Peyote has been associated with Man for thousands of years, being traced back to Mexico before 1000 B.C. Peyote (Lophophora Williansii) is a small button shaped cactus which grows in Mexico and the South West of the United States. A mature Peyote can take 5 to 15 years to reach full maturity and will be no longer than 5 inches in diameter. The largest part of the cactus is underground, the root shaped like a long carrot. Instead of having spines which are associated with most cacti, Peyote is round with fuzzy tufts.
When harvesting the round button (top part) is cut, leaving the root behind in the ground. This root will generate several new heads, thereby generating new cacti for the future.

Peyote is a hallucinogen, you can eat the button fresh or it can be dried out and made into tea. The effects experienced after consumption will range from a feeling of physical energy and well being to actual visionary experiences. Lophophor Willianssii (Peyote) produces upwards of 50 chemically related compounds. The primary effects of Peyote come from its main active alkaloid which is mescaline. The effects of taking Peyote can take up to one hour to come on, and will last up to ten hours. A feeling of euphoria and good eternal energy will be felt, your senses are changing and you will view things in a different light. The effects of taking Peyote can be the same as L.S.D., visionary experiences and a feeling of being detached from your body. Peyote is a powerful mind altering drug which should be used with great care.

It is a Class A drug which makes it illegal to buy, sell or harvest within the U.K. and most other countries. The exception to the rule is in parts of the U.S.A. and Mexico which allows the use and practice of Peyote for religious reasons; you need to be a member of the Native American Church. Apart from the Indians of the South West of America and Mexico it has also crossed over to many different religious and race groups. It is not that common to buy on the streets due to how long it takes the cacti to mature as a useable product. Since the Europeans came across Peyote in the 15th Century it has been shipped all around the world for study and use of this cacti. Botanists and Chemists have been studying the properties of Peyote for a number of years to see if it can be used in different ways. The music industry has had numerous famous musicians experiment with Peyote.

The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley was published in 1953 describing his experiences with mescaline. Some years later the singer/poet Jim Morrison experimented with peyote, as did other noticeable musicians from the 1960's through to the early 70's. The Doors took their name from Aldous Huxley's book.