturally occurring state of these cacti, you can also find mescaline in a crystalline powder form after a cactus has gone through a mescaline extraction process. The powder can range in color from white to brown based on variables in the mescaline extraction method and the presence of other naturally occurring alkaloids. When you see mesclun on a menu or in the produce section of a grocery store, you can expect a mix of young, tender greens. Pure mescaline can be difficult to find and is often cut with other, more easily obtainable drugs that come in white powder form.

From the earliest recorded time, peyote has been used by natives in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows, as a part of traditional religious rites. It has an effect that is similar to LSD or psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and other hallucinogenic drugs. The Peyote cactus is a small, bulbous cactus that does not have spines. It grows in clusters that are often referred to as “buttons.” The San Pedro and Peruvian Torch are columnar cacti. Their ribs are thin, yet grow tall and are often found in bunches.

While you can easily purchase a bagged mesclun for a salad, you can also grow a similar mix of greens in the garden, a hydroponic system, or in containers. First and foremost, mescaline is illegal in most places and can come with penalties and incarceration. Aside from legal implications, the risk is almost entirely psychological. San Pedro cactus is a widespread, fast-growing cactus that grows in the Andes region of South America.

For that reason, you may want to start with a smaller dose of mescaline, wait an hour to see how you feel, and then take decide whether or not to take the remaining portion of the full dose. You may want to take a lighter dose, wait an hour, and see how you feel before taking the remainder of the dose. Some mescaline powder may be very slightly tan instead of white, which is fine.

For more information on taking peyote safely, see Precautions and Safety and toxicity. The cultural setting and intention play an important role in the mescaline experience. Casual psychedelic experiences are generally approached for enjoyment, curiosity, and recreation.

Pieces of peyote are circular and about the size of a quarter or a half-dollar. Mescaline is the active psychedelic compound in several species of hallucinogenic cacti. It’s best-known as part of peyote, a cactus that grows across Mexico and the Southwestern United States. Mescaline or mescalin (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine) is a naturally occurring psychedelic protoalkaloid of the substituted phenethylamine class, known for its hallucinogenic effects comparable to those of LSD and psilocybin.

Mescaline Safety Tips

When taking mescaline, it’s advised that you remove hazards, including sharp objects and things you might trip over. It’s also wise to ensure easy access to drinking water, as well as a toilet or bucket in case of purging. A responsible sitter is also a good idea, at least for first-timers. Mescaline should be taken on an empty stomach to minimize nausea and maximize absorption. Due to its status as an internationally controlled substance, research into the harm potential of mescaline—especially long-term—has been limited.

1. The effects of mescaline may take a while to kick in—often between minutes—and may be felt for up to eight to 12 hours.
2. Some native tribes of the Americas have used naturally occurring mescaline in spiritual and religious ceremonies for thousands of years.
3. San Pedro cactus is a widespread, fast-growing cactus that grows in the Andes region of South America.
4. In its original use, the plant medicine was also used to treat a number of ailments, including snake bites, wounds, skin conditions, and general pain.
5. When you see mesclun on a menu or in the produce section of a grocery store, you can expect a mix of young, tender greens.
6. While mescaline by itself does not appear to have led directly to any fatalities, there are some potentially significant health risks to be aware of.

In another study, researchers found that mescaline helped goldfish learn to avoid a shock more quickly. These findings support the prevailing view that mescaline and other psychedelics can enhance creativity. As the psychologist Stanley Krippner put it, “to invent something new, one cannot be completely conditioned or imprinted.”[23] Psychedelics like mescaline tend to dissolve preconceptions and elicit fresh perspectives on reality. Some researchers have looked at the benefits of mescaline through the lens of the scientific method, especially as interest in psychedelics as psychiatric medications piqued in the 1950s. After its synthesis in 1919, researchers would spend the next four decades documenting mescaline’s effects, especially in early studies in schizophrenia. Scientific literature has also noted the potential risk of Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) with mescaline.

Structurally, it is similar to LSD and is often used as a benchmark hallucinogen when comparing psychedelics. Mescaline is a substituted phenethylamine, a molecule based on the basic phenethylamine structure. Along with MDMA, 2C-B, and others, this sets it apart from the tryptamine class of psychedelics, which includes psilocybin, LSD, and DMT. The effects of mescaline may take a while to kick in—often between minutes—and may be felt for up to eight to 12 hours.

How long does Mescaline stay in your system?

Some native tribes of the Americas have used naturally occurring mescaline in spiritual and religious ceremonies for thousands of years. In whatever form it is consumed, a mescaline experience is highly hallucinogenic and lends itself to self-exploration. Many people report that it also creates a uniquely empathic effect in the user, making it useful for personal healing. Given the complexity of the mescaline experience, it’s impossible to describe each potential effect you may experience. Consider reading up on trip reports to better understand the range of potential effects, and keep your mind open to the reality that everyone’s experience is unique.

These mixes became the first mesclun, and the basis for the bagged varieties we see every day. Mescaline is a psychedelic hallucinogen obtained from the small, spineless cactus Peyote (Lophophora williamsi), the San Pedro cactus, Peruvian torch cactus, and other mescaline-containing cacti. It is also found in certain members of the Fabaceae (bean family) and can be produced synthetically. Testing your mescaline is always good practice even when you trust your supplier. Reagent test kits from Bunk Police can identify hundreds of adulterants and substitutes—offering peace of mind and potentially saving your life.

5 San Pedro is easier to find than peyote and is legal to grow for ornamental purposes (although you can’t legally harvest it for mescaline). You can eat San Pedro cactus fresh or dried, or make tea from it. Mesclun, or mesclun greens, refers to mixture of young lettuces. It’s the basic mix of greens found in your local salad bar, on a menu at a restaurant, and in the produce aisle at the grocery store. The percentage of each leaf varies, based on whomever has created the blend, but it’s always composed of the most tender leaves. Mescaline is a naturally occurring alkaloid with psychedelic properties.