Mescaline

Mescaline
The skeletal formula of mescaline
Chemical Nomenclature
Common names	Mescaline, Mescalito
Systematic name	2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)ethanamine
Class Membership
Psychoactive class	Psychedelic
Chemical class	Phenethylamine
Routes of Administration
Oral Dosage WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. Threshold 100 mg Light 100 - 200 mg Common 200 - 300 mg Strong 300 - 500 mg Heavy 500 - 700 mg+ Duration Total 8 - 12 hours Onset 45 - 60 minutes Peak 4 - 6 hours Afterglow 2 - 4 hours

This article requires proofreading. As such, it likely contains incorrect grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Summary sheet: Mescaline

Mescaline or 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine is a naturally occurring psychedelic alkaloid of the phenethylamine class, it is well known for its hallucinogenic effects similar to those of LSD and psilocybin. It was first isolated and identified in 1897 by the German chemist Arthur Heffter and first synthesized in 1919 by Ernst Späth. Today mescaline is either aquired in its pure synthesized form through the use of online darknet vendors or it is found through its natural plant sources.

It occurs naturally in the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii), the San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi) and in the Peruvian torch (Echinopsis peruviana), and as well in a number of other members of the Cactaceae plant family. It is also found in small amounts in certain members of the Fabaceae (bean) family, including Acacia berlandieri.

The use of peyote cactus has been occuring for at least 5700 years by Native Americans in Mexico. Europeans noted use of peyote in Native American religious ceremonies upon early contact. Other mescaline-containing cacti such as the San Pedro have a long history of use in South America, from Peru to Ecuador.

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. Buttons are chewed to produce the effects or soaked in water to drink. However, the taste of the cactus is bitter, so contemporary users will often grind it into a powder and pour it in capsules to avoid having to taste it. The usual human dosage is 200–400 milligrams of mescaline sulfate or 178–356 milligrams of mescaline hydrochloride. The average 76 mm (3.0 in) button contains about 25 mg mescaline.

Chemistry

General formula of 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. Mescaline can be found naturally occurring in certain plants of the cacti family or as a synthetic hydrochloride salt.

Pharmacology

Main article: Serotonergic psychedelic

Mescaline acts similarly to other psychedelic agents. It binds to and activates the serotonin 5-HT_2A receptor with a high affinity. 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. Mescaline is also known to bind to and activate the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor.

Subjective effects

The effects listed below are based upon the subjective effects index and personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. The listed effects will rarely (if ever) occur all at once, but heavier dosages will increase the chances and are more likely to induce a full range of effects.

Physical effects

• Spontaneous tactile sensations - The "body high" of mescaline can be described as proportionally intense in comparison to its accompanying visual and cognitive effects. It is manifested in a number of forms including an intense soft warm glow that grows over the body that is capable of becoming extremely physically euphoric. This is most similar to MDMA and Psilocin and is consistently manifested throughout the experience. This is contrasted by an intensely pleasurable yet sharp, cold electric tingling sensation which moves up and down the body. This is most similar to LSD and is also consistently manifested throughout the trip. The final physical effect noticed throughout the experience is an intense energetic pins and needles sensation that manifests itself in the form of a continuously shifting and tingling sensation that travels up and down the body in spontaneous waves. This is most similar to 2C-B and is not entirely consistent throughout the trip.
• Stimulation - In terms of its effects on the physical energy levels of the tripper, mescaline is usually considered to be very energetic and stimulating without being forced. For example, when taken in any environment it will usually encourage physical activities such as running, walking, climbing or dancing. In comparison, other more commonly used psychedelics such as psilocin are generally sedating and relaxed.
• Nausea - Nausea is commonly reported when consumed in moderate to high dosages and either passes instantly once the tripper has vomited or gradually fades by itself as the peak sets in.
• Tactile enhancement - Feelings of enhanced tactile sensations are consistently present at moderate levels throughout most mescaline trips. Once Level 8B geometry is reached, an intense sensation of suddenly becoming aware of and being able to feel every single nerve ending across a person's entire body all at once is consistently present.
• Bodily control enhancement
• Increased heart rate
• Pupil dilation
• Wakefulness

Cognitive effects

In comparison to other psychedelics such as psilocin, LSA and ayahuasca, mescaline is significantly more stimulating and fast-paced in terms of the specific style of thought stream produced and contains a large number of potential effects.

• Current mind state enhancement
• Thought acceleration
• Novelty enhancement
• Time distortion
• Analysis enhancement - This effect is consistent in its manifestation and outrospection dominant.
• Personal bias suppression
• Conceptual thinking
• Immersion enhancement
• Memory suppression
  • Ego death
• Thought loops
• Feelings of interdependent opposites
• Delusions
• Unity and interconnectedness
• Spirituality enhancement
• Suggestibility enhancement
• Personal meaning enhancement

Visual effects

Enhancements

• Acuity enhancement
• Colour enhancement
• Pattern recognition enhancement

Distortions

• Drifting (melting, flowing, breathing and morphing) - In comparison to other psychedelics, this effect can be described as highly detailed, slow and smooth in motion, static in their appearance and realistic in style.
• Tracers
• After images
• Symmetrical texture repetition
• Colour shifting
• Scenery slicing

Geometry

The visual geometry that is present throughout this trip can be described as similar in appearance to that of ayahuasca, 2C-P or psilocin in the sense that its geometry is structured in its organization as well as natural and organic in style. However, in terms of its bright colours, sharp edges and angular corners, it is more similar to that of LSD, 2C-B and 2C-I.

