A friend was asking me if it is legal to buy dried cactus or a live cactus. What the best avenue for doing so is and if anyone has any recommendations for vendors...I told SWIM that I'd ask here and relay the info.

A prosecutor could claim that dried or even live cactus is a container for mescaline and hypothetically get a conviction. But, fortunately there hasn't been any campaign to stop the sale or possession of trich cactus that I know of. Many trichs are used ornamentally by landscapers so live cuts are much less conspicuous. Check the vendors section for sources.

This belongs in the supplier section....

The dried skin can be ordered, but why not make it easier on the cactus legal situation and order cuts?

Buying live would be much wiser and safer for everybody!

The best part about live cuts is you can grow the cactus up to the point where you become self sufficient. I started growing with one San Pedro about 18 months ago and now I have 3 of the same size I started with (12-14 inches).

I also got some seed and started that around 12 months ago and now I have about 15 seedlings around 3 inches tall and very healthy! In another year or so I'll be good for ever and never need to worry about ordering them again.

As a bonus I also have a nice collection of active cactus along with a new found hobby of starting ornamental non-active cactus from seed as well.