Ok, I've cooled down so I'm back to continue with a bit more civility, sorry. To explain myself to Coatl: the reason for my confusion was that you told me that you've tasted Julio's "True Blue" peruvianus, but you didn't grow the stuff you tasted from seed.

But Julio tells me that he does not carry cuttings, he only carries seeds or dried chips. That's the source of my confusion- you say you've tasted Julio's cacti and could vouch for it, which I assume you could only have done if you had procured chips from him.

The only honest explanation I can think of would be that Julio is a personal friend of yours and you ate his cactus fresh at his place with him, or he posted a cutting just for you because you're a personal friend... but even then why would you be friends with him if he were profiting by selling dried chips, which is something you are completely opposed to? Hence my confusion, which added to my unacceptable hostility. Please explain to me if I am mistaken, and I will apologise.

I couldn't be possible that say... somebody else (suicybe) bought it and I tried some?

I had to know if I was missing out on something special (I wasn't).

There is certainly no need to apologize, I'm not offended easily, nor am I some sort of frail china doll.



By all means if you don't enjoy my posts, please don't read them.

It exist. Post in my "white peyote" thread here and I'll tell you all about it.

what is the difference between getting dry chips and getting cuttings if you are going to eat the cuttings anyway?..seems a bit rediculous to be against that. You might as well be against buying any dry botanical..like dry caapi vine, mimosa or chaliponga.

You think that just becasue someoone offers cutting that people are going to say, oh well its a cutting I will plant it instead!..if they want to eat cactus they will eat cactus..

If they want to grow cuttings they will just order some cuttings.

I buy dry chips and I like them. The ones I have seem to be more reliable than what I hear about some people getting from cuttings from other suppliers.

I also buy cuttings and plant them. I have 4 cuttings going and will be ordering more..but I will still order some dry chips to eat becasue I dont want to eat any of my cacti for a quite a while still.

It has everything to do with legality.

Dried chips can be eaten or extracted, that is about it.

Live cuttings are wonderful ornamental plants.

Are san pedro or any cacti easy to find in stores?
I was under the impression I would have to order off the internet.
and what do you guys think are the best to grow?

The difference is that dry chips have no other purpose other than to be consumed. Saying they are incense or mulch for the garden is nonsense.

A cutting however is more than likely going to be planted, it can be eaten too but it has a legitimate legal use also.... Dry chips are a PREPARED form of the plant and in most countries this is illegal, the law is quit clear on this. Much like dry mushrooms became illegal in the UK and Netherlands cacti are at risk of the same fate. All it takes is a few irresponsible people to buy chips and get into trouble i.e. a car accident or drink a bottle of vodka with the chips and end up in hospital etc etc.

We are all very lucky that san pedro and peruvianus are completely legal to cultivate and sell/buy. The responsible thing to do is grow your own plants and keep a low profile, otherwise we might not be so lucky in the years to come.

I don't think anyone has ever been arrested for having dried cactus in their possession. Although technically it might count as a preparation most law enforcement doesn't know or give a crap about cactus powders. Although yes if someone did something stupid (drove jumped out window sold it in the school yard etc) they would start giving a crap which is bad.

SWIM thinks advantage to buying live cacti or cuttings over dried is that if you get a nice batch you can start growing it and preserve the genetics for as long as you possibly can.