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
📋Quick facts
Also known asSan Pedro, Huachuma, Achuma, Giganton, Aguacolla
CategoryPsychedelics
Schedule / classMescaline = Schedule I US; cactus legal to grow (not prepare) in most places; Peru/Ecuador traditional-legal
AppearanceTall columnar cactus sold at plant markets and botánicas; prepared as a slow-cooked tea/mash
Street priceCactus $20–$60 per cutting (legal); retreat ceremonies $100–$400
Legal statusGrowing the cactus is legal in most of the world; extracting/preparing mescaline is not (US); traditional use protected Peru
Last updated2026-09-18
Sources: NIDA, EMCDDA, MAPS
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 |
| Mescaline powder | Schedule I | Heavy nausea at dose; Panic/psychosis in vulnerable users | ~$20–$60 per dose |
| Peyote (mescaline cactus) | Schedule I | Severe nausea/vomiting; Psychological distress | ~$10–$30 per button where sold |
| Ayahuasca (The Brew) | Schedule I components | THE DEADLY COMBINATION: vine MAOIs + antidepressants (SSRIs/SNRIs/MAOIs) or MDMA = serotonin syndrome — deaths documented at retreats; Hypertensive crisis with tyramine-containing foods (aged cheese, cured meats) around ceremonies | Retreats $500–$3,500 per week |
| Ibogaine (Iboga) | Schedule I | CARDIAC DEATHS — the documented killer: QT-prolongation and arrhythmia; multiple clinic deaths, often without proper ECG screening; Deaths have occurred days AFTER treatment (delayed arrhythmia) | Clinics $3,000–$10,000 per treatment |
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.