For most Americans peyote is an illegal drug, outlawed both by federal and state law. But, for the 500,000 members of the Native American Church, peyote can be legally purchased and used for religious and ceremonial purposes. As an hallucinogenic substance that can invoke a dreamlike state for up to twelve hours, the naturally occurring substance also has a following in the illegal drug trade.
Peyote is a cactus that grows in four Texas counties along the Mexican border, though 90% of all peyote cacti grow in Mexico. Because it is difficult to harvest in the rattlesnake infested hills and commands a relatively low price, it is not generally associated with the Mexican drug trade. As the cacti grow they sprout buds, called buttons, which contain mescaline. The mind altering mescaline, once an LSD alternative for hippies, can be ingested by chewing the buttons, smoking them or boiling them to produce a “tea”.
Currently there are only three licensed peyote dealers in the United States. Legal dealers require proof of Native American ancestry and membership in the Native American Church. There are also an unknown number of “freelancers” – illegal dealers. Both legal and illegal dealers now face the same problem of dwindling supply on the American side of the border. From records kept by legal dealers, harvests and sales are down nearly 40% since the mid-90’s.
Over harvesting, particularly by illegal dealers, or “poachers”, has diminished the available crop. Done properly, the buttons can be removed without harming the plant. Done improperly, the roots are damaged and the cacti die. Once harvested from plants as much as 150 years old, the average plant age today is 5 years or less. Because of the younger plants, button size has been reduced from half dollar average size to less than quarter size.
Poor harvesting is not the only problem. Many south Texas ranchers have stopped allowing peyote harvesters on their land. Some have plowed the wild cacti under to produce grazing land for cattle. Others have leased their land for oil and gas production closing off the fertile desert hills from harvesters.
Looks like even drug dealers can’t catch a break in this economy.
Contributor, aka tidbits. Retired attorney in complex litigation, death penalty defense and constitutional law. Former Nat’l Board Chair: Alzheimer’s Association. Served on multiple political campaigns, including two for U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR). Contributing author to three legal books and multiple legal publications.