Should Native American tribes be allowed to use Peyote?
Should Native American tribes be allowed to use peyote as part of their religious practices?
Peyote is one type of cactus grown in southwestern U.S. and in neighboring parts of Mexico. The active ingredient in peyote is mescaline, a somewhat potent hallucinogenic chemical. It has the capability of being a psychoactive drug causing the user to change what he/she sees, thinks, and feels. Down through the centuries, it has been used as a painkiller, a stimulant, and a spiritual tool in religious ceremonies. As a controlled substance, not unlike marijuana and LSD, its use is illegal except by the Native American Churches (NAC)- only for the purposes of their religious ceremonies. All other users could be fined and imprisoned.
The use of peyote is rich in tradition, dating back 7,000 to 10,000 years ago according to some experts. Spiritually, it's been linked with deer and corn as gifts from the gods. Peyote is so deeply rooted in the Native American culture that modern pragmatists see it as virtually impossible to wean the Indian user away from its use; thus ceding the legality of its use, specifically for religious purposes. The addiction effect of mind-altering drugs is one of the reasons why societies and their political and religious leaders discourage its use. Some of the side effects are thought to be devastating to reason and will. Scientists have studied the psychological and physiological effects for many years. Yet, the use of peyote has been, and remains to this day, so ingrained in the Native American lore and culture that even though many Indians were converted to Christianity years ago, they'll tie in patron saints with its use. However, not all Native Americans use peyote though they understand its use by specific tribes.
Interestingly enough, when the attempt to teach the young Native American the ways of the white man in an effort to have them forget their own traditions, it didn't always work. In the contrary, oftentimes intertribal friendships were formed in schools, paving the way for the spread of peyote use. Incidentally, there's no medical evidence that peyote is additive, in fact, it is seen as a cure to alcoholism in many tribes.
Superstition ran in both directions in by gone times. Though the users of peyote praised its values in their religious rites, there were others who looked upon its use as evil and misguided at best. Those were the ones...