Mescaline

Mescaline
Chemical Nomenclature
Common names	Mescaline
Substitutive name	3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenethylamine
Systematic name	2-(3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl)ethanamine
Class Membership
Psychoactive class	Psychedelic
Chemical class	Phenethylamine
Routes of Administration
WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. See responsible use section. Oral Dosage Threshold Common Heavy 50 - 100 - 200 - 400 - 800 mg Light Strong Threshold 50 - 100 mg Light 100 - 200 mg Common 200 - 400 mg Strong 400 - 800 mg Heavy 800 mg+ Duration Total 8 - 14 hours Onset 45 - 90 minutes Come up 60 - 120 minutes Peak 4 - 6 hours Offset 2 - 3 hours After effects 6 - 36 hours DISCLAIMER: PW's dosage information is gathered from users and resources for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation and should be verified with other sources for accuracy.

3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenethylamine (commonly known as Mescaline) is a naturally-occurring psychedelic alkaloid of the phenethylamine class that produces "classical psychedelic" effects (i.e. those of psilocybin mushrooms, mescaline, LSD, and DMT when administered.^[1]

Mescaline occurs naturally in the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii),^[2] and it is produced in a number of other cacti species such as the Echinopsis pachanoi (San Pedro cactus),^[3] Echinopsis peruviana (Peruvian Torch) as well as the Cactaceae plant and the Fabaceae bean family.^[4] It was first isolated and identified in 1897 by the German chemist Arthur Heffter^[5] and first synthesized in 1919 by Ernst Späth.^[6]

This particular substance is both an important part of and inspiration to Alexander Shulgin's life's work as a psychedelic chemist and researcher. It is a member of the so-called "magical half-dozen" which refers to Shulgin's self-rated most important phenethylamine compounds with psychedelic activity, all of which except mescaline he developed and synthesized himself. They are found within the first book of PiHKAL, and are as follows: Mescaline, DOM, 2C-B, 2C-E, 2C-T-2 and 2C-T-7.^[7]

Unlike most highly prohibited substances, mescaline is not considered to be dependence-forming or addictive by the research and medical community.^[8] Nevertheless, unpredictable adverse reactions such as anxiety, paranoia, delusions and psychosis can still always occur, particularly among those predisposed to psychiatric disorders.^[9] It is highly advised to approach this powerful, long-lasting hallucinogenic substance with the proper amount of precaution and harm reduction practices if using this substance.

History

This History and Culture section is a stub. As such, it may contain incomplete or wrong information. You can help by expanding it.

The ritual use of the Peyote cactus has occurred for at least 5700 years by Native Americans in Mexico. Upon early contact, Europeans noted the use of Peyote in Native American religious ceremonies. Additionally, alternative mescaline-containing cacti such as the San Pedro have a long history of use in the South American continent, spanning from Peru to Ecuador.^[10]

The principal psychoactive component in both Peyote and San Pedro, mescaline, was first isolated and identified in 1897 by the German chemist Arthur Heffter^[11] and first synthesized in 1919 by Ernst Späth.^[12]

In traditional peyote preparations, the top of the cactus is cut at ground level, leaving the large tap roots to grow new 'heads'. These 'heads' are then dried to make disc-shaped buttons and the buttons are chewed to produce the effects or soaked in water to drink. In modern times, users will often grind it into a powder and pour it into gel capsules to avoid having to come into contact with the bitter taste of the cactus. The usual human dose is 200–400 milligrams of mescaline sulfate or 178–356 milligrams of mescaline hydrochloride.^[13] The average 76 mm (3.0 in.) button contains about 25 mg mescaline.^[14]

Chemistry

Generic structure of a phenethylamine molecule

Mescaline, or 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine, is a substituted phenethylamine featuring a phenyl ring bound to an amino -NH₂ group through an ethyl chain. Mescaline contains three methoxy functional groups CH₃O- which are attached to carbons R₃, R₄, and R₅ of the phenyl ring.

Pharmacology

Mescaline acts similarly to other psychedelic agents.^[15] It binds to and activates the serotonin 5-HT_2A receptor with a high affinity.^[16] How activating the 5-HT_2A receptor leads to psychedelia is still unknown, but it likely somehow involves excitation of neurons in the prefrontal cortex.^[17] Mescaline is also known to bind to and activate the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor.^[18]

Subjective effects

The effects listed below are based upon the subjective effects index and personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. These effects should be taken with a grain of salt and will rarely (if ever) occur all at once, but heavier doses will increase the chances of inducing a full range of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become much more likely on higher doses and may include serious injury or death.

