Small cactus, big controversy. For a plant so steeped in controversy, peyote is quite unassuming. The average cactus resembles an oversized green molar. And after growing for nearly 80 years, it's barely the size of a navel orange, covered in tender, muted spikes with the occasional daisy-like flower. But it's what's inside that counts for thousands who believe its hallucinogenic properties are an integral part of their religious ceremonies. Peyote is illegal for general use because it contains hallucinogenic mescaline, though federal law allows for limited use in American Indian religious ceremonies. Courts have generally refused to allow non-American Indian groups to use peyote in ceremonies. [continues 507 words]
DENVER- Lawyers for several media outlets argued in court Tuesday that athletes' drug test results held by the U.S. Olympic Committee should be made public because they may show many positive results were unreported. The records were compiled by Dr. Wade Exum when he served as drug czar for the USOC. He claims the records contain information about competitors who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in the Olympic trials and went on to win medals at the Olympic Games. [continues 373 words]
