The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Thursday warned the public about the proliferation of ‘peyote,’ a spineless cactus that contains mescaline, a dangerous hallucinogen. PDEA director general Isagani Nerez issued the advisory following reports that the cacti are being sold on local online shopping platforms.
Mescaline is classified as a dangerous drug under Republic Act 9165 and listed as a controlled substance under the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. It produces strong hallucinogenic effects that can impair judgment and perception.
Users may experience nausea, vomiting, dilated pupils, headaches, muscle weakness, and loss of motor coordination. PDEA said mescaline is ingested by eating fresh or dried cacti, grinding it into powder for capsules, or smoking it with cannabis or tobacco.
Nerez warned that mescaline abuse can trigger illusions, hallucinations, a distorted sense of the body, and altered perception of space and time—effects that can lead to accidents, self-harm, and unpredictable behavior.
He urged the public to report any sightings or online sales, stressing that Peyote is not an ornamental plant but a dangerous drug source. “We will not allow it to take root in our communities,” he said.
