Psychedelics
San Pedro Cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi)
Street names: San Pedro, Huachuma, Achuma, Giganton, Aguacolla
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- 6–10 h gentle mescaline journey: warmth, color enhancement, heart-opening — the 'kind grandfather' of psychedelics
- Andean ceremonial tradition (huachuma) millennia old
⚠Key risks
- Nausea/vomiting at onset (the cactus's slime)
- Same psychological risks as mescaline — panic in unprepared users
- Cardiac strain at high doses (mescaline is a phenethylamine stimulant)
- Drug tourism injuries: hiking on doses at retreat centers
- Preparation concentrates the dose unpredictably
✚Overdose signs
- No physical lethal dose known
- Extreme agitation, vomiting, racing heart at high doses
Category comparison — Psychedelics
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Pedro Cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi) | Mescaline = Schedule I US; cactus legal to grow | Nausea/vomiting at onset (the cactus's slime); Same psychological risks as mescaline — panic in unprepared users | Cactus $20–$60 per cutting |
| DMT (dimethyltryptamine) | Schedule I | Psychological distress ('bad trips'); Dangerous behavior if unprepared | ~$20–$60 per 50–100 mg dose |
| Peyote (mescaline cactus) | Schedule I | Severe nausea/vomiting; Psychological distress | ~$10–$30 per button where sold |
| Mescaline powder | Schedule I | Heavy nausea at dose; Panic/psychosis in vulnerable users | ~$20–$60 per dose |
| 2C-B | Schedule I | Very dose-sensitive — steep curve between fun and overwhelming; Panic attacks | ~$10–$30 per pill or ~$50–$120 per gram |
| 4-AcO-DMT (psilacetin) | Analogue prosecutions | Sold as 'legal mushrooms' — buyers misjudge dose; Panic, risky behavior | ~$20–$50 per dose |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does San Pedro Cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi) look like?
Tall columnar cactus sold at plant markets and botánicas; prepared as a slow-cooked tea/mash
What are the signs of a San Pedro Cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi) overdose?
No physical lethal dose known; Extreme agitation, vomiting, racing heart at high doses Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
Nausea/vomiting at onset (the cactus's slime) Dependence can develop with regular use.