Peyote becoming rare
Outside of Mauro Morales's Rio Grande City, Texas home is a sign that reads "Peyote Dealer, Buy or Sell Peyote." Morales is one of three "peyoteros" licensed by the US government to deal in the cactus that contains mescaline. The psychedelic is legal for members of the Native American Church, but sadly the Peyote cactus is become scarce. From Reuters:
Previously on BB:
• US government attacks ritual use of DMTea Link
"There's still some peyote out there, but not like there used to be. It's getting kind of scary now," said Morales above the crowing of a rooster from the roof of his shed.Link (Thanks, Vann Hall!)
He has had his peyotero license for 16 years, and before that worked as a picker, walking the arid brush country of southern Texas with a machete in hand and lopping off the top of the cactus when he found it.
It used to be easy -- peyote was plentiful and landowners were happy to let peyoteros harvest the cactus for a small fee.
But urban development and widespread "root plowing," which scrapes natural vegetation off the land to replace it with grass for cattle grazing, destroyed many of the peyote fields that once sprawled along the U.S.-Mexico border.
And more and more peyote land is off-limits because it is being bought by rich Texans who turn it into hunting preserves, said Martin Terry, a biology professor at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas.
Previously on BB:
• US government attacks ritual use of DMTea Link
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Ahh. That's why it's been so hard to get lately!
Peyote is as powerful as the best of allies, but there is something I personally don't like about him. He distorts men. He gives them a taste of power too soon without fortifying their hearts and makes them domineering and unpredictable. He makes them weak in the middle of their great power.
This is just wrong, closing down peyote harvests just so Dick Cheney can shoot somebody in the face.
It sucks, I sez! :D
So whats to stop them (Native Americans) from setting up a dedicated natural area or artificial environment to grow the cactus in? My ignorance shows not knowing the particulars about the plants growth but still, seems like between the dealer and the reservation something could be done. :\
One of the causes of the peyote demise are some of the harvesters themselves. Instead of picking the buttons off of the cactus (which is all that is needed) they either chop off the plant's top (which often kills it) or they simply pull the whole thing out of the ground. The cactus takes at least 3 years to mature in the wild. I fear for it's future as a naturally-occurring species, especially in light of the posted story.
Like "lone" says above, I see no logical reason why the Native American Church can't grow its own, but that's what "drug laws" are for.
I am going to move out west and become a black truffle / peyote farmer...