Experience reports

Anecdotal reports which describe the effects of this compound within our experience index include:

Additional experience reports can be found here:

• Erowid Experience Vaults: Mescaline

Natural sources

Flowering San Pedro, an entheogenic cactus that has been used for over 3,000 years^[19]

• Lophophora williamsii (Peyote), Mescaline 0.4%^[20] - Mescaline 3-6%^[21][22]
• Lophophora diffusa Hordenine 0.5% of total alkaloid, N-Methyltyramine 0.1% of total alkaloid, Mescaline (trace) ^[22]
• Echinopsis pachanoi (syn. Trichocereus pachanoi), Mescaline 0.006-0.12%, 0.05% Average^[23] - Mescaline 0.01%-2.375%^[23]
• Echinopsis peruviana (syn. Trichocereus peruvianus), Mescaline 0.0005%-0.12%^[23]
• Echinopsis lageniformis (syn. Trichocereus bridgesii aka Bolivian torch), Mescaline 0.025%,^[24] also 3,4-Dimethoxyphenylethylamine 1%, 3-Methoxytyramine 1%, Tyramine 1% - Mescaline 2%^[25]
• Echinopsis scopulicola (syn. Trichocereus scopulicola), Mescaline^[21]
• Echinopsis spachiana (syn. Trichocereus spachianus), Mescaline^[21] - Mescaline^[21]
• Echinopsis macrogona (syn. Trichocereus macrogonus), Mescaline 0.01-0.05%^[26]
• Echinopsis tacaquirensis subsp. taquimbalensis (syn. Trichocereus taquimbalensis),^[27] 0.005-0.025% Mescaline^[26]
• Echinopsis terscheckii (syn. Trichocereus terscheckii, Trichocereus werdemannianus)^[28] Mescaline 0.005-0.025%^[26] - Mescaline 0.01%-2.375%^[23]
• Echinopsis valida, Mescaline 0.025%^[20]
• Opuntia acanthocarpa, Mescaline^[29]
• Opuntia basilaris, Mescaline 0.01%, plus 4-hydroxy-3-5-dimethoxyphenethylamine^[29]
• Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica (syn. Opuntia cylindrica)^[30] Mescaline^[21]
• Cylindropuntia echinocarpa (syn. Opuntia echinocarpa), Mescaline 0.01%, 3-4-Dimethoxyphenethylamine 0.01%, 4-Hydroxy-3-5-Dimethoxyphenethylamine 0.01%^[21]
• Cylindropuntia spinosior (syn. Opuntia spinosior), Mescaline 0.00004% ^[31] Mescaline 0.00004%, 3-Methoxytyramine 0.001%, Tyramine 0.002%, 3-4-Dimethoxyphenethylamine.^[21]
• Pelecyphora aselliformis, Hordenine, Mescaline (trace) ^[22]

Toxicity and harm potential

The toxicity and long-term health effects of recreational mescaline use do not seem to have been studied in any scientific context and the exact toxic dose is unknown. This is because the lethal dosage for humans has not been formally studied and there are no known fatal overdoses within the literature.

Anecdotal reports from those who have tried mescaline suggest that there are no negative health effects attributed to simply trying the drug by itself at low to moderate doses and using it very sparingly (but nothing can be completely guaranteed).

Independent research should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption.

It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this substance.

Tolerance and addiction potential

Mescaline is not habit-forming and the desire to use it can actually decrease with use. It is most often self-regulating.

Tolerance to the effects of mescaline are built almost immediately after ingestion. After that, it takes about 3 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 7 days to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). Mescaline presents cross-tolerance with all psychedelics, meaning that after the consumption of mescaline all psychedelics will have a reduced effect.^[32]

Legal status

• Australia: Peyote cacti and other mescaline-containing plants, such as San Pedro, are illegal in Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory. In other states such as Victoria and New South Wales, they are legal for ornamental and gardening purposes.^{[citation needed]}
• Brazil: Possession, production and sale is illegal as it is listed on Portaria SVS/MS nº 344.^[33]
• Canada: Mescaline is classified as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Peyote is listed as an exemption.^[34] Other mescaline containing plants are presumably illegal to possess outside of ornamental and gardening purposes.
• Germany: Mescaline in its raw form and dried mescaline-containing cacti are considered an illegal drug. However, anyone may grow and use peyote without restriction, as it is specifically exempt from legislation.^{[citation needed]}
• Netherlands: Mescaline in its raw form and dried mescaline-containing cacti are considered an illegal drug. However, anyone may grow and use peyote without restriction as it is specifically exempt from legislation.^{[citation needed]}
• United Kingdom: Mescaline in purified powder form is a Class A drug. However, dried cactus can be bought and sold legally.^[35]
• United States: Mescaline was made illegal in 1970 by the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act.^[36] The drug was prohibited internationally by the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and is categorized as a Schedule I hallucinogen by the CSA. Mescaline is legal only for certain religious groups (such as the Native American Church) and in scientific and medical research. While mescaline containing cacti of the genus Echinopsis are technically controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act, they are commonly sold publicly as ornamental plants.

See also

• Responsible use
• Entheogens
• Psychedelics
• Phenethylamine
• Escaline
• 2C-x
• 2C-D

External links

• Mescaline (Wikipedia)
• Mescaline (Erowid Vault)
• Mescaline (PiHKAL / Isomer Design)

References