Datura

'''Datura''' (''Datura stramonium'' L., Solanaceae) — jimson weed, thorn apple, devil's snare — is a cosmopolitan annual plant containing [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids that produce potent anticholinergic [[effect:delirium]]. Its principal psychoactive constituents, [[substance:scopolamine]] and hyoscyamine, are competitive [[substance_class:pharmacological/muscarinic-acetylcholine-receptor-antagonist|muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists]] unrelated to [[glossary:serotonergic-psychedelics]]. These alkaloids block [[glossary:acetylcholine]] at M1–M5 [[glossary:receptor|receptors]] throughout the brain and body, collapsing cognition, autonomic regulation, and reality discrimination{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=0f579c6d}}. The 1676 Jamestown, Virginia mass poisoning of British soldiers is among the earliest detailed Western accounts of Datura [[glossary:intoxication]]{{cite|pubmed=40086888|anchor=4be84c3a}}. Traditional use spans Native American initiatory practices, Indian Ayurvedic medicine, and Haitian ethnopharmacology, with the plant exploited across cultures for its capacity to produce stupor and [[effect:amnesia]]{{cite|doi=10.1155/2012/202508|anchor=8997bfaf}}. Today, the constituent alkaloids are WHO-classified essential medicines used pharmaceutically as antispasmodics and antiemetics, though the plant itself remains largely [[glossary:unscheduled]]{{cite|doi=10.1038/s41586-020-2650-9|anchor=337b8a06}}. [[index:effects|Subjective effects]] include profound delirium, dense amnesia, fully realistic [[glossary:hallucination|hallucinations]] across all sensory modalities, and complete loss of reality contact. The experience is a global cognitive collapse — not a perceptual overlay on intact [[glossary:awareness]] — in which the user cannot recognize hallucinations as drug-induced. Peripheral effects include [[effect:pupil-dilation]], [[glossary:tachycardia]], [[glossary:hyperthermia]], and urinary retention, persisting 12–48 hours{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=ee7a2a0c}}. [[glossary:physical-dependence]] [[glossary:liability]] is low — the extreme aversiveness of the delirious experience discourages repeated use{{cite|pubmed=8434447|anchor=36bb25b4}}. The margin between psychoactive and [[glossary:lethal-dose|lethal doses]] is extremely narrow, and alkaloid concentrations vary dramatically across species, plant organs, and growing conditions, making dose prediction from [[glossary:plant-material]] impossible{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=ca1297bd}}{{cite|pubmed=15080209|anchor=76e6311f}}. No controlled human studies of Datura plant material exist; all [[glossary:toxicity]] data derive from poisoning [[glossary:case-series]].

'''Datura''' (''Datura stramonium'' L., Solanaceae) — jimson weed, thorn apple — is a flowering plant whose seeds and leaves contain [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids. Its primary psychoactive constituents are [[substance:scopolamine]] and hyoscyamine, unrelated chemically to [[glossary:serotonergic-psychedelics]]. These alkaloids block [[glossary:acetylcholine]] throughout the brain and body, collapsing cognition, [[glossary:perception]], and autonomic regulation{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=c341efa5}}. The genus ''Datura'' has been used across South Asia, the Americas, and Africa for millennia{{cite|doi=10.1155/2012/202508|anchor=af8aed98}} — the name derives from the Sanskrit ''dhattura''{{cite|name=erowid-datura-info|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2022|title=Datura Information|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_info1.shtml|anchor=91618a11}}. In 1676, British soldiers in Jamestown, Virginia consumed Datura accidentally and were incapacitated for eleven days{{cite|pubmed=40086888|anchor=a20bfb6e}}. Today the plant is largely [[glossary:unscheduled]] internationally, while its alkaloids are WHO-listed medicines used as antispasmodics and antiemetics{{cite|doi=10.1038/s41586-020-2650-9|anchor=615110e9}}. [[index:effects|Subjective effects]] include profound [[effect:delirium]], fully realistic [[glossary:hallucination|hallucinations]] across all senses, dense [[effect:amnesia]], and complete loss of [[glossary:awareness]] that one is intoxicated. This is not a perceptual overlay — it is a total cognitive collapse in which hallucinations are indistinguishable from reality{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=c9f6ead0}}. Physical effects include [[glossary:tachycardia]], [[effect:dry-mouth]], urinary retention, and rising [[glossary:body-temperature]], persisting 12–48 hours{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=6746ab60}}. [[glossary:physical-dependence]] is rare, but [[glossary:toxicity]] risk is extreme — the gap between a psychoactive dose and a lethal one is very narrow{{cite|pubmed=8434447|anchor=b83bdf80}}. Alkaloid concentrations vary dramatically across plants, species, and plant parts, making dose prediction from raw material impossible{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=a6702103}}{{cite|pubmed=15080209|anchor=e6aded35}}. No controlled human studies of Datura [[glossary:plant-material]] exist — all toxicity data comes from poisoning [[glossary:case-series]].

'''Datura''' ('''''Datura stramonium''''' L.), commonly known as '''jimson weed''' or '''thorn apple''', is a cosmopolitan annual plant in the family Solanaceae containing [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids that produce a potent anticholinergic [[effect:delirium]]. The dominant active constituents are [[substance:scopolamine]] (hyoscine) and hyoscyamine, both competitive [[substance_class:pharmacological/muscarinic-acetylcholine-receptor-antagonist|muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists]]. Preparations include raw seed [[glossary:ingestion]], smoked leaf material, aqueous decoctions, and [[substance:alcohol]]-based extracts, with effects persisting 12–48 hours{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=431f0679}}. First formally described by Linnaeus in 1753, Datura has one of the longest documentary records of human [[glossary:intoxication]] among psychoactive plants — the 1676 Jamestown, Virginia mass poisoning of British soldiers remains among the earliest detailed Western accounts{{cite|pubmed=40086888|anchor=86013b82}}. Traditional use spans documented Native American initiatory practices, Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Haitian ethnopharmacology, and medieval European preparations{{cite|doi=10.1155/2012/202508|anchor=57848b67}}. No clinical trials have investigated Datura [[glossary:plant-material]] directly; the primary alkaloids scopolamine and hyoscyamine are WHO-classified essential medicines used pharmaceutically as antispasmodics and antiemetics{{cite|doi=10.1038/s41586-020-2650-9|anchor=be1ef531}}. Scopolamine and hyoscyamine act as competitive [[glossary:antagonist|antagonists]] at all five [[glossary:muscarinic-acetylcholine-receptor]] subtypes (M1–M5), blocking [[glossary:endogenous]] [[glossary:acetylcholine]] at both central and peripheral sites{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=5a448e9f}}. Scopolamine, the more lipophilic constituent, crosses the [[glossary:blood-brain-barrier]] more readily than hyoscyamine, producing the characteristic [[glossary:central-nervous-system|CNS]] syndrome of delirium, [[effect:amnesia]], and [[glossary:hallucination]] at lower systemic doses. Oral [[glossary:bioavailability]] of scopolamine is 3–27%, with significant [[glossary:cyp3a4]]-mediated [[glossary:first-pass-metabolism]]{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=a1487e60}}. The anticholinergic delirium produced by Datura is distinguished from serotonergic [[substance_class:psychoactive/hallucinogen]] experiences by the generation of fully realistic, externally projected hallucinations that the user cannot distinguish from reality, accompanied by near-total amnesia for the intoxication period. Peripheral effects include [[effect:pupil-dilation]], [[glossary:tachycardia]], [[glossary:hyperthermia]], [[effect:dry-mouth]], and urinary retention. Effects and duration vary substantially by preparation method and by the unpredictable alkaloid content of the specific plant material consumed. Datura is among the most dangerous psychoactive plants in use. The margin between psychoactive and [[glossary:lethal-dose|lethal doses]] is extremely narrow, and no safe recreational dose has been established for any preparation{{cite|pubmed=15080209|anchor=512c11c1}}. Alkaloid concentrations vary dramatically across species, plant organs, seasons, and growing conditions, making dose prediction impossible from plant material alone{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=ce05b7a3}}. [[glossary:physical-dependence]] [[glossary:liability]] is low — the extreme aversiveness of the delirious experience discourages repeated use in most individuals{{cite|pubmed=8434447|anchor=081cb9e6}}. Controlled human pharmacological studies of Datura plant material do not exist; all dose and [[glossary:toxicity]] data derive from accidental or intentional poisoning [[glossary:case-series]].

