Joseph D. Calabrese’s wrote a great article on the subject. "The Supreme Court versus Peyote: Consciousness Alteration, Cultural Psychiatry and the Dilemma of Contemporary Subcultures" examines the complex cultural, legal, and psychiatric implications surrounding the Native American Church’s (NAC) ceremonial use of peyote. The article delves into the challenges that arise when Indigenous practices, which often involve consciousness-altering substances like peyote, intersect with Western legal and medical frameworks. These frameworks traditionally view consciousness alteration through a lens of pathology or criminality, often disregarding the cultural, spiritual, and therapeutic significance these practices hold within Indigenous contexts.

One of the central issues Calabrese addresses is the clash between U.S. legal standards and Indigenous religious practices. In the 20th century, Western psychiatry and the U.S. legal system generally regarded hallucinogens as potentially dangerous substances that could destabilize mental health. The NAC’s use of peyote, however, highlights a contrasting perspective: peyote ceremonies are deeply integrated into members’ spiritual lives, symbolizing a sacred connection to the divine and functioning as a means of communal healing, spiritual growth, and personal transformation.

The NAC incorporates peyote into a framework that blends religious ritual with a structured, communal approach to healing. In NAC ceremonies, peyote is used under the guidance of a roadman or spiritual leader who conducts the ceremony within a safe, culturally meaningful space. Participants use peyote not as an isolated “drug experience,” but as part of a holistic spiritual practice that fosters a sense of unity, humility, and connection to both community and a higher spiritual realm. This approach to peyote use helps individuals integrate their experiences within a broader spiritual narrative, transforming peyote from a substance that merely alters consciousness into a profound spiritual tool.

The broader implications of these legal and cultural conflicts underscore the need for a more nuanced approach within cultural psychiatry. Calabrese’s article suggests that Western medicine and legal institutions might benefit from recognizing the legitimacy of Indigenous frameworks for understanding and engaging with consciousness. By expanding cultural psychiatry to include, embrace and work in tandem with Indigenous healing traditions, Western frameworks could develop more inclusive approaches to consciousness-altering practices, acknowledging the therapeutic value and cultural integrity of ceremonies like those of the NAC.