In Search of a Venomous, Psychedelic Mexican Toad
Bufo alvarius, a rare species of toad native to the Sonoran Desert, produces a venom known as 5 MEO DMT: an extremely potent natural psychedelic. Shamans have been harvesting and smoking the substance for decades, and thousands of people flock to the desert every year to sample it.
On the season two premiere of VICELAND's HAMILTON'S PHARMACOPEIA, Hamilton Morris tracked down the first person to discover the venom's psychedelic effects and sample it, uncovering the chemical's untold history. He spoke with herpetologists, hunted down the toads with locals, and linked up with a toad venom shaman to watch a few brave souls sample the substance—all before trying it himself.