Peyote
Peyote
Peyote is a small, spineless cactus (Lophophora diffusa or Lophophora williamsii) native to high desert regions from north-central Mexico to southernmost Texas. It has been used in religious healing ceremonies by many indigenous peoples in that area since pre-Columbian times, usually chewed into a paste and swallowed or taken as tea. Despite active persecution by colonial Spanish missionaries and the Spanish Inquisition, it survived and remains in use among some Huichol, Tarahumara, and Cora communities. Knowledge of the plant's properties and the associated ceremonies also spread northward until an organized religion with distinct Christian elements took shape in Oklahoma in the 1880s. There it was adopted by members of the many different Native American nations being relocated to what was then known as Indian Territory. This religion, with its several variations, is now institutionalized in the Native American Church (NAC).
Psychoactive effects of peyote ingestion are attributed to mescaline, one of the many alkaloids it contains. Reported responses include euphoria, visions or mild hallucinations, vomiting, and mental clarity. It has never been shown to be addictive, or to cause genetic or other biological damage. In fact, members of the NAC report success in using it to treat alcoholism, in conjunction with membership in an NAC community. It is classified as a controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, and is illegal for recreational use. It was subject to punitive laws even for religious use in many states until full federal protection was granted in 1994.
See alsoDrugs; Drumming; Native American Church; Native American Religions; Religious Experience; Religious Freedom Restoration Act; Religious Persecution; Ritual.
Bibliography
Aberle, David F. The Peyote Religion among the Navaho. 1966.
Anderson, Edward F. Peyote: The Divine Cactus. 1996.
Brito, Sylvester J. The Way of a Peyote Roadman. 1989.
LaBarre, Weston. The Peyote Cult. 1938.
Slotkin, James S. The Peyote Religion: A Study in Indian-White Relations. 1956.
Stewart, Omer C. Peyote Religion: A History. 1987.
Christopher Jocks