I'm getting close to 40 now and I've been a fan of psychedelics since I was a very young man and spent most of a summer on the most wonderful LSD. After that I hitchhiked all over the country for several years, looking for something that was never really out there. I settled in the Pacific Northwest for awhile and experimented with all the psychedelics... except mescaline. I never got my hands on any real mescaline. But, I spent many years trying various combinations of LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, Ketamine, DMT, GBA and other weird stuff like nutmeg and dried banana peels (neither of which worked, btw - nutmeg likely would have but nobody could get or keep enough of I down). Those were fun days and I learned a lot.

Since then I've mellowed somewhat. I have a family and a business and spend my days doing (what I used to think was boring) everyday stuff.

I'm a happy guy. But, there was always that one experience that eluded me in my youth that I still wanted to have. Mescaline.

So, a year or so ago I looked into it and discovered that you don't have to find peyote or wait years and years to grow it to get the experience. As you guys probably already know, San Pedro is a source.

I went with the traditional tea method the first couple of times, cooking it down to a dense gum and encapsulating it in 00s. The trips were okay, but far too weak each time. The second time I prepared 5lbs fresh for my one dose and it was still weak! Granted, both times I started with half of the pills for starters and then 2-3 hours in when I could feel it wouldn't be strong enough, took the other half. I should have taken that last batch all at once.

My next approach was to extract the alkaloids from the cactus, so I can more accurately determine dosage. However, my chemistry knowledge is limited to what I learned in college, which isn't much. So, it seems wise to network with others doing similar things until I get up to speed.

This looks like the best forum for discussion of this sort of thing. I'm hoping to get a little guidance on extractions here and perhaps also share some of my experiences, post some pics and get some input. Heck, I might even make some friends here. You guys are more like me than most people on forums.

I used to live in the 505 with the 'rents, moved back home to Tejas 9 years ago.
San Pedro loves the climate there, except for the winter.

Pleased to meechya Benzyme. The wife's from Texas. She always has good things to say about it.

And, yeah I was thinking how similar the climate should be to where they're from in South America. Well, there's probably more moisture down there. It has been so dry here this year.

I have a question right away and since I can't post anywhere else yet, so maybe it goes here?

If one had a few samples of what should be alkaloid extractions from different methods, is there any way to:

1. test without special equipment whether or not a sample is at least safe enough to ingest and test it that way?

and/or

2. test without special equipment if, at the least, the extraction was successful?


I'd like to post some pics of the crystals in each batch if you guys think looking at them would help. They look wonderful. Though on one batch I put some baking soda into the vinegar at the very end to try to balance the ph. I think it may have made a little sodium acetate because the yield is larger than expected.

Another one I left acidic and evaporated. It was amber colored as opposed to milky clear like the previously mentioned batch and it scrapes up into a sort of gum instead of nice crystal salts.

There's one more but I won't get into that or put up any pics unless someone says it's alright. Thanks everyone!

Welcome Bewakening
Sounds like you had quit a funny lifetime so far
I discovered psychadelics to late to travel around and experementing like that.
Hope you will find what you looking for m8

Thanks for the kind welcome, Earthlova. I may have also spent some time working for environmental groups but the other stuff is way more interesting.

Greetings Bewakening

I can not offer advise as I am quite a rookie myself but wish you all the best while you are here seeking your answers.

Plenty of great people here to help you along your extraction path.

ps
You can post in all 4 different subforums in the Welcome Area.

Whoa, far out. I thought I was restricted to just this welcome area. Thanks Journeymann! I just put my questions up in the FAQ area.

https://www.dmt-nexus.me/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=149&p=88