===Discovery and early record=== '''''Datura stramonium''''' was formally described by Carl Linnaeus in ''Species Plantarum'' in 1753. The genus name ''Datura'' derives from the Sanskrit ''dhattura'', reflecting the plant's long history in Indian traditional medicine{{cite|name=erowid-datura-info|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2022|title=Datura Information|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_info1.shtml|anchor=fe6f9e55}}. The species epithet ''stramonium'' originates from Medieval Latin for jimsonweed. The genus is classified in tribe Datureae within family Solanaceae; phylogenetic analysis based on 68 protein-coding genes from the chloroplast genome places ''Datura'' as a sister clade to ''Solanum''{{cite|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0110656|anchor=27999db1}}. ===Traditional use=== Datura species have been used across multiple continents for millennia. In the Americas, Native American groups — including the Chumash, Zuni, and various Plains tribes — used ''D. innoxia'' and ''D. stramonium'' in initiatory rituals and vision quests. Preparations were [[glossary:ingestion|ingested]] orally or applied as poultices; ritualistic use required careful dose control given the narrow margin between psychoactive and [[glossary:lethal-dose|lethal doses]]{{flag|citation-needed}}. In South America, Datura species were combined with [[substance:mescaline]]-containing cacti (''Trichocereus'' spp.) in Andean traditional medicine contexts{{cite|name=erowid-datura-info|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2022|title=Datura Information|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_info1.shtml|anchor=aa8af6a8}}. In India, ''Datura metel'' is described in Ayurvedic texts (''Sushruta Samhita'', ''Charaka Samhita'') as ''dhatura'', used medicinally for asthma, pain, and fever, and in religious contexts associated with the deity Shiva{{flag|citation-needed}}. In medieval Europe, Datura — alongside ''Atropa belladonna'', henbane (''Hyoscyamus niger''), and mandrake — was an ingredient in topical preparations associated with witchcraft, exploiting transdermal [[glossary:absorption]] of [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids{{flag|citation-needed}}. In Haiti, [[substance:scopolamine]]-containing Datura preparations have been documented as a component of ethnopharmacological "zombie powder," used to induce anticholinergic stupor. Wade Davis's ethnobiological fieldwork in the 1980s brought this use to wider scientific attention{{cite|doi=10.1155/2012/202508|anchor=9de9206c}}. ===Western encounter and pharmaceutical history=== The common name "jimsonweed" derives from a corruption of "Jamestown weed." In 1676, British soldiers dispatched to Jamestown, Virginia to suppress Bacon's Rebellion consumed ''Datura'' in a stew and were reportedly incapacitated for 11 days — one of the earliest documented mass Datura [[glossary:intoxication|intoxications]] in North America{{cite|pubmed=40086888|anchor=633c05bf}}{{cite|name=erowid-datura-info|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2022|title=Datura Information|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_info1.shtml|anchor=32f7ad29}}. atropine ([[glossary:racemic-mixture]] hyoscyamine) was first isolated from ''Atropa belladonna'' in 1833; scopolamine was isolated in 1888. In the early 20th century, anti-asthmatic cigarettes containing ''D. stramonium'' leaves were marketed commercially under brands such as Asthmador, which were subsequently abused for their psychoactive effects{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=575490c7}}. The Asthmador formulation contained approximately 4.5% atropine and 50.4% scopolamine by weight of total alkaloid content{{cite|name=erowid-datura-info|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2022|title=Datura Information|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_info1.shtml|anchor=f73cd12f}}. Transdermal scopolamine was approved by the [[glossary:fda]] for motion sickness in 1979, and pharmaceutical scopolamine has demonstrated rapid [[substance_class:psychoactive/antidepressant]] effects in clinical trials for major depressive [[glossary:disorder]], though this application remains investigational{{cite|doi=10.1001/2013.jamapsychiatry.60|anchor=1eecc478}}. In 2020, yeast-based biosynthesis of both scopolamine and hyoscyamine was achieved for the first time, establishing a pharmaceutical supply chain independent of plant cultivation{{cite|doi=10.1038/s41586-020-2650-9|anchor=05750651}}. ===Criminal use=== Datura has been documented as a drug-facilitated incapacitating agent in criminal contexts. A 2016 forensic case reported the homicidal administration of Datura in a drink during a robbery, resulting in death from [[glossary:arrhythmia|cardiac arrhythmia]] secondary to severe anticholinergic syndrome{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.028|anchor=dfae63ec}}. A 2025 review of 114 poisoning [[glossary:case-report|case reports]] from 2001–2024 identified criminal administration as a recurring category alongside accidental ingestion, recreational abuse, and suicide attempts{{cite|pubmed=40086888|anchor=f0e92bef}}. Criminal use exploits the [[glossary:rapid-onset]] of [[effect:confusion]], [[effect:amnesia]], and [[effect:delirium]] characteristic of anticholinergic [[glossary:toxicity]].

===Traditional and historical use=== ''Datura stramonium'' was formally described by Carl Linnaeus in ''Species Plantarum'' (1753), though human use of the genus predates Western taxonomy by millennia. The name ''Datura'' derives from the Sanskrit ''dhattura'', reflecting deep roots in Indian traditional medicine{{cite|name=erowid-datura-info|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2022|title=Datura Information|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_info1.shtml|anchor=d7d5b798}}. In India, ''Datura metel'' appears in Ayurvedic texts including the ''Sushruta Samhita'' and ''Charaka Samhita'', prescribed for asthma, pain, and fever, and associated with the deity Shiva in religious contexts{{flag|citation-needed}}. In the Americas, Native American groups — including the Chumash, Zuni, and Plains tribes — used ''D. innoxia'' and ''D. stramonium'' in initiatory rituals and vision quests{{flag|citation-needed}}. In South America, Datura species were combined with [[substance:mescaline]]-containing cacti in Andean traditional medicine{{cite|name=erowid-datura-info|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2022|title=Datura Information|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_info1.shtml|anchor=20d210f5}}. In medieval Europe, Datura joined ''Atropa belladonna'', henbane, and mandrake in topical preparations associated with witchcraft, exploiting transdermal [[glossary:absorption]] of [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids{{flag|citation-needed}}. In Haiti, [[substance:scopolamine]]-containing Datura preparations were documented as a component of ethnopharmacological "zombie powder" — Wade Davis's 1980s fieldwork brought this use to scientific attention{{cite|doi=10.1155/2012/202508|anchor=7e31d849}}. ===Western discovery and pharmaceutical history=== The common name "jimsonweed" derives from "Jamestown weed." In 1676, British soldiers sent to suppress Bacon's Rebellion in Jamestown, Virginia consumed Datura in a stew and were incapacitated for 11 days — one of the earliest documented mass [[glossary:intoxication|intoxications]] in North America{{cite|pubmed=40086888|anchor=2d390548}}{{cite|name=erowid-datura-info|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2022|title=Datura Information|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_info1.shtml|anchor=55dd675a}}. atropine ([[glossary:racemic-mixture]] hyoscyamine) was first isolated from ''Atropa belladonna'' in 1833; scopolamine followed in 1888. By the early 20th century, anti-asthmatic cigarettes containing ''D. stramonium'' leaves were marketed under brands such as Asthmador — approximately 4.5% atropine and 50.4% scopolamine by weight of total alkaloid content — and were subsequently abused for psychoactive effects{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=728283ea}}{{cite|name=erowid-datura-info|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2022|title=Datura Information|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_info1.shtml|anchor=a04c11b7}}. Transdermal scopolamine was approved by the [[glossary:fda]] for motion sickness in 1979. Pharmaceutical scopolamine has demonstrated rapid [[substance_class:psychoactive/antidepressant]] effects in clinical trials for major depressive [[glossary:disorder]], though this application remains investigational{{cite|doi=10.1001/2013.jamapsychiatry.60|anchor=6f396cde}}. In 2020, yeast-based biosynthesis of both scopolamine and hyoscyamine was achieved, establishing a pharmaceutical supply chain independent of plant cultivation{{cite|doi=10.1038/s41586-020-2650-9|anchor=a02c5480}}. ===Criminal use=== Datura has been documented as a drug-facilitated incapacitating agent in criminal contexts, exploiting the [[glossary:rapid-onset]] of [[effect:confusion]], [[effect:amnesia]], and [[effect:delirium]] characteristic of anticholinergic [[glossary:toxicity]]. A 2016 forensic case reported homicidal administration of Datura in a drink during a robbery, resulting in death from [[glossary:arrhythmia|cardiac arrhythmia]]{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.028|anchor=c9c5d718}}. A 2025 review of 114 poisoning [[glossary:case-report|case reports]] (2001–2024) identified criminal administration as a recurring category alongside accidental [[glossary:ingestion]], recreational abuse, and suicide attempts{{cite|pubmed=40086888|anchor=8abe4259}}.

===Traditional and historical use=== ''Datura'' use spans millennia across South Asia, the Americas, and Europe{{cite|name=erowid-datura-info|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2022|title=Datura Information|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_info1.shtml|anchor=7fb2c061}}. In India, ''Datura metel'' appears in Ayurvedic texts and was associated with the deity Shiva{{flag|citation-needed}}; Native American groups including the Chumash and Zuni used related species in initiatory rituals and vision quests{{flag|citation-needed}}. In Haiti, Datura preparations were documented as a component of ethnopharmacological "zombie powder" — Wade Davis's 1980s fieldwork brought this use to scientific attention{{cite|doi=10.1155/2012/202508|anchor=2aef34dd}}. ===Western discovery and pharmaceutical history=== "Jimsonweed" derives from "Jamestown weed" — British soldiers consumed Datura in 1676 and were incapacitated for eleven days{{cite|pubmed=40086888|anchor=08445b94}}{{cite|name=erowid-datura-info|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2022|title=Datura Information|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_info1.shtml|anchor=07e533b2}}. Commercial anti-asthmatic cigarettes containing ''D. stramonium'' leaves (Asthmador brand) were widely abused for psychoactive effects through the mid-20th century{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=412772c1}}. Pharmaceutical [[substance:scopolamine]] has since shown rapid [[substance_class:psychoactive/antidepressant]] effects in clinical trials for major depressive [[glossary:disorder]]{{cite|doi=10.1001/2013.jamapsychiatry.60|anchor=0f72d0f3}}, and in 2020 both alkaloids were synthesized in yeast, removing [[glossary:dependence]] on plant cultivation entirely{{cite|doi=10.1038/s41586-020-2650-9|anchor=fa26758d}}. ===Criminal use=== Datura has been used as a tool for criminal incapacitation, exploiting the [[glossary:rapid-onset]] of [[effect:confusion]] and [[effect:amnesia]] produced by anticholinergic [[glossary:toxicity]]. A 2016 forensic case documented homicidal administration of Datura in a drink, resulting in death from [[glossary:arrhythmia|cardiac arrhythmia]]{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.028|anchor=2a2d7b5c}}. A 2025 review of 114 poisoning [[glossary:case-report|case reports]] identified criminal administration as a recurring category alongside accidental [[glossary:ingestion]] and recreational misuse{{cite|pubmed=40086888|anchor=d7f1f314}}.