The geometry can be comprehensively described as:

• Organic in geometric style
• Equally abstract and algorithmic in appearance
• Intricate in complexity
• Structured in its organization
• Fast in speed
• Smooth in motion
• Equally large and small in appearance - It has a variable size that spontaneously changes between large and small in appearance.
• Multicoloured in scheme
• Glossy in colour
• Sharp and angular in its corners
• Level 8B - While the geometry for mescaline has yet to be formally confirmed, the geometry gives off certain attributes which are significantly more likely to result in states of level 8B visual geometry over level 8A at higher doses.

Hallucinatory states

Mescaline produces a full range of high level hallucinatory states in a fashion that is more consistent and reproducible than that of many other commonly used psychedelics

• Transformations
• Internal hallucinations (autonomous entities; settings, sceneries, and landscapes; alterations in perspective and scenarios and plots) - In comparison to other psychedelics such as LSD, mescaline produces a high level of hallucinations embedded within visual geometry. This particular effect commonly contains hallucinations with scenarios, settings, concepts and autonomous entity contact. They are more common within dark environments and can be described as lucid in believability, interactive in style and almost exclusively of a personal, religious, spiritual, science-fiction, fantasy, surreal, nonsensical or transcendental nature in their overall theme.

Auditory effects

• Enhancements
• Distortions
• Hallucinations

Multi-sensory effects

• Synaesthesia
• Machinescapes

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 over doses within the literature. Anecdotal evidence from people within the psychonaut community who have tried mescaline suggests that there are no negative health effects attributed to simply trying the drug by itself at low to moderate doses or 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.

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.

Natural sources

Flowering San Pedro, an entheogenic cactus that has been used for over 3,000 years.

• Echinopsis lageniformis (syn. Trichocereus bridgesii), Mescaline > 0.025%, also 3,4-dimethoxyphenylethylamine < 1%, 3-methoxytyramine < 1%, tyramine < 1% - Mescaline 2%
• Echinopsis scopulicola (syn. Trichocereus scopulicola), Mescaline
• Echinopsis pachanoi (syn. Trichocereus pachanoi), Mescaline 0.006-0.12%, 0.05% Average - Mescaline 0.01%-2.375%
• Echinopsis spachiana (syn. Trichocereus spachianus), Mescaline - Mescaline
• Lophophora williamsii (Peyote), 0.4% Mescaline - 3-6% Mescaline
• Opuntia acanthocarpa Mescaline
• Opuntia basilaris Mescaline 0.01%, plus 4-hydroxy-3-5-dimethoxyphenethylamine
• Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica (syn. Opuntia cylindrica), Mescaline
• Cylindropuntia echinocarpa (syn. Opuntia echinocarpa), Mescaline 0.01%, 3-4-dimethoxyphenethylamine 0.01%, 4-hydroxy-3-5-dimethoxyphenethylamine 0.01%
• Cylindropuntia spinosior (syn. Opuntia spinosior), Mescaline 0.00004%, 3-methoxytyramine 0.001%, tyramine 0.002%, 3-4-dimethoxyphenethylamine.
• Echinopsis macrogona (syn. Trichocereus macrogonus), > 0.01-0.05% Mescaline
• Echinopsis peruviana (syn. Trichocereus peruvianus), Mescaline 0.0005%-0.12% - Mescaline
• Echinopsis tacaquirensis subsp. taquimbalensis (syn. Trichocereus taquimbalensis), > 0.005-0.025% Mescaline
• Echinopsis terscheckii (syn. Trichocereus terscheckii, Trichocereus werdemannianus) > 0.005-0.025% Mescaline - Mescaline 0.01%-2.375%
• Echinopsis valida, 0.025% Mescaline
• Pelecyphora aselliformis, Mescaline

Legal issues

• United States - In the United States, mescaline was made illegal in 1970 by the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act. 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.
• United Kingdom - In the United Kingdom, mescaline in purified powder form is a Class A drug. However, dried cactus can be bought and sold legally.
• Australia - Peyote cacti and other mescaline-containing plants such as San Pedro are illegal in Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory, whilst in other states such as Victoria and New South Wales, they are legal for ornamental and gardening purposes.
• Canada - In Canada, mescaline in its raw form and dried mescaline-containing cacti are considered an illegal drug. However, anyone may grow and use peyote, or Lophophora williamsii, as well as Echinopsis Pachanoi and Echinopsis Peruviana without restriction, as it is specifically exempt from legislation. In Canada, mescaline is classified as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, whereas peyote is exempt.
• Netherlands - In the Netherlands, mescaline in its raw form and dried mescaline-containing cacti are considered an illegal drug. However, anyone may grow and use peyote, or Lophophora williamsii, as well as Echinopsis Pachanoi and Echinopsis Peruviana without restriction, as it is specifically exempt from legislation.
• Germany - In Germany, mescaline in its raw form and dried mescaline-containing cacti are considered an illegal drug. However, anyone may grow and use peyote, or Lophophora williamsii, as well as Echinopsis Pachanoi and Echinopsis Peruviana without restriction, as it is specifically exempt from legislation.

Preparation methods

Preparation methods for this compound within our preparation index include:

• Simple Mescaline brewing technique

See also

• Responsible use
• Phenethylamine
• Psychedelic
• 2C-B
• Escaline

External links

• Mescaline (Wikipedia)
• Mescaline (Erowid)
• Mescaline (Bluelight)
• Mescaline (TripSit)