It is native to Ecuador, Peru and Colombia,[2] but also found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Venezuela and cultivated in other parts of the world.

The whitish areoles may produce up to seven yellow to brown spines, each up to 2 cm (0.8 in) long although typically shorter in cultivated varieties, sometimes being mostly spineless.

Large numbers can be produced by well established cacti and may open new flowers over a period of weeks.

macrogonus by the smaller number of spines per areole, and usually being somewhat shorter with more slender stems.

pachanoi is known by many names throughout South America such as achuma, huachuma, wachuma, aguacolla, hahuacollay, lapituq, tsuná, San Pedro or giganton.

[18] Mescaline induces a psychedelic state comparable to those produced by LSD and psilocybin, but with unique characteristics.

[20] Anecdotal evidence suggests that the highest concentration of active substances is found in the layer of green photosynthetic tissue just beneath the skin.

A good soil mix includes an inorganic lightweight substrate such as pumice or perlite.

][26][27] They are susceptible to fungal diseases if over-watered, but are not nearly as sensitive as many other cacti, especially in warm weather when they are in their growth phase.

[citation needed][27] In winter, plants will etiolate, or become thin, due to lower levels of light.

Some names of cultivars that are highly prized by cactus collectors are Ogunbodede, Lapaz, Vilcabamba A, and Yowie.

[30][31][32] This term refers to the practice of the sowing of Trichocereus (and sometimes other types of cactus) seed into plastic containers, such as those many food takeaways are delivered in.

This creates a semi-controlled humidity environment chamber for six months to a year, in which the seed may germinate and then grow relatively unbothered by environmental contamination.

This is the case in the United States, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Germany, and New Zealand, where it is currently legal to cultivate the San Pedro cactus for gardening and ornamental purposes, but not for consumption.