''Datura'' is a genus in the family Solanaceae (nightshade family), placed within tribe Datureae. Phylogenetic analysis based on chloroplast genome data positions ''Datura'' as a sister clade to ''Solanum''{{cite|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0110656|anchor=ef76d12d}}. The most widely distributed species is ''D. stramonium'' L. (jimson weed), though several other species — including ''D. innoxia'', ''D. metel'', and ''D. wrightii'' — are also encountered. All species contain [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids capable of producing anticholinergic [[glossary:toxicity]]. ''D. stramonium'' is cosmopolitan, thriving as a ruderal weed in disturbed soils, roadsides, agricultural margins, and waste ground across temperate and subtropical regions on every inhabited continent. It is not cultivated commercially for psychoactive use; encounters are typically incidental, ornamental, or agricultural{{flag|citation-needed}}. The plant is an annual herb reaching 0.5–1.5 m in height. Leaves are large, coarsely toothed, and emit a distinctive unpleasant odor when crushed. Flowers are trumpet-shaped, white to pale violet, 6–9 cm long, and open in the evening. The fruit is a spiny capsule — the "thorn apple" — approximately 5 cm in diameter, splitting at maturity to release numerous small, dark, kidney-shaped seeds{{flag|citation-needed}}. Seeds and flowers carry the highest alkaloid concentrations; leaves and stems contain lower but still pharmacologically significant amounts{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=fdc04692}}. For psychoactive or toxic exposure, all plant parts are relevant. Seeds are the most commonly [[glossary:ingestion|ingested]] material in poisoning cases. Leaves have historically been dried and smoked. Alkaloid distribution varies across plant organs, individual specimens, seasons, and growing conditions, making any uncharacterized preparation intrinsically unpredictable{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=7882225a}}.

The genus ''Datura'' comprises multiple recognized species with ongoing taxonomic debate. A 2025 biosystematic revision of the genus in Egyptian flora identified six [[glossary:genotype|genotypes]]: ''D. innoxia'', ''D. ferox'', ''D. metel'', and three forms of ''D. stramonium'' (''stramonium'', ''tatula'', and ''inermis''), with novel [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids described in certain species for the first time{{cite|doi=10.3389/fpls.2025.1555237|anchor=cfee86e3}}. Phylogenetic analysis based on 68 protein-coding genes from the chloroplast genome places ''Datura'' as a sister clade to ''Solanum'' within Solanaceae{{cite|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0110656|anchor=2dc307c3}}. ''D. stramonium'' is native to the Americas and has since naturalized globally, occurring in disturbed habitats, roadsides, farmland edges, and waste ground across temperate and subtropical regions on all continents{{cite|pubmed=40086888|anchor=a8f0ee87}}. The plant is not deliberately cultivated for commercial alkaloid production — pharmaceutical tropane alkaloid sourcing relies primarily on ''Atropa belladonna'' and related species{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=58c43c9f}}. ===Morphological identification=== Datura plants are erect annual herbs typically 0.5–1.5 m tall. Leaves are large, alternate, and irregularly lobed, with an unpleasant odor when crushed. Flowers are large, solitary, trumpet-shaped, and white (''D. stramonium'') or pale violet (''D. stramonium'' var. ''tatula'', distinguished by purple-tinged stems). Fruits are spiny ovoid capsules (thorn apples) containing numerous flat, dark brown to black, kidney-shaped seeds — the plant organ with the highest alkaloid concentration{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=1dd3793a}}. ===Misidentification risks=== Young ''Datura'' plants can be confused with edible ''Solanum'' species, and ''Datura'' seeds can contaminate grain harvests of morphologically similar crops — a documented cause of accidental mass poisonings{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.wem.2020.04.001|anchor=59b6f6e1}}. '''''Brugmansia''''' spp. (angel's trumpets) are closely related woody shrubs with pendulous flowers containing the same tropane alkaloids; the two genera are frequently conflated in public sources and in poisoning [[glossary:case-report|case reports]]{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=6a210398}}. ''Brugmansia'' is not the subject of this article, but shares an overlapping risk profile.

''Datura'' is a genus in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), closely related to ''Solanum''{{cite|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0110656|anchor=e15904c4}}. The most widely encountered species is ''D. stramonium'' (jimson weed); ''D. innoxia'', ''D. metel'', and ''D. wrightii'' are also found across various regions. All species contain [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids capable of producing anticholinergic [[glossary:toxicity]]. ''D. stramonium'' grows as a weed across temperate and subtropical regions on every inhabited continent, thriving in disturbed soils, roadsides, and waste ground{{flag|citation-needed}}. It is not commercially cultivated for psychoactive use; encounters are typically accidental or ornamental. The plant reaches 0.5–1.5 m in height, with large coarsely toothed leaves that smell unpleasant when crushed. Flowers are white to pale violet trumpets, 6–9 cm long, opening in the evening; the fruit is a spiny capsule — the "thorn apple" — that splits at maturity to release small dark seeds{{flag|citation-needed}}. Seeds and flowers carry the highest alkaloid concentrations, while leaves and stems contain lower but still pharmacologically significant amounts{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=ad2877ff}}.

The dominant alkaloids in ''Datura'' are [[substance:scopolamine]] (hyoscine) and hyoscyamine, both [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids derived from the same biosynthetic pathway. Scopolamine is generally the more pharmacologically potent constituent in the [[glossary:central-nervous-system]] due to its greater [[glossary:lipophilicity]] and more efficient [[glossary:blood-brain-barrier]] penetration{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=6ef7f841}}. Hyoscyamine predominates in most ''Datura'' tissues by mass, while scopolamine may predominate in certain organs or species — the Asthmador anti-asthma cigarette formulation, for example, contained approximately 50.4% scopolamine and 4.5% atropine by weight of total alkaloid content{{cite|name=erowid-datura-info|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2022|title=Datura Information|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_info1.shtml|anchor=b7355615}}. Both alkaloids are competitive [[glossary:antagonist|antagonists]] at all five [[glossary:muscarinic-acetylcholine-receptor]] subtypes (M1–M5), blocking [[glossary:endogenous]] [[glossary:acetylcholine]] at central and peripheral sites{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=bc66bbb5}}{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=dc52de5f}}. Their combined action produces the full anticholinergic syndrome: cognitive [[glossary:disruption]] (M1), cardiac rhythm changes (M2), suppression of glandular secretion and smooth muscle tone (M3), and [[glossary:impairment]] of higher cortical function (M4/M5). The ratio of scopolamine to hyoscyamine in a given preparation determines whether central or peripheral effects predominate. atropine — the [[glossary:racemic-mixture]] form of hyoscyamine — is present in trace amounts in fresh [[glossary:plant-material]] and increases as hyoscyamine racemizes during drying and storage. Atropine produces effects qualitatively similar to hyoscyamine but with somewhat less [[glossary:brain-penetration|CNS penetration]] at equivalent doses. Minor tropane alkaloids including norhyoscyamine and meteloidine have been identified in various ''Datura'' species but contribute minimally to the overall pharmacological profile{{flag|citation-needed}}. Alkaloid concentrations vary dramatically across species, plant organs (seeds vs. leaves vs. flowers vs. roots), geographic location, season, and growing conditions{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=bc2d60f7}}. A batch of seeds from one plant may contain several-fold more alkaloid than an identical mass from another specimen of the same species. No standardized [[glossary:potency]] measure exists for raw plant material, and this inherent unpredictability is the primary driver of Datura's extreme [[glossary:toxicity]] risk.

''Datura'' contains two primary [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids: [[substance:scopolamine]] and hyoscyamine. Scopolamine crosses the [[glossary:blood-brain-barrier]] more readily than hyoscyamine, making it the more potent central agent{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=7979687c}}. Both block [[glossary:muscarinic-acetylcholine-receptor|muscarinic acetylcholine receptors]] throughout the brain and body, generating the full anticholinergic syndrome{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=7f75059c}}{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=19a8d116}}. atropine — the [[glossary:racemic-mixture]] form of hyoscyamine — appears in trace amounts in fresh [[glossary:plant-material]] and increases during drying and storage. Minor alkaloids including norhyoscyamine and meteloidine exist in various ''Datura'' species but contribute minimally to overall effect{{flag|citation-needed}}. The Asthmador anti-asthma cigarette formulation contained approximately 50.4% scopolamine and 4.5% atropine by alkaloid weight{{cite|name=erowid-datura-info|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2022|title=Datura Information|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_info1.shtml|anchor=c59d9b1a}}, illustrating how skewed the alkaloid ratio can be across preparations. Alkaloid concentrations vary dramatically across species, plant organs, geographic location, season, and growing conditions{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=653d4600}}. A batch of seeds from one plant may contain several times more alkaloid than an identical mass from another specimen of the same species. No standardized [[glossary:potency]] measure exists for any raw Datura preparation.

