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Sacred plants, drugs or hallucinogens? A mapping and rhizomatic analysis of “Psychedelic Renaissance” narratives in Mexican cyberspace

Lorien Chavez, Marcelo Leite, Bia Labate, Ph.D.

Peyote (Lophora williamsi) and Huachuma (San Pedro, Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi) are both mescaline-containing cactuses, native to highly specific geographic zones in North and South America, respectively. It is generally common knowledge that Peyote is an at-risk species, and Huachuma is often suggested as an alternative source of mescaline or experience that has fewer potentially negative environmental impacts at the species level. This however, is misleading. This presentation brings together Laurel Sugden, who have done their respective PhD investigations on species status of the two cacti, and Alberto “Nachi” Lopez, a Peruvian Curandero who works in biocultural conservation and has on-the-ground knowledge and stories about declining San Pedro populations.

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