Mescaline

Details
  • Mescaline is the active ingredient of the peyote cactus, Lophophora williamsii. It can also be made synthetically.
  • In its pure state, mescaline sulphate is a white crystalline powder. Synthetic mescaline may appear as different coloured powders.
  • The peyote cactus contains button shaped 'seeds' that can be cut from the root of the plant and dried and chewed or mixed with water to make a hallucinogenic drink.
  • Mescaline has a bitter taste so some people grind ‘peyote buttons’ into an off-white powder that is put into capsules.
  • The effects of mescaline can last for between 12 to 18 hours.

Mescaline is also called: Cactus, cactus buttons, cactus joint, mesc, mescal.

Effects

Mescaline is considered a hallucinogen or psychedelic drug and its effects include:

  • An altered state of consciousness – with altered thinking and changes in time perception –  which is often described as happy, positive, enjoyable and ‘illuminating’. 
  • Feeling like you are in a dream-like state.
  • Prominent changes in visual perceptions with intense visual distortions and possibly hallucinations. These can happen with your eyes open or closed. Less common are auditory hallucinations.
  • Some people can experience moderate to severe vomiting and/or headaches.

 

Risks
  • Some people experience moderate to severe vomiting and/or headaches.
  • It can make you dizzy,  anxious, increase your heart beat and give you diarrhoea.
  • People have been known to harm themselves while under the effects of hallucinogens. Hence, it is particularly advisable for people already in a bad mood, feeling depressed or worried to avoid taking mescaline in such a state.
  • A mescaline trip can be confusing, very scary or sometimes terrifying if you have a bad trip.
  • Because the perception of your body and the world around you can be distorted,  you may not be in complete control of what you're doing and so at risk of hurting yourself or others, particularly in any unsafe environments.
 

 

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