Selling the Priceless Mushroom: A History of Psilocybin Mushroom Trade in the Sierra Mazateca (Oaxaca)
Journal of Illicit Economies and Development January 1, 2022 Marcos Garcia de Teresa 3 citations
The city of Huautla de Jiménez in the Sierra Mazateca, Oaxaca, Mexico, became a key site for psilocybin mushroom trading starting in the 1950s, driven by botanical expeditions and a collapse in coffee prices. Despite a ban that curbed sales and research, police could not stop visiting consumers, fostering a modest tourist industry. The article argues that viewing the mushrooms as "priceless" creates an ambiguity enabling both foreigners and local residents to negotiate the exchange value of an illegal yet sacred product.