Psychotropic Plants

Psychoactive Plants

Plants that affect the central nervous system, leading to alterations in perception, mood, or consciousness.

Trend in the use of psychoactive plants as the world has become more interconnected

has led to increased interest in their therapeutic, recreational, and cultural uses.

Depressants

Substances that slow down CNS activity, reduce anxiety and pain, and promote sleep

Depressant Examples

• Opium (Papaver somniferum): morphine, codeine, heroin

• Valerian (Valeriana officinalis): sleep aid

• Cannabis (THC) in moderate-high doses

Stimulants

Substances that increase CNS activity, resulting in heightened alertness, suppressed appetite, and elevated mood

Stimulant examples

• Caffeine (coffee, tea, cacao)

• Nicotine (tobacco)

• Cocaine (coca plant)

• Ephedrine (Ephedra)

Hallucinogens

Substances that alter perception, causing visual/auditory hallucinations and distorted senses

Hallucinogen Examples

• Mescaline (peyote)

• DMT (ayahuasca)

• Salvinorin A (Salvia divinorum)

• Lysergic acid derivatives (morning glory seeds)

Globalization

The process whereby psychoactive substances became separated from their cultural context and increasingly used recreationally.

Stigmatization

The process of attributing negative societal views toward the use of psychoactive plants.

Prohibition

Legal restrictions placed on certain psychoactive substances, with cannabis being one of the most cited examples.

Cannabis

A psychoactive plant originating from Asia, historically used for fiber, oil, and religious purposes.

Cannabis Origin

• Native to Asia, first used in China for fiber and oil.

• Religious use in India (bhang, ganja, charas).

• Bred for high-resin female flowers → increased THC content.

Prohibition of Cannabis

• 1937: U.S. bans cannabis (racially motivated rhetoric played a role).

• 1970: Controlled Substances Act categorizes cannabis as Schedule I (most restrictive).

• 1980s: Reagan’s Anti-Drug Act increases penalties

current trends and regulation of cannabis

• Legal for medical use in many states since 1990s.

• Now legal for recreational use in over 18 states + DC.

• Still illegal under federal law, but enforcement is easing.

• Florida's 2024 ballot initiative for recreational use did not pass, but momentum is growing.

Opium

A depressant derived from the opium poppy, historically used as a pain reliever, leading to widespread addiction issues.

Early Use of Opium

• Used by Sumerians (~3000 BC).

• Originally eaten, later smoked (17th century China → opium dens).

Opium Wars

Conflicts between Britain and China over the trade of opium, resulting in forced imports and significant societal impacts. British traded opium from India to China to offset trade deficits.

Different ways of administering Opium

• Laudanum: opium + alcohol; 19th-century "medicine."

• Injection (morphine): began post-1853 (hypodermic syringe).

• Heroin: created in 1898, thought to be safer than morphine — turned out to be more addictive.

Modern Impacts of Opium

• Opiates (morphine, codeine) still used medically.

• Massive opioid addiction crisis in the U.S. (>70,000 overdose deaths annually).

Schedule I

A classification in the Controlled Substances Act indicating that a substance has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use (e.g., cannabis).

Laudanum

A mixture of opium and alcohol historically used as a pain reliever, popular in the 19th century.

Overdose deaths

Annual deaths resulting from the excessive use of drugs, such as opioids, highlighting the addiction crisis.

Partial re-acceptance

The gradual shift back towards accepting certain psychoactive substances, like cannabis, for medicinal or recreational use.

Caffeine

A stimulant commonly found in coffee, tea, and cacao that increases alertness.

Nicotine

A stimulant found in tobacco that activates the CNS and increases energy.

DMT

A powerful hallucinogen found in ayahuasca that alters perception and can induce mystical experiences.

Ritual use

Historical usage of psychoactive plants in cultural or spiritual practices.

Addiction crisis

A severe public health issue marked by high rates of substance abuse and overdose deaths, particularly for opioids.

Cultural context

The historical and social framework within which substance use occurs, influencing its acceptability and usage.

Florida's 2024 ballot initiative

A failed attempt to legalize recreational cannabis use in Florida, indicating evolving public opinion.

how to Hallucinogens differ from the other categories of psychoactives

theyre generally not addictive, non-lethal at common does, historically used in rituals, and usually regulated more harshly