Huachuma, the Andean psychedelic cactus, is drawing Western seekers and raising ethical questions

By Pardis Mahdavi, Director, Executive Leadership Academy, University of California, Berkeley

For at least two decades, thousands of Americans have been going to Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil to look for ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew traditionally used in sacred ceremonies in South America. Ayahuasca contains the psychedelic compound DMT, N-Dimethyltryptamine, and researchers are studying its effects on several conditions, including depression and addiction.

However, another sacred plant is quietly…

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