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  Introduction to the Peyote Wisdom Collection

    Guy Mount

        from The Peyote Book, Sweetlight Books, Cottonwood California, 1993. ©Guy Mount



    At this moment in American History, the practitioners of alternative herbal medicine and religion are the most persecuted and prosecuted members of society. Peyote itself is under attack from oil well development companies, dry land ranching techniques, and an ever increasing number of consumers. There is an immediate need to 1) pass laws in each state that protect the rights of all people, regardless of race or ethnic origin, to practice the peyote religion and pursue alternative healing strategies (which may employ herbs on the "controlled substances" list), and 2) protect peyote by developing nature preserves in south Texas and encouraging cultivation. The Peyote Religion and the herbal sacrament it depends on will soon be extinct unless something radical is done to establish environmental protection and decriminalize cultivation.
    There is also a great need to provide educational curriculum that supports a peaceful transition from an abusive "War on Drugs" to a knowledgeable use of herbal medicines. Our educational system presently teaches children that "drug use" is crazy and criminal. There is no distinction made between herbs and drugs, nor are any positive images of herbal medicines provided; so it's not surprising that American teenagers act crazy and commit crimes when they use herbs and drugs—that's what they've been taught to do!
    Fortunately, the Native American Church and Native American philosophy in general provide us with the lessons we need to grow as individuals, and to improve the overall health of our society. Insofar as America learned from its native people, it has provided Light to the world through democracy, religious freedom and economic reciprocity. Therefore, I hope the Peyote Religion will grow substantially in the near future to include many new practitioners from all races, and legal Peyote Churches and greenhouses in all states. Our world needs this medicine, this lifeline to the future.

—Guy Mount, Editor       

 


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