54-04-6

White Powder

Psychedelic Alkoloid

ChEBI: A phenethylamine alkaloid that is phenethylamine substituted at positions 3, 4 and 5 by methoxy groups.

Highly toxic by ingestion.

Mescaline is one of the main active ingredients in the peyote plant, Lophophora williamsii. It is also found in several other cacti including the South American Trichocereus otherwise known as the Peruvian torch species. Mescaline can also be synthesized in the laboratory. It is one of the oldest known hallucinogenic drugs. Ingestion of mescaline via use of the peyote cactus has been used in rituals by North American Indians dating back thousands of years. Ingestion of peyote was also common among the Aztec, Apache, and Pima Indians for religious, ceremonial, and medicinal purposes. Mescaline was isolated from peyote in 1896 by the chemist Hefter and in 1919, the chemical structure was confirmed by Spath. There are many analogs of mescaline with over 250 being prepared and self-tested by the chemist and pharmacologist, Alexander Shulgin (aka Sasha Shulgin). Mescaline became a Schedule I drug and was placed in Controlled Substances Act in 1970. Many of the related chemicals or analogs of mescaline were also placed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

The primary exposure pathway is oral via ingestion of the chemical powder or salt or via ingestion of peyote ‘ buttons.’ These buttons are the round, fleshy tops of the cactus that are sliced and dried. Multiple buttons of peyote are typically ingested due to the relatively small content (i.e., 40–50 mg) of individual peyote buttons.

The exact mechanism of mescaline has not been clearly defined. The central nervous system effects of mescaline appear to involve stimulation of both serotonin and dopamine receptors. In experimental studies, these effects can be blocked by either serotonin antagonists such as methysergide or dopamine antagonists such as haloperidol. Mescaline is structurally related to the amphetamines and cathine and cathinone, which are found in the plant Catha edulis. Mescaline is a ring-substituted phenethylamine. Sympathomimetic effects can occur and are thought to be centrally mediated. High doses of peyote/mescaline can produce more pronounced sympathomimetic effects such as tachycardia and hypertension. Hallucinations may be associated with homicidal, suicidal, or psychotic behaviors. There have been no reported deaths due to the physiological effects of peyote/mescaline. Traumatic deaths have occurred secondary to hallucinations. Mescaline does not appear to inhibit monoamine oxidase.