All parts of ''Datura'' plants contain [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids. The dominant constituents are '''hyoscyamine''' (L-hyoscyamine), '''scopolamine''' (L-hyoscine), and '''atropine''' (the DL-hyoscyamine [[glossary:racemic-mixture]] formed from hyoscyamine during drying and processing){{cite|pubmed=40086888|anchor=cb5bb526}}{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=0f9c783f}}. Minor alkaloids include norhyoscyamine (a [[glossary:cytochrome-p450|cytochrome P450]]-mediated [[glossary:derivative]]) and anisodamine{{cite|doi=10.1038/s41467-023-37133-4|anchor=bb32e73b}}. Additional phytochemical classes present in ''Datura'' tissues include tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, withanolides, and phenolics{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=6ef36d5c}}{{cite|doi=10.4067/s0717-97072021000205183|anchor=5e0d4cba}}. ===Concentration by species and organ=== LC-MS quantification across four ''Datura'' taxa grown under identical conditions demonstrated significant interspecific variation in alkaloid ratios{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=39ba2612}}: * ''D. stramonium'': atropine (hyoscyamine) dominant over [[substance:scopolamine]] across all organs examined * ''D. stramonium'' var. ''tatula'': highest hyoscyamine levels among all four taxa * ''D. innoxia'': highest scopolamine concentrations in all organs * ''D. metel'': lowest scopolamine levels Alkaloids are present in leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds, with seeds carrying the highest concentrations. In whole-[[glossary:plant-material]] (hay), ''D. stramonium'' contained 0.15% m/m hyoscyamine and 0.16% m/m scopolamine; ''D. ferox'' hay contained 0.11% m/m scopolamine with no detectable hyoscyamine{{cite|pubmed=16108531|anchor=88fa371b}}. '''Seasonal variation''' is a major source of batch-to-batch [[glossary:potency]] unpredictability: summer-harvested samples had significantly higher scopolamine concentrations than autumn samples in both stems and leaves{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=6927af14}}. ===Biosynthetic pathway=== Hyoscyamine and scopolamine share a conserved biosynthetic pathway in ''D. stramonium'' and ''Atropa belladonna''. The [[glossary:enzyme]] hyoscyamine 6β-hydroxylase (H6H) — a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase — converts hyoscyamine first to 6β-hydroxyhyoscyamine (anisodamine) and then epoxidizes it to scopolamine{{cite|doi=10.1038/s41467-023-37133-4|anchor=96a1a30e}}. A distinct cytochrome P450 converts hyoscyamine into norhyoscyamine. Both alkaloids are classified as WHO essential medicines{{cite|doi=10.1038/s41586-020-2650-9|anchor=9264e9f7}}. ===Preparation effects on constituent ratios=== Fresh plant material contains predominantly L-hyoscyamine; atropine (the DL-racemate) forms progressively during drying, processing, and extraction through racemization{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=ec7e62cc}}. [[substance:alcohol]] combined with low pH dramatically increases scopolamine extraction — a homemade wine prepared from ''Datura suaveolens'' (angel's trumpet) flowers contained 29 mg scopolamine/mL, with no detectable atropine, at a pH of 3.8{{cite|pubmed=1943073|anchor=145fd0d6}}. Aqueous decoctions extract alkaloids at rates dependent on temperature, soak time, and plant part, producing highly variable concentrations. Smoking volatilizes alkaloids for pulmonary [[glossary:absorption]], bypassing [[glossary:first-pass-metabolism]].

===Where it acts=== [[substance:scopolamine]] and hyoscyamine block [[glossary:muscarinic-acetylcholine-receptor|muscarinic acetylcholine receptors]] throughout the brain. M1 [[glossary:receptor]] [[glossary:blockade]] in the [[glossary:hippocampus]] and [[glossary:cortex]] disrupts [[glossary:memory-formation|memory encoding]] and retrieval, producing the characteristic dense [[effect:amnesia]]{{cite|pubmed=25386392|anchor=0ead256a}}. At higher doses, widespread cortical muscarinic blockade produces the full [[substance_class:psychoactive/deliriant]] syndrome — [[effect:delirium]], fully realistic [[glossary:hallucination|hallucinations]], and profound [[glossary:disorientation]]{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=7821763b}}. Scopolamine's greater [[glossary:lipophilicity]] gives it more efficient [[glossary:blood-brain-barrier]] crossing than hyoscyamine, so scopolamine-dominant preparations produce central effects at lower systemic doses. ===What it changes=== The anticholinergic delirium is fundamentally distinct from serotonergic [[substance_class:psychoactive/hallucinogen]] experiences. Hallucinations are fully realistic and externally projected — the affected individual cannot recognize them as drug-induced, producing a completely deceptive cognitive state{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=de302104}}. Peripherally, M2 blockade removes the vagal brake on [[glossary:heart-rate]] ([[glossary:tachycardia]]), M3 blockade suppresses secretions and smooth muscle activity ([[effect:dry-mouth]], urinary retention, gut stasis), and impaired [[substance_class:chemical/cholinergic]] thermoregulation causes [[glossary:hyperthermia]] through inability to sweat{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.02.005|anchor=cf20b266}}{{cite|pubmed=25386392|anchor=50650f47}}. {{DiscoverMore|Open Questions}} No neuroimaging studies using Datura [[glossary:plant-material]] have been published. The mechanism by which muscarinic blockade generates complex, fully realistic hallucinations — rather than simple perceptual distortion — remains poorly understood. Whether scopolamine-to-hyoscyamine ratio differences across species produce qualitatively distinct delirium subtypes has not been systematically investigated. {{/DiscoverMore}}

===Where it acts=== [[substance:scopolamine]] and hyoscyamine block [[glossary:muscarinic-acetylcholine-receptor|muscarinic acetylcholine receptors]] throughout the brain. [[glossary:blockade]] in the [[glossary:hippocampus]] and [[glossary:cortex]] disrupts [[glossary:memory-formation|memory encoding]] and retrieval, producing the characteristic dense [[effect:amnesia]]{{cite|pubmed=25386392|anchor=74db4e14}}. At higher doses, widespread cortical blockade produces full [[effect:delirium]] — [[glossary:hallucination|hallucinations]], profound [[glossary:disorientation]], and complete loss of reality contact{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=220acea7}}. ===What it changes=== Anticholinergic delirium is fundamentally different from serotonergic [[glossary:psychedelic-experience|psychedelic experiences]]. Hallucinations are fully realistic and externally projected — the affected person cannot recognize them as drug-induced{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=a1c2c62b}}. Outside the brain, blockade removes the normal brake on [[glossary:heart-rate]] (causing [[glossary:tachycardia]]), suppresses secretions and gut movement ([[effect:dry-mouth]], urinary retention), and prevents sweating — allowing dangerous rises in [[glossary:body-temperature]]{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.02.005|anchor=75b0ed0e}}{{cite|pubmed=25386392|anchor=87523546}}. {{DiscoverMore|Open Questions}} No neuroimaging studies using Datura [[glossary:plant-material]] have been published. The mechanism by which muscarinic blockade generates complex, fully realistic hallucinations — rather than simple perceptual distortion — remains poorly understood. Whether scopolamine-to-hyoscyamine ratio differences across species produce qualitatively distinct delirium subtypes has not been systematically investigated. {{/DiscoverMore}}

{{Warning}}No established safe recreational dose exists for any Datura preparation. Alkaloid content varies dramatically between individual plants, species, plant organs, growing seasons, and preparation methods. Every [[glossary:ingestion]] carries unpredictable [[glossary:potency]] and genuine [[glossary:fatality]] risk. All dose information below derives exclusively from poisoning [[glossary:case-report|case reports]], not from controlled [[glossary:dose-finding-study|dose-finding studies]].{{/Warning}} ===Raw seed ingestion=== Seeds are the most alkaloid-dense plant organ and the most common route of recreational exposure{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.02.005|anchor=f0a1da1d}}{{cite|pubmed=8434447|anchor=70ddf394}}. Concentrations vary by species and harvest season{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=8aaa52cb}}. In a [[glossary:case-series]] of 29 intentional ingestions, reported amounts ranged from "a few seeds" to half a cup; all patients developed anticholinergic syndrome with [[effect:pupil-dilation]], [[glossary:tachycardia]], flushing, and [[glossary:hallucination|hallucinations]]{{cite|pubmed=8434447|anchor=41ac3c6a}}. A fatal case involved a 19-year-old who ingested an unknown quantity of seeds; postmortem [[glossary:plasma-concentration|blood concentrations]] were hyoscyamine 1.1 µg/mL and [[substance:scopolamine]] 0.2 µg/mL — the highest reported at the time of publication{{cite|pubmed=15080209|anchor=369efbfc}}. * '''Onset:''' 30–60 minutes (oral [[glossary:absorption]]) * '''Peak:''' 1–4 hours * '''Duration:''' 12–48 hours documented{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=9dd984fb}} ===Smoked leaf material=== Historical anti-asthmatic cigarettes (Asthmador brand) contained ''D. stramonium'' leaves and were abused for psychoactive effects{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=566b4f73}}. In a case series of four patients aged 17–23, all developed full anticholinergic syndrome with extensive [[effect:amnesia]]; symptoms resolved over 12–48 hours{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=981ca200}}. Onset is faster than oral ingestion due to pulmonary absorption bypassing [[glossary:first-pass-metabolism|first-pass]] [[glossary:metabolism|hepatic metabolism]]. The same anticholinergic syndrome and effect profile occur as with oral preparations. * '''Onset:''' minutes (pulmonary absorption) * '''Peak:''' 1–4 hours * '''Duration:''' 12–48 hours{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=f31de3d5}} ===Aqueous decoction (tea)=== Alkaloid extraction into water produces concentrations that are highly variable, dependent on plant part used, water temperature, and steeping time. Documented in both traditional medicine contexts and poisoning cases{{cite|pubmed=40086888|anchor=3fe67789}}. No published dose-response data exist for tea preparations. The same anticholinergic effect profile applies. * '''Onset:''' 30–60 minutes (oral absorption) * '''Duration:''' no controlled data; expected to parallel oral seed ingestion (12–48 hours) ===Alcohol-based preparations (wine, tincture)=== [[substance:alcohol]] combined with acidic pH dramatically increases alkaloid extraction from [[glossary:plant-material]]. A homemade wine prepared from ''Datura suaveolens'' (angel's trumpet) flowers contained 29 mg scopolamine/mL at a pH of 3.8; a 76-year-old patient who ingested 15 mL received a total dose of approximately 435 mg scopolamine — roughly 870 times the maximum transdermal therapeutic patch dose{{cite|pubmed=1943073|anchor=4104ff72}}. No atropine was detected in the wine. Alcohol-based preparations represent the highest risk for extreme alkaloid concentration. * '''Onset:''' 30–60 minutes * '''Duration:''' no controlled data; anticholinergic syndrome expected to persist 12–48 hours or longer at high doses See the Dose by preparation card for a structured summary of available values. No [[glossary:dose-range]] for any Datura preparation should be interpreted as "safe" or "common" in the recreational sense — all data derive from poisoning case reports.

