Many cacti are known to be psychoactive, containing phenethylamine alkaloids such as mescaline However, the two main ritualistic (folkloric) genera are Echinopsis, of which the most psychoactive species is the San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi, syn. Trichocereus pachanoi), and Lophophora, with peyote (Lophophora williamsii) being the most psychoactive species. Several other species pertaining to other genera are also psychoactive, though not always used with a ritualistic intent.
Several world regions have historically used psychoactive cacti for their properties, particularly Indigenous peoples from Central and South America, such as in Mexico and the Andes region. For this purpose (which includes commercial harvesting) cacti plants are specifically grown in the millions.
Lophophora williamsii (peyote)
Other "peyotes"
Ariocarpus fissuratus
Coryphantha compacta
Pelecyphora aselliformis; strobiliformis
Lophophora diffusa
Ariocarpus retusus
Ariocarpus agavoides; kotschoubeyanus; and other species
Astrophytum asterias; capricorne; myriostigma; and other species
Aztekium ritteri; and other species
Coryphantha elephantidens; macromeris (var. runyonii); palmeri; and other species
Echinocactus grandis; grusonii; platyacanthus; visnaga; and other species
Epithelantha micromeris; and other species
Leuchtenbergia principis'; and other species
Lophophora species
Mammillaria craigii; grahamii (var. oliviae); heyderi; (Dolichothele) longimamma; (Solisia) pectinifera; (Mamillopsis) senilis; sonorensis; and other species
Obregonia denegrii
Strombocactus disciformis
Turbinicarpus laui; lophophoroides; jauernigii; pseudomacrochele; (Pelecyphora) pseudopectinatus; schmiedickeanus; and other species
Other North American psychoactive and/or medicinal cacti-
Carnegiea gigantea
Echinocereus salm-dyckianus (var. scheeri); triglochidiatus; and other species
Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum; pringlei
Echinopsis lageniformis (syn. Trichocereus bridgesii) (Bolivian torch cactus)
Echinopsis pachanoi (syn. Trichocereus pachanoi) (San Pedro cactus)
Echinopsis peruviana (syn. Trichocereus peruvianus) (Peruvian torch cactus)
Other South American psychoactive and/or medicinal cacti
Armatocereus laetus
Browningia spp.
Epostoa lanata
Matucana madisoniorum
Neoraimondia macrostibas
Trichocereus terscheckii
Stetsonia coryne
