CIA's Artichoke Project: Covert Mission to Collect Hallucino

CIA's Artichoke Project: Covert Mission to Collect Hallucinogenic Mushrooms in Mexico

A declassified CIA memo from November 1952 reveals plans for a covert trip to Mexico to collect narcotic and toxic plants, including hallucinogenic mushrooms, for the Artichoke project. The officer leading the trip intended to use a special test he had developed over fifteen years to identify plants of interest.

Published

September 5, 2026

Declassified

Date not listed

Source agency

The Black Vault (FOIA archive)

ciafoiaartichokeprojectcovertmissioncollecthallucinogenic

Artichoke's Secret Plant Research Mission in Mexico

In November , Artichoke project. The document, released through The Black Vault's FOIA archive, outlines a plan to collect and study plants with potent toxic and narcotic properties, including hallucinogenic mushrooms. This initiative, spearheaded by an officer from the Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI), sought to advance the agency's understanding of psychoactive substances for potential operational use.

The memorandum underscores the urgency of the mission, noting that the officer was prepared to depart immediately to capitalize on the optimal collection window for plant specimens. The proposed trip, estimated to cost around $2,000, would involve travel, specimen purchases, and the hiring of local guides. The officer, familiar with the region and possessing contacts, intended to employ a specialized testing method he had refined over fifteen years to identify promising plants.

The document also reveals coordination with a Mexican expert on plants and narcotics, highlighting the collaborative nature of the endeavor. This…

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Based on the official release at https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/cia-mkultra-collection/

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