The Datura experience is defined by anticholinergic [[effect:delirium]] — a global [[glossary:disruption]] of cognition, orientation, and reality discrimination that bears no resemblance to serotonergic [[substance_class:psychoactive/psychedelic]] states. [[glossary:hallucination|Hallucinations]] span visual, auditory, and tactile modalities and are experienced as indistinguishable from reality; the user does not recognize them as drug-induced. Dense anterograde [[effect:amnesia]] blankets the [[glossary:intoxication]] period, rendering the experience largely irretrievable afterward. The character of the syndrome does not vary qualitatively with dose — higher doses produce more severe delirium, greater [[glossary:autonomic-instability]], and increased [[glossary:fatality|lethality]] risk, but the fundamental experience remains a toxic delirium rather than a scaled perceptual shift. Datura's closest pharmacological comparator is ''Atropa belladonna'' (deadly nightshade), which contains the same [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloid profile and produces an identical anticholinergic syndrome. The experience has no meaningful overlap with [[glossary:serotonergic-psychedelics|classical psychedelics]] (psilocybin, [[substance:lsd]]), [[substance_class:psychoactive/dissociative|dissociatives]] ([[substance:ketamine]], DXM), or empathogens ([[substance:mdma]]) — it is most accurately described as a toxic delirium with hallucinatory features, not a psychedelic or entheogenic state.

The Datura experience is anticholinergic [[effect:delirium]] — a global [[glossary:disruption]] of cognition, orientation, and reality discrimination that bears no resemblance to serotonergic [[substance_class:psychoactive/psychedelic]] states. [[glossary:hallucination|Hallucinations]] span visual, auditory, and tactile modalities and are experienced as indistinguishable from reality. Dense [[effect:amnesia]] typically blankets the [[glossary:intoxication]] period, leaving little or no retrievable memory afterward. The closest pharmacological comparison is ''Atropa belladonna'' (deadly nightshade), which contains the same [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids and produces an identical syndrome. The experience has no meaningful overlap with [[glossary:serotonergic-psychedelics|classical psychedelics]] such as psilocybin or [[substance:lsd]], [[substance_class:psychoactive/dissociative|dissociatives]] such as [[substance:ketamine]], or empathogens such as [[substance:mdma]]. It is most accurately described as a toxic delirium with hallucinatory features — not a psychedelic or entheogenic state.

====Raw seed ingestion==== '''Raw seeds''' are the most commonly reported preparation in poisoning [[glossary:case-series]]. Seeds are typically swallowed whole or chewed. No reliable [[glossary:dose-range]] exists — alkaloid content per seed varies unpredictably across individual plants, species, and growing conditions{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=ae223366}}. Published [[glossary:case-report|case reports]] describe [[glossary:ingestion]] of anywhere from a handful to over 100 seeds, with outcomes ranging from moderate [[effect:delirium]] to death{{cite|pubmed=15080209|anchor=9d465277}}. Onset occurs within 30–60 minutes; effects persist 12–48 hours{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=28ebf892}}. The delayed peak and extended duration create a high risk of additional ingestion before full effects manifest. This is the preparation most frequently associated with fatal outcomes. ====Smoked leaf==== '''Dried leaf material''' has been smoked for centuries, most notably in the form of commercial anti-asthma cigarettes (Asthmador brand) marketed through the mid-20th century{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=70b31318}}. Smoking provides faster onset (minutes) than oral ingestion but delivers a less predictable alkaloid dose due to variable combustion and inhalation depth. Alkaloid content in leaves is generally lower than in seeds, though still sufficient to produce full anticholinergic [[glossary:toxicity]]. ====Aqueous decoction (tea)==== '''Tea''' prepared from leaves, seeds, or flowers represents another traditional and contemporary preparation. Steeping time, water temperature, and [[glossary:plant-material]] quantity all affect alkaloid extraction, with no standardized protocol. Onset and duration approximate those of raw seed ingestion (30–60 minutes onset, 12–48 hours duration), though extraction efficiency introduces an additional source of dose unpredictability. ====Alcohol-based extract==== '''Alcohol extracts''' (tinctures) use ethanol as a solvent, which increases alkaloid extraction efficiency compared to water{{cite|pubmed=1943073|anchor=92535dd2}}. This produces a more concentrated preparation with correspondingly elevated [[glossary:overdose]] risk. Medieval European topical preparations associated with witchcraft exploited transdermal [[glossary:absorption]] of [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids dissolved in fat-based vehicles. Per-preparation dose tiers, timelines, and [[glossary:bioavailability]] data are in the Dose · by preparation card on this page.

====Raw seed ingestion==== '''Raw seeds''' are the most commonly reported preparation in poisoning cases and the most frequently associated with fatal outcomes. No reliable dose exists — alkaloid content per seed varies unpredictably across plants and species{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=7b275285}}. Published cases describe [[glossary:ingestion]] of anywhere from a handful to over 100 seeds, with outcomes ranging from moderate [[effect:delirium]] to death{{cite|pubmed=15080209|anchor=c548be94}}. Onset occurs within 30–60 minutes; effects persist 12–48 hours{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=2c412acd}}. The delayed peak creates a high risk of additional ingestion before full effects arrive. ====Smoked leaf==== '''Dried leaf''' has been smoked for centuries, most notably as commercial Asthmador anti-asthma cigarettes sold through the mid-20th century{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=964bacc9}}. Smoking produces faster onset (minutes) than oral ingestion but delivers an unpredictable alkaloid dose due to variable combustion. Leaf alkaloid content is lower than seeds, though still sufficient to produce full anticholinergic [[glossary:toxicity]]. ====Aqueous decoction (tea)==== '''Tea''' prepared from leaves, seeds, or flowers is another traditional and contemporary preparation. Steeping time, water temperature, and material quantity all affect alkaloid extraction, adding further unpredictability. Onset and duration approximate those of raw seed ingestion: 30–60 minutes to onset, 12–48 hours total. ====Alcohol-based extract==== '''Alcohol extracts''' (tinctures) extract alkaloids more efficiently than water{{cite|pubmed=1943073|anchor=8aa327f7}}, producing more concentrated preparations with correspondingly higher [[glossary:overdose]] risk. Medieval European topical preparations associated with witchcraft used fat-dissolved [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids absorbed through the skin. Onset and [[glossary:intensity]] differ substantially between preparations — smoking acts within minutes while oral preparations take 30–60 minutes to begin.

