The world's only psychedelic animal lives in a cartel zone

The Sonoran Desert toad secretes 5-MeO-DMT, and collecting it means entering Mexican regions where kidnappings and cartel violence are common.

Sonoran Desert toad — Alan Schmierer / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)

The Sonoran Desert toad is the only animal known to make a psychedelic. Its glands secrete 5-MeO-DMT, the compound users call the God molecule. The toad exists only in Sonora, Mexico — so every gram of "toad medicine" sold comes from there. Kimon de Greef spent years following the people who …