peyote a spineless cactus that contains musculine a hallucinogen grows naturally in South Texas and in parts of northern Mexico it is sacred to many Native American people playing a central role in their spiritual and medicinal practices but those who use and study the plant say it’s being threatened by loss of habitat through land conversion like strip plowing to create pasture over harvesting drug decriminalization laws and Resurgence in psychedelic use members of the Native American Church who are the only people legally allowed to use the plant under the Native American religious Freedom Act are unified in their desire to protect and conserve it but the question is how some NAC leaders have purchased 605 acres of land with the aid of a philanthropic Grant creating a spiritual home site to provide protection to peyote and access to tribal members other leaders are taking the issue to the US government asking them to strengthen the current laws and provide funding for conservation programs