====Toxicity==== No human [[glossary:lethal-dose|LD50]] has been established for Datura or its constituent [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids. An oral dose of approximately 50 mg atropine sulfate has been described as potentially fatal{{cite|pubmed=1943073|anchor=633d8c7c}}. The European Food Safety Authority established a group acute reference dose (ARfD) for (-)-hyoscyamine and (-)-[[substance:scopolamine]] combined at '''0.016 µg/kg body weight'''{{cite|doi=10.2903/j.efsa.2013.3386|anchor=fdf89f14}}. Dietary exposure of toddlers from grain [[glossary:contamination]] alone can reach up to 7 times this ARfD{{cite|doi=10.2903/j.efsa.2013.3386|anchor=102517a5}}. Documented fatalities include a 58-year-old male who died from accidental foodborne tropane alkaloid [[glossary:ingestion]] (2025){{cite|doi=10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102995|anchor=0a90b8c4}}, a 19-year-old male found dead after intentional seed ingestion with postmortem hyoscyamine of 1.1 µg/mL and scopolamine 0.2 µg/mL{{cite|pubmed=15080209|anchor=0611f585}}, and a 35-year-old homicide victim who died from [[glossary:arrhythmia|cardiac arrhythmia]] after Datura was administered in a drink{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.028|anchor=018107f5}}. ''Datura'' seeds are a recognized contaminant of grain crops including buckwheat, millet, and quinoa. The EU regulates seed presence in animal feeds at a maximum of 1000 mg/kg under Directive 2002/32/EC, with analytical targets of 800 µg/kg for combined hyoscyamine and scopolamine{{cite|doi=10.1080/19440049.2014.914249|anchor=10485bf8}}. Mass poisonings from contaminated grain have been documented. Variable [[glossary:potency]] across species, organs, seasons, and growing conditions renders any uncharacterized preparation intrinsically unpredictable{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=9828cc77}}. Commercial herbal products have occasionally been found to contain undisclosed ''Datura'' material on forensic testing{{flag|safety-citation-needed}}. ====Psychological Risks==== Acute [[glossary:psychosis]] occurs at toxic doses — it was documented in 12 of 17 severe ''D. stramonium'' [[glossary:intoxication]] cases reviewed by the Swiss [[glossary:toxicology]] Information Center over 29 years{{cite|pubmed=8711457|anchor=51b2c1b6}}. A separate series of 7 patients aged 14–27 treated in Kraków required physostigmine in 5 cases{{cite|pubmed=11199892|anchor=69a13ea9}}. Extensive [[effect:amnesia]] is typical — patients rarely retain any memory of the intoxication period{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=46088357}}. Residual [[effect:anxiety]], [[effect:paranoia]], and [[effect:dysphoria]] may persist after acute [[effect:delirium]] resolves. Risk of accidental [[glossary:self-harm]], falls, and trauma during the delirious state is substantial due to motor [[glossary:impairment]] and inability to distinguish [[glossary:hallucination|hallucinations]] from reality. Children are particularly susceptible — an 8-year-old with accidental ingestion presented with [[glossary:aggression]], [[glossary:agitation]], delirium, and visual hallucinations{{cite|pubmed=25341608|anchor=e289cbe7}}. ====Tolerance & Dependence==== No published controlled studies on [[glossary:tolerance]] development or abuse liability for Datura exist. The anticholinergic drug class generally carries low physical dependence potential. [[substance_class:chemical/cholinergic]] rebound effect ([[effect:excessive-sweating]], gastrointestinal cramping, bradycardia) has been described upon abrupt cessation of chronic anticholinergic [[glossary:medication]] use but is not well-documented for Datura plant exposure specifically{{flag|safety-citation-needed}}. Psychological dependence is expected to be low. The extreme aversiveness of the delirious experience — amnesia, terror, and complete loss of reality contact — discourages repeated use in most individuals{{cite|pubmed=8434447|anchor=8045d904}}. Datura-associated use among teens typically did not escalate to repeated use{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.02.005|anchor=9adfc6a8}}. No established cessation programs or [[glossary:withdrawal]] management protocols specific to Datura exist. ====Drug Interactions==== The most critical interaction is '''additive anticholinergic burden'''. Concurrent use with any anticholinergic medication — tricyclic [[substance_class:psychoactive/antidepressant|antidepressants]], first-generation antihistamines, [[substance_class:psychoactive/antipsychotic|antipsychotics]], antiparkinsonian agents ([[substance:trihexyphenidyl]], benztropine), bladder antimuscarinics (oxybutynin, tolterodine), and antiemetics ([[substance:promethazine]]) — produces additive or synergistic [[glossary:toxicity]]. [[glossary:surveillance|Pharmacovigilance]] data show anticholinergic drug burden averaging 2.4 concurrent atropinic drugs in adverse event reports, with at least one atropinic drug present in 59.4% of reports{{cite|doi=10.1111/fcp.12321|anchor=a16ae1f5}}. [[glossary:severity]]: potentially life-threatening. '''CYP3A4 inhibitors''' — including [[glossary:grapefruit-juice]], ketoconazole, erythromycin, and fluconazole — increase scopolamine and hyoscyamine [[glossary:plasma-concentration|plasma levels]] by inhibiting [[glossary:first-pass-metabolism]]. Grapefruit juice increases scopolamine AUC to approximately 142% of control{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=2a47c002}}. '''CNS depressants''' — [[substance:alcohol]], [[substance_class:chemical/benzodiazepine|benzodiazepines]], and [[substance_class:psychoactive/opioid|opioids]] — produce additive [[glossary:central-nervous-system]] [[effect:depression]]. Alcohol additionally increases alkaloid extraction from plant material when used as a preparation solvent{{cite|pubmed=1943073|anchor=e595a89d}}. '''Physostigmine''' ([[substance_class:pharmacological/acetylcholinesterase-inhibitor]]) serves as the specific antidote for severe central anticholinergic syndrome, reversing both central and peripheral effects at doses of 1–6 mg IV in monitored settings{{cite|pubmed=11199892|anchor=bfe60550}}{{cite|pubmed=25386392|anchor=bece2ad9}}. ====Contraindications==== '''Absolute contraindications:''' * '''Angle-closure glaucoma:''' [[effect:pupil-dilation|Mydriasis]] from muscarinic [[glossary:blockade]] can precipitate an acute angle-closure crisis — a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment to prevent permanent vision loss. * '''Urinary obstruction or benign prostatic hyperplasia:''' Anticholinergic-mediated detrusor relaxation and sphincter contraction produce acute urinary retention. * '''Pregnancy:''' Scopolamine crosses the placenta readily{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=ce316c16}}. Anticholinergic exposure during [[glossary:pregnancy]] carries fetal risk. '''Relative contraindications:''' * '''Cardiac disease:''' Elevated [[glossary:tachycardia]] and arrhythmia risk; fatal cardiac arrhythmia documented in a Datura poisoning case{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.028|anchor=d1202b53}}. * '''Elderly individuals:''' Heightened [[glossary:sensitivity]] to anticholinergic toxicity, with greater risk of [[effect:cognitive-impairment]], falls, and delirium at lower doses{{cite|doi=10.1111/j.1742-1241.2010.02449.x|anchor=ec0e60ae}}. * '''Pediatric populations:''' Children are particularly susceptible — small quantities of plant material produce serious CNS symptoms{{cite|pubmed=25341608|anchor=dbce2662}}. * '''Psychiatric illness:''' Datura may precipitate acute psychosis or worsen existing psychotic conditions{{cite|pubmed=8711457|anchor=a3add10b}}. * '''Users of anticholinergic medications:''' Additive anticholinergic burden as described under [[glossary:drug-interaction|Drug Interactions]]. * '''Hepatic impairment:''' [[glossary:cyp3a4]]-mediated first-pass metabolism is the primary [[glossary:clearance]] mechanism; [[glossary:hepatic-impairment]] may increase [[glossary:systemic-exposure]]{{flag|safety-citation-needed}}. Standard urine immunoassay drug panels do '''not''' detect scopolamine, hyoscyamine, or atropine. [[glossary:detection]] requires targeted GC-MS or LC-MS analysis, typically performed only in forensic or specialized toxicology contexts{{cite|pubmed=15080209|anchor=7171942f}}{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.028|anchor=1b1313d7}}.

====Toxicity==== No human [[glossary:lethal-dose]] has been formally established for Datura. An oral dose of approximately 50 mg atropine sulfate may be fatal{{cite|pubmed=1943073|anchor=9a24dbdb}}. The European Food Safety Authority set a combined acute safety limit for hyoscyamine and [[substance:scopolamine]] at '''0.016 µg/kg body weight'''{{cite|doi=10.2903/j.efsa.2013.3386|anchor=c1285486}}; dietary exposure from contaminated grain can reach up to seven times this limit in toddlers{{cite|doi=10.2903/j.efsa.2013.3386|anchor=e7434603}}. Documented fatalities include a 58-year-old male who died from accidental foodborne [[glossary:ingestion]]{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102995|anchor=25afe45b}}, a 19-year-old found dead after intentional seed ingestion (postmortem hyoscyamine 1.1 µg/mL, scopolamine 0.2 µg/mL){{cite|pubmed=15080209|anchor=e66b4253}}, and a 35-year-old killed after Datura was administered in a drink{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.028|anchor=83921e5f}}. ''Datura'' seeds contaminate grain crops including buckwheat, millet, and quinoa. The EU regulates seed presence in animal feeds at a maximum of 1000 mg/kg under Directive 2002/32/EC{{cite|doi=10.1080/19440049.2014.914249|anchor=ede5cc75}}. Variable [[glossary:potency]] across species, organs, and growing conditions makes any uncharacterized preparation intrinsically unpredictable{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=3978f3bf}}. ====Psychological Risks==== Acute [[glossary:psychosis]] occurs at toxic doses — documented in 12 of 17 severe cases reviewed at the Swiss [[glossary:toxicology]] Information Center over 29 years{{cite|pubmed=8711457|anchor=775ec1f9}}. Dense [[effect:amnesia]] is typical; patients rarely recall any of the [[glossary:intoxication]] period{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=719b5c7a}}. Residual [[effect:anxiety]], [[effect:paranoia]], and [[effect:dysphoria]] may persist after [[effect:delirium]] resolves. Risk of accidental [[glossary:self-harm]] is high due to motor [[glossary:impairment]] and the inability to distinguish [[glossary:hallucination|hallucinations]] from reality. Children are especially vulnerable — an 8-year-old with accidental ingestion presented with [[glossary:aggression]], delirium, and visual hallucinations{{cite|pubmed=25341608|anchor=f1321237}}. ====Tolerance & Dependence==== No controlled studies on [[glossary:tolerance]] or [[glossary:dependence]] for Datura exist. Anticholinergic drugs generally carry low [[glossary:physical-dependence]] potential. [[substance_class:chemical/cholinergic]] [[glossary:rebound-effect]] — sweating, cramping, [[glossary:bradycardia|slow heart rate]] — has been described on stopping chronic anticholinergic [[glossary:medication]] use, but is not well-documented for Datura plant exposure specifically{{flag|safety-citation-needed}}. [[glossary:psychological-dependence]] is expected to be low. The extreme aversiveness of the experience — amnesia, terror, complete loss of reality contact — discourages repeat use in most individuals{{cite|pubmed=8434447|anchor=c65a15bd}}. Teen Datura use typically does not escalate to repeated episodes{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.02.005|anchor=f6a43e26}}. ====Drug Interactions==== The most critical interaction is '''additive anticholinergic burden'''. Combining Datura with any anticholinergic medication — tricyclic [[substance_class:psychoactive/antidepressant|antidepressants]], first-generation antihistamines, [[substance_class:psychoactive/antipsychotic|antipsychotics]], bladder antimuscarinics (oxybutynin, tolterodine), or antiemetics ([[substance:promethazine]]) — stacks the effects and can be life-threatening. [[glossary:surveillance|Pharmacovigilance]] data show at least one anticholinergic drug present in 59.4% of adverse event reports{{cite|doi=10.1111/fcp.12321|anchor=c4f6a9ae}}. '''CYP3A4 inhibitors''' — including [[glossary:grapefruit-juice]], ketoconazole, and erythromycin — slow the body's [[glossary:clearance]] of scopolamine and hyoscyamine, raising blood levels. Grapefruit juice alone increases scopolamine exposure to approximately 142% of normal{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=afd3209c}}. '''CNS depressants''' — [[substance:alcohol]], [[substance_class:chemical/benzodiazepine|benzodiazepines]], [[substance_class:psychoactive/opioid|opioids]] — add to [[glossary:central-nervous-system]] [[effect:depression]]{{cite|pubmed=1943073|anchor=357d14df}}. Alcohol also extracts more alkaloid from [[glossary:plant-material]] when used as a preparation solvent. '''Physostigmine''' is the specific antidote for severe anticholinergic syndrome, administered [[glossary:intravenous|intravenously]] in hospital settings at 1–6 mg{{cite|pubmed=11199892|anchor=a63fbee0}}{{cite|pubmed=25386392|anchor=d192fb2f}}. ====Contraindications==== '''Absolute contraindications:''' * '''Angle-closure glaucoma:''' [[effect:pupil-dilation]] from muscarinic [[glossary:blockade]] can [[glossary:trigger]] an acute glaucoma crisis — a medical emergency that can cause permanent vision loss. * '''Urinary obstruction or benign prostatic hyperplasia:''' Anticholinergic effects relax the bladder and close the sphincter, causing acute urinary retention. * '''Pregnancy:''' Scopolamine crosses the placenta freely{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=60f5d434}}. '''Relative contraindications:''' * '''Cardiac disease:''' Elevated [[glossary:tachycardia]] and [[glossary:arrhythmia]] risk; fatal cardiac arrhythmia has been documented in Datura poisoning{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.028|anchor=f01e006a}}. * '''Elderly individuals:''' Greater [[glossary:sensitivity]] to anticholinergic [[glossary:toxicity]], including higher risk of falls and [[effect:cognitive-impairment]] at lower doses{{cite|doi=10.1111/j.1742-1241.2010.02449.x|anchor=ed0d2f41}}. * '''Pediatric populations:''' Children are particularly susceptible — small quantities produce serious CNS symptoms{{cite|pubmed=25341608|anchor=51419c7e}}. * '''Psychiatric illness:''' Datura may precipitate or worsen psychotic conditions{{cite|pubmed=8711457|anchor=2ef6df4a}}. * '''Users of anticholinergic medications:''' Additive burden as described under [[glossary:drug-interaction|Drug Interactions]]. * '''Hepatic impairment:''' The liver is the primary clearance route; impairment may increase [[glossary:systemic-exposure]]{{flag|safety-citation-needed}}. Standard urine drug panels do '''not''' detect scopolamine, hyoscyamine, or atropine — targeted GC-MS or LC-MS analysis is required{{cite|pubmed=15080209|anchor=840b706e}}{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.028|anchor=44aa8165}}.

