Dried cactus extract containing mescaline not covered by drugs legislation, court told

A man is appealing his conviction on drug charges, his defence being that the plant extract he was in possession of isn't covered by drugs legislation.

There is “vast uncertainty” as to whether the dried extract from certain types of cacti plants that contain mescaline could be regarded as a controlled substance under current legislation, a court was told on Thursday.

The State had claimed the powder Alexander Rojas Rey, aged 44, was caught with had contained mescaline and he was charged with two drugs offences.