Mescaline, << MEHS kuh leen or MEHS kuh lihn, >> is a powerful drug that distorts what a person sees and hears and intensifies the emotions. Mescaline is obtained from the top, or “button,” of the peyote cactus, which grows in parts of Mexico and of the southwestern United States. The Native American Church, which has members from a number of Indian tribes, uses the peyote as a sacrament in religious ceremonies. In the United States, federal law prohibits the possession or use of mescaline except by this church.
The effects of a 350-milligram capsule of mescaline last about 12 hours and resemble those of LSD (see LSD ). Users may see beautiful color patterns or frightening visions of themselves and others as monsters. A mescaline experience may result in new insights, or it may cause extreme anxiety. A user’s personality, the setting, and the dose all affect the experience.
The use of mescaline does not generally produce physical or psychological dependence. But regular users may become unproductive and disinterested in life. In most cases, these reactions end after a person stops taking the drug.