===Forms & Identification=== There is no commercially standardized Datura product. All plant-derived preparations — seeds, dried leaves, teas, tinctures — are uncharacterized in terms of alkaloid content unless independently tested. No Certificate of Analysis, ISO-accredited lab testing program, or consumer-grade [[glossary:reagent-kit]] exists for [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloid quantification in raw [[glossary:plant-material]]. This means there is no reliable way to determine the dose of any Datura preparation before consumption. The variability between individual plants of the same species is sufficient to produce outcomes ranging from mild peripheral effects to fatal [[glossary:toxicity]] from the same mass of material. ===Set & Setting=== The anticholinergic [[effect:delirium]] produced by Datura eliminates the user's ability to recognize their [[glossary:intoxication]], distinguish [[glossary:hallucination|hallucinations]] from reality, or make safety decisions. [[glossary:set-and-setting]] considerations that apply to [[glossary:serotonergic-psychedelics]] — comfortable environment, [[glossary:sitter|trusted companions]], prepared mindset — offer minimal protection against a syndrome that overrides all cognitive self-monitoring. If exposure occurs, the presence of a sober, informed companion who can prevent the user from leaving the immediate area, intervene during injury risk, and call emergency services is the single most important harm-reduction measure. ===Guidelines=== {{Guideline}} * Psychedex does not recommend Datura use in any preparation. No safe recreational dose has been established. * If exposure occurs or is anticipated: do not use alone under any circumstances. Ensure a sober companion is present for the full duration (up to 48 hours). * Do not combine with any other anticholinergic [[glossary:medication]], [[substance:alcohol]], [[glossary:cns-depressants]], or [[glossary:cyp3a4]] [[glossary:inhibitor|inhibitors]] (including [[glossary:grapefruit-juice]]). * Remove access to vehicles, sharp objects, heights, and open water before onset. * Maintain access to water and a cool environment — [[glossary:hyperthermia]] from inability to sweat is a medical emergency. * Know the nearest emergency department and have transportation arranged in advance. {{/Guideline}} ===Emergency Response=== {{Emergency}} '''Recognizing an emergency:''' Seek emergency medical attention if any of the following occur after suspected Datura exposure: [[glossary:tachycardia|rapid heart rate]], fever or hot dry skin (inability to sweat), [[glossary:seizure|seizures]], unresponsiveness, severe [[glossary:agitation]] or [[glossary:aggression]], inability to urinate, or [[glossary:loss-of-consciousness]]. '''Immediate steps:''' * '''1.''' Call emergency services immediately (911 / 112 / local equivalent). * '''2.''' Do not leave the affected person alone — they cannot distinguish hallucinations from reality and are at high risk of self-injury. * '''3.''' Move them to a cool environment if possible. Apply cool water to skin if [[glossary:body-temperature]] appears elevated. * '''4.''' Do not attempt to induce [[effect:vomiting]]. * '''5.''' Do not administer activated charcoal unless directed by a medical professional. '''What to tell the dispatcher:''' State that the person has [[glossary:ingestion|ingested]] Datura (jimson weed / thorn apple) plant material. Report the approximate amount consumed, time of ingestion, and current symptoms. Mention any other substances taken. [[glossary:good-samaritan-law|Good Samaritan laws]] exist in many jurisdictions and provide legal protection when reporting a drug-related emergency. '''Reversal agent:''' Physostigmine is the specific antidote for severe central anticholinergic syndrome. It is administered [[glossary:intravenous|intravenously]] in hospital settings only — it is not available for bystander administration. {{/Emergency}} ===Aftercare & Integration=== {{Aftercare}} Recovery from Datura intoxication may take 24–72 hours. Dense [[effect:amnesia]] typically prevents meaningful recall of the experience. Residual effects may include [[effect:anxiety]], [[effect:confusion]], [[effect:dysphoria]], [[effect:visual-acuity-suppression]], [[effect:dry-mouth]], and urinary difficulty for 1–3 days after acute effects resolve. Hydrate thoroughly. Eat when appetite returns. Rest in a safe, familiar environment. Visual [[glossary:disturbance|disturbances]] ([[effect:pupil-dilation]], blurred near vision) may persist for 24–48 hours after other effects resolve — avoid driving or operating machinery until vision normalizes. If persistent psychological [[glossary:distress]], [[effect:paranoia]], or [[glossary:psychosis|psychotic symptoms]] emerge beyond 72 hours, seek professional psychiatric evaluation. {{/Aftercare}} ===Recovery & Support=== {{Recovery}} Datura does not typically produce [[glossary:physical-dependence]], and most individuals do not repeat the experience. If repeated use is occurring despite adverse outcomes, this may indicate a broader pattern of high-risk [[glossary:substance-use]] warranting professional assessment. For support with substance use concerns, contact: * '''SAMHSA National Helpline:''' 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7) * '''Crisis Text Line:''' Text HOME to 741741 * '''Poison Control (US):''' 1-800-222-1222 If Datura exposure was non-consensual (drugging, criminal administration), contact local law enforcement and seek immediate medical evaluation. {{/Recovery}}

