Peyote, a cactus that contains mescaline, a hallucinogen, grows naturally in South Texas and northern Mexico. It is sacred to many Indigenous people, playing a central role in their ceremonies, spiritual practice and medicine. Peyote is being threatened by overharvesting, drug decriminalization laws and a resurgence in psychedelic use. Some Native American Church leaders have purchased a 605-acre ranch in southern Texas using funding from a philanthropic foundation with the goal of conserving and propagating peyote while teaching the younger generation their way of life. Some in the Native American Church are suspicious of eager investors and say the responsibility to protect and preserve peyote lies with the federal government.
