Native American church raises alarm over peyote shortage due to rising Western demand

A shortage of peyote, a sacred cactus used by Native Americans, is worsening due to increased demand from Western spiritual seekers and overharvesting. Experts warn that this trend threatens the plant's availability for traditional religious practices. The Native American Church, which has about 350,000 members, is concerned about the impact of non-Native use of peyote. They emphasize that peyote is a sacred medicine and should not be exploited by outsiders. In response to dwindling supplies, Mexico has classified peyote as a threatened species. However, demand continues to rise, fueled by the growing popularity of psychedelics in Western culture and insufficient consultation with Native American groups regarding legal changes.