Alexander Dawson: Peyote’s Race Problem

Peyote has a long history of being at the center of racialized legal prohibitions, starting with its outlawing by the Spanish Inquisition in 1620. These laws were never rooted in therapeutic or safety concerns, but rather in a desire to control the indigenous population and specifically enforce colonial concepts of race. This pattern persisted through the 20th century in the United States, where legal status often hinged on having at least one quarter Indian blood, perpetuating the idea that indigenous bodies are fundamentally different from and inferior to white bodies. Appropriation of indigenous plant medicines by non-indigenous groups further complicates this history, as it often involves re-packaging sacred traditions into commodities for personal exploration and growth. Furthermore, environmental pressures on peyote and ayahuasca are highlighting the conflict between traditional, indigenous knowledge and the globalized demand for these substances.