Genista canariensis: a Minor Psychedelic

;JAMES ];'AD tiVLt:\.X1

The recent work of cthuobotunists Hich- physical ease followed by a period of psy-
ard Evans Schultes (1,2) and Gordon Was- chological arousal and alertness.
son (3) in uncovering the use in America of A heightened awareness of color and con-
new psychedelic plants encourages one to trast was often reported. Neither visual dis-
further investigation of the herb lore of the tortions 1101' hallucinations were reported.
American Indian. Some people experienced imagery with their
A shaman of the Yaqui tribe of Northern eyes closed, and one subject reported exten-
Mexico was told in a psychedelic-induced sive hypnogogic imagery before falling
vision to smoke the blossoms of a plant asleep. The effects lasted no more than five
which he erroneously identified as Scotch hours. No subject reported any effects the
Broom (Cy(iSt£s scoparius, Genista scoparia, following day.
S pa?'tiwn scopa1'iwrn). Sinee this initial work was completed,
Following the shaman's method of prepa- there have been reports of persons experi-
ration, samples of these flowers as well as encing headaches after smoking these blos-
hlossoms of two similar plants, Spanish soms. It is possible that the headaches are
Broom (Spa?·tium juncettm) and Canary Is- a result of smoking improperly prepared
land Broom (Genista oonariensiev, were col- blossoms (allowing mold to form, etc.) or it
lected near Palo Alto, California. All sam- mav be a side-effect of the active principles.
ples were aged for ten days in sealed sterile The reported effects class this plant among
glass jars. The blossoms of Scotch Broom the mildest psychedelics known. The ex-
and Spanish Broom turned dark brown dur- treme mildness of the effects allowed a sec-
ing this period, while Canary Broom blos- ond set of experiments with potential eco-
soms retained much of their characteristic nomic import. Naive subjects were given
yellow color. The blossoms were dried at cigarettes 01' pipefulls of the prepared blos-
low heat and prepared for smoking in hand- soms. They were told that this was a tobae-
roll ed cigarettes. ('0 substitute used bv some American In-
Of the three plants investigated, Genistti dians. They were then asked to compare it
canarieneis proved to be the most pleasant with what thev usually smoked, There were
and effective. Subsequently, it was learned . no special ill;truction~ given.
that Genista canariensis was the plant used Smokers found it to be as mild OJ' milder
by the shaman informant . than some conunercial cigarettes and report-
. Effects were dependent on the amount ed that it had a sweet aftertaste, in contrast
smoked. To maximize effects, subjects were to the slightly bitter aftertaste of tobacco.
told to inhale and to retain the smoke for These preliminary results indicate that
about ten seconds to increase the amount of G cnista cana'l'iensis is a potential substitute
active principle absorbed. 'When less than or adjunct to tobacco, 'With the mounting
a single cigarette was smoked, the subjects pressure to find less carcinogenic alterna-
reported feeling more relaxed. They felt tives to tobacco, Genisto. canaricnsis may be
good about themselves and friendly toward worth more critical chemical, pharmaco-
the others in the room. These feelings lasted logical and medical investigation.
up to two hours. There was no subsequent
letdown. Rather, they reported all imper- Acknowledgments
ceptible lessening of the effect until it could I wish to thank Dr. Michael Harner whose
no longer be noticed. initial discovery and reports led directly to
When several cigarettes were smoked, the this study.
effects were longer lasting and more intense.
In addition to the amiable relaxation men- Literature Cited
tioned at the lower dose, subjects reported 1. Schultes, Richard Evans. ] 963. Botanical
increased intellectual clarity and flexibili ty. sources of tho new world narcotics. Psy-
The first few hours were characterized by chedelic Reuiei» 1: 145-167.
~. --- 1965.' Ein halbos Jahrhundert
Et.hnobotanik amorikaniseher Halluzino-
1Institute for Psychedelic Research, San gene. Pianta 1Iredica 13: 125-157.
Francisco State College; International Foun- 3. Wasson, R. Gordon. 1962. A new Mexican
dation for Advanced Study, 1149 Chestnut St., psychotropic drug from the mint family.
Menlo Park, California. Botomicoi 'Mn-Semn Leaflets. Harvard
Received for publication September 13, 1965. University 20: 77-84.
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