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mescaline
noun
mes·ca·line
ˈme-skə-lən
ˈme-skə-ˌlēn
: a hallucinatory crystalline alkaloid C11H17NO3 that is the chief psychoactive principle in peyote buttons
Natural psychedelics such as mescaline or psilocybin are found in plants considered sacred since ancient times.—Luis Alberto Henríquez-Hernández et al.
Examples of mescaline in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Peyote or San Pedro (Mescaline) Traditionally consumed in religious ceremonies by Indigenous communities throughout the desert plains of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, peyote is a circular cactus that contains the hallucinogen alkaloid mescaline.
—Michaela Trimble, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2024
This therapy would be limited to people who are 21 and older, and would decriminalize the use of psilocybin, DMT, mescaline (though not peyote) and MDMA in therapeutic settings under the supervision of licensed and trained facilitators.
—Jenavieve Hatch, Sacramento Bee, 6 Feb. 2024
Both young and middle-aged adult groups used hallucinogens such as LSD, MDMA, mescaline, peyote, shrooms or psilocybin, and PCP at a significantly higher rate compared to ten years ago.
—USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2023
Peyote Peyote is a cactus with mescaline as its active ingredient and a naturally occurring hallucinogen.
—Kelly Santana Banks, Discover Magazine, 3 Mar. 2023
Classic psychedelics like mescaline, LSD, psilocybin and DMT have been classified as Schedule 1 substances by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) since 1970, and MDMA, the synthetic psychedelic also known as ecstasy or molly, was added to the list in 1987.
—Theara Coleman, The Week, 27 June 2023
Multiple psychedelics, including psilocybin, ayahuasca, LSD and mescaline, have been shown in studies to increase emotional empathy, at least in part because psychedelics are proven to boost open-minded thinking.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 26 June 2023
Today, Heroic Hearts is part of a coalition of groups and advocates pushing for the regulated legalization of various naturally occurring hallucinogens including ayahuasca, psilocybin and mescaline — as well as other psychoactive drugs with promising therapeutic potential such as ketamine and MDMA.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2023
Lawmakers in 2023 will also revisit the question of whether Massachusetts should follow Oregon and some local municipalities in loosening restrictions on natural psychedelic compounds like psilocybin and mescaline, which are found in various species of mushrooms and cacti, respectively.
—Dan Adams, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Jan. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mescaline.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1896, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near mescaline
Cite this Entry
“Mescaline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mescaline. Accessed 17 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
mescaline
noun
mes·ca·line
ˈmes-kə-lən
-ˌlēn
: a drug that is obtained from the peyote cactus and causes hallucinations
Medical Definition
mescaline
noun
mes·ca·line
ˈmes-kə-lən
-ˌlēn
: a hallucinatory crystalline alkaloid C11H17NO3 that is the chief psychoactive principle in peyote buttons
More from Merriam-Webster on mescaline
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mescaline
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