E16 - Peyote Mormons
Update: 2025-08-16
Description
Mormons are notoriously straight-edged; for most, temperance not only includes alcohol, but stimulants like coffee as well.
In this episode of Drug Cultures, I explore the ways in which that may not have been the case in the past. I take a look at the "psychedelic origins of Mormonism" hypothesis, and do a deep dive into the history of Fred M Smith: the grandson of Joseph the prophet who advocated for his church to accept the religious use of peyote.
Link to the study I referenced in the episode: https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/3/2/article-p212.xml
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