===Forms & Identification=== There is no commercially standardized Datura product. All plant-derived preparations — seeds, dried leaves, teas, tinctures — are uncharacterized in terms of alkaloid content unless independently tested. No [[glossary:reagent-kit]] or consumer-grade test exists for [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloid quantification. There is no reliable way to determine the dose of any Datura preparation before consumption. ===Set & Setting=== Datura eliminates the ability to recognize [[glossary:intoxication]], distinguish [[glossary:hallucination|hallucinations]] from reality, or make safety decisions. [[glossary:set-and-setting]] precautions that apply to [[glossary:serotonergic-psychedelics]] offer minimal protection against a syndrome that overrides all cognitive self-monitoring. A sober, informed companion present for the full duration is the single most important harm-reduction measure. ===Guidelines=== {{Guideline}} * Psychedex does not recommend Datura use in any preparation. No safe recreational dose has been established. * If exposure occurs or is anticipated: do not use alone under any circumstances. Ensure a sober companion is present for the full duration (up to 48 hours). * Do not combine with any other anticholinergic [[glossary:medication]], [[substance:alcohol]], [[glossary:cns-depressants]], or [[glossary:cyp3a4]] [[glossary:inhibitor|inhibitors]] (including [[glossary:grapefruit-juice]]). * Remove access to vehicles, sharp objects, heights, and open water before onset. * Maintain access to water and a cool environment — [[glossary:hyperthermia]] from inability to sweat is a medical emergency. * Know the nearest emergency department and have transportation arranged in advance. {{/Guideline}} ===Emergency Response=== {{Emergency}} '''Recognizing an emergency:''' Seek emergency medical attention if any of the following occur after suspected Datura exposure: [[glossary:tachycardia|rapid heart rate]], fever or hot dry skin (inability to sweat), [[glossary:seizure|seizures]], unresponsiveness, severe [[glossary:agitation]] or [[glossary:aggression]], inability to urinate, or [[glossary:loss-of-consciousness]]. '''Immediate steps:''' * '''1.''' Call emergency services immediately (911 / 112 / local equivalent). * '''2.''' Do not leave the affected person alone — they cannot distinguish hallucinations from reality and are at high risk of self-injury. * '''3.''' Move them to a cool environment if possible. Apply cool water to skin if [[glossary:body-temperature]] appears elevated. * '''4.''' Do not attempt to induce [[effect:vomiting]]. * '''5.''' Do not administer activated charcoal unless directed by a medical professional. '''What to tell the dispatcher:''' State that the person has [[glossary:ingestion|ingested]] Datura (jimson weed / thorn apple) [[glossary:plant-material]]. Report the approximate amount consumed, time of ingestion, and current symptoms. Mention any other substances taken. [[glossary:good-samaritan-law|Good Samaritan laws]] exist in many jurisdictions and provide legal protection when reporting a drug-related emergency. '''Reversal agent:''' Physostigmine is the specific antidote for severe central anticholinergic syndrome. It is administered [[glossary:intravenous|intravenously]] in hospital settings only — it is not available for bystander administration. {{/Emergency}} ===Aftercare & Integration=== {{Aftercare}} Recovery from Datura intoxication may take 24–72 hours. Dense [[effect:amnesia]] typically prevents meaningful recall of the experience. Residual effects may include [[effect:anxiety]], [[effect:confusion]], [[effect:dysphoria]], [[effect:visual-acuity-suppression]], [[effect:dry-mouth]], and urinary difficulty for 1–3 days after acute effects resolve. Hydrate thoroughly. Eat when appetite returns. Rest in a safe, familiar environment. Visual [[glossary:disturbance|disturbances]] ([[effect:pupil-dilation]], blurred near vision) may persist for 24–48 hours after other effects resolve — avoid driving or operating machinery until vision normalizes. If persistent psychological [[glossary:distress]], [[effect:paranoia]], or [[glossary:psychosis|psychotic symptoms]] emerge beyond 72 hours, seek professional psychiatric evaluation. {{/Aftercare}} ===Recovery & Support=== {{Recovery}} Datura does not typically produce [[glossary:physical-dependence]], and most individuals do not repeat the experience. If repeated use is occurring despite adverse outcomes, this may indicate a broader pattern of high-risk [[glossary:substance-use]] warranting professional assessment. For support with substance use concerns, contact: * '''SAMHSA National Helpline:''' 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7) * '''Crisis Text Line:''' Text HOME to 741741 * '''Poison Control (US):''' 1-800-222-1222 If Datura exposure was non-consensual (drugging, criminal administration), contact local law enforcement and seek immediate medical evaluation. {{/Recovery}}

''Datura'' and its primary alkaloids — hyoscyamine, [[substance:scopolamine]], and atropine — are [[glossary:unscheduled|not scheduled]] under any UN [[glossary:drug-control]] convention. In most countries the plant itself is uncontrolled, while the alkaloids are regulated as pharmaceuticals when sold as medicines{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=d68930ae}}. In the United States, Datura is unscheduled at the federal level; Kansas and Nevada have classified ''D. stramonium'' as [[glossary:schedule-i]], and Louisiana, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Oklahoma impose varying restrictions. Australia schedules it as a nationally prohibited substance. Canada and the United Kingdom do not restrict the plant. India permits common religious and traditional uses. Brazil controls ''Datura suaveolens'' specifically. The European Union has no union-wide scheduling but regulates Datura seed [[glossary:contamination]] in animal feeds under Directive 2002/32/EC{{cite|doi=10.1080/19440049.2014.914249|anchor=c2d4e27f}}. [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids are not [[glossary:structural-analog|structural analogs]] of any scheduled substance and fall outside analog act provisions in all known jurisdictions{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=f3350477}}. {{Warning}} Legal status changes frequently. This overview reflects the status as of the article's last update and is not legal advice. Verify current law in the relevant jurisdiction before acting on this information. {{/Warning}}

===Receptor targets=== Hyoscyamine and [[substance:scopolamine]] are '''competitive antagonists at all five muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes (M1–M5)''', binding with high [[glossary:affinity]] and blocking the action of [[glossary:endogenous]] [[glossary:acetylcholine]] at both central and peripheral muscarinic sites{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=6677026f}}{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=65f44a2e}}. This non-selective muscarinic [[glossary:blockade]] produces the full anticholinergic syndrome affecting cognition (M1), cardiac rhythm (M2), smooth muscle tone and glandular secretion (M3), and higher cortical function (M4/M5). ===Central nervous system mechanism=== Scopolamine has greater [[glossary:brain-penetration|CNS penetration]] than atropine or hyoscyamine due to higher [[glossary:lipophilicity]] and more efficient [[glossary:blood-brain-barrier]] crossing. At low systemic doses, scopolamine produces [[effect:sedation]], [[effect:amnesia]], and [[effect:cognitive-impairment]]; at higher doses, the full [[substance_class:psychoactive/deliriant]] syndrome emerges — [[effect:delirium]], visual and [[effect:tactile-hallucination|tactile hallucinations]], and profound [[effect:confusion]]{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=100061de}}. Hyoscyamine and atropine produce predominantly peripheral anticholinergic effects at lower doses but achieve central effects similar to scopolamine at doses sufficient for CNS penetration. The central anticholinergic syndrome results from blockade of M1 [[glossary:receptor|receptors]] in the [[glossary:hippocampus]] and [[glossary:cortex]] (critical for [[glossary:memory-formation|memory encoding]] and retrieval), producing the characteristic dense amnesia{{cite|pubmed=25386392|anchor=8ebd7821}}. Peripheral manifestations arise from M2 blockade in cardiac tissue (vagal brake removal producing [[glossary:tachycardia]]), M3 blockade in smooth muscle and secretory glands ([[effect:dry-mouth]], urinary retention, decreased gastrointestinal motility), and impaired [[substance_class:chemical/cholinergic]]-mediated thermoregulation ([[glossary:hyperthermia]] through anhidrosis){{cite|doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.02.005|anchor=18b14c23}}{{cite|pubmed=25386392|anchor=859de6b5}}. The clinical mnemonic for anticholinergic [[glossary:toxidrome]] summarizes the peripheral syndrome: "blind as a bat" ([[effect:pupil-dilation]], cycloplegia), "mad as a hatter" (delirium), "hot as Hades" (hyperthermia), "dry as a bone" (anhidrosis, xerostomia), "red as a beet" (cutaneous flushing), "full as a flask" (urinary retention). A defining feature of anticholinergic delirium is that [[glossary:hallucination|hallucinations]] are fully realistic and indistinguishable from reality — the affected individual cannot recognize them as unreal. This produces a fully deceptive, amnestic delirium rather than the altered-but-ego-intact experience characteristic of serotonergic [[substance_class:psychoactive/hallucinogen|hallucinogens]]{{cite|doi=10.3390/antiox10081291|anchor=d04de9fe}}. ===Pharmacokinetics=== ====Scopolamine==== Oral [[glossary:bioavailability]] is 3–27% (significant [[glossary:first-pass-metabolism]] via [[glossary:cyp3a4]]-mediated oxidative demethylation in intestinal mucosa){{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=c59e4782}}. [[glossary:tmax]] is approximately 0.5 h after oral administration; however, [[glossary:central-nervous-system|CNS]] effects and anticholinergic [[glossary:toxicity]] from [[glossary:plant-material]] may appear within 30–60 minutes of [[glossary:ingestion]] and persist for 12–48 hours{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=ff5548e5}}{{cite|pubmed=11199892|anchor=11a96b13}} — far exceeding the short [[glossary:plasma]] [[glossary:half-life]] (estimated 3–4 h), suggesting sustained [[glossary:absorption]] from plant material or tissue redistribution. Transdermal pharmaceutical delivery (1.5 mg reservoir) achieves cmax of approximately 100 pg/mL (range 11–240 pg/mL) at approximately 8 h, with [[glossary:steady-state|steady-state]] maintained over 72 h{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=39fe9e57}}. Only approximately 2.6% is excreted unchanged; the remainder undergoes [[glossary:glucuronidation|glucuronide conjugation]]. Scopolamine crosses the placenta readily{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=054c5f70}}. [[glossary:grapefruit-juice]] inhibits intestinal CYP3A4, increasing scopolamine AUC to approximately 142% of control and increasing oral bioavailability to a range of 6–37% versus 3–27% with water{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=74b16b64}}. This CYP3A4 [[glossary:sensitivity]] has implications for herb–[[glossary:drug-interaction|drug interactions]] with azole antifungals, macrolide antibiotics, and other CYP3A4 [[glossary:inhibitor|inhibitors]]. ====Hyoscyamine and atropine==== Atropine is rapidly absorbed after oral, [[glossary:sublingual]], or [[glossary:intramuscular]] administration, with an elimination half-life of approximately 2–3 hours. Atropine is less lipophilic than scopolamine and achieves somewhat less CNS penetration at equivalent doses. Specific oral bioavailability values for hyoscyamine from plant material (as distinct from pharmaceutical formulations) have not been published{{flag|citation-needed}}. No neuroimaging studies (fMRI, PET, EEG) using Datura plant material as administered have been published.

Neither ''Datura'' nor its primary alkaloids (hyoscyamine, [[substance:scopolamine]], atropine) are scheduled under any of the three major UN [[glossary:drug-control|drug control conventions]]. The alkaloids are regulated as pharmaceuticals in most jurisdictions, but the plant itself is generally uncontrolled at the national level. Subnational restrictions exist in several US states, and a few countries impose specific controls{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=ddf2297b}}. Legal status data derives primarily from [[article:erowid|Erowid]] (2024) and may not reflect recent legislative changes — verification against official statutes is recommended{{flag|citation-needed}}.

Jurisdiction	Status	Notes
United States (federal)	Unscheduled	Not listed under the Controlled Substances Act. Scopolamine and hyoscyamine are FDA-regulated pharmaceuticals when sold as medicines but not DEA-scheduled in plant form{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=276f