Is Mescaline (Peyote, Wachuma) Legal in Canada?
For the most part, no. Mescaline is prohibited under Canadian federal criminal law, but peyote (which contains mescaline) is explicitly exempted from prohibition (i.e., it is legal for personal possession).
Mescaline is prohibited in Canada under Schedule III of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This prohibition extends to all mescaline-containing cacti, including San Pedro (also known as wachuma), but not peyote.
The Act notably and specifically exempts peyote from prohibition because of peyote’s historic use by members of the Native American Church (see Indigenous Rights). However, this does not make peyote legal in Canada per se. Rather, peyote falls into the category of non-prohibited albeit unregulated substances which are legal to possess, but not to sell, pursuant to the Food and Drugs Act.
Due to the increasing scarcity and endangerment of wild peyote cacti, use of peyote by non-Indigenous persons is highly controversial.
What is Mescaline?
Mescaline is a psychedelic compound found in a variety of cacti, most notably peyote and San Pedro cacti. Its effects have been described as similar to that of psilocybin and LSD in some respects, including altering one’s sense of time and pattern recognition. In other respects, such as one’s experience of reality and immediate setting, it’s said to operate very differently upon perception.
Both peyote and San Pedro (wachuma) boast distinctive cultural and spiritual significance for the Indigenous peoples of North and South America.
Medical or Therapeutic Use?
Research on the therapeutic use of mescaline is limited, especially as compared with other psychedelic substances. Anecdotally, some (such as Michael Pollan in his book This Is Your Mind on Plants) have suggested its use in the form of peyote may be helpful for treating trauma, particularly in the context of ceremonial use.
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