When chewed, peyote produces a hallucinogenic effect. Its use is an integral part of some Native American religious practices. For decades, the Government restricted its use, but Federal law now protects religious use of peyote by Native American peoples.

Peyote “buttons” grow on a cactus that is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. During important religious ceremonies, the peyote buttons are typically chewed to produce a hallucinogenic effect that practitioners believe enables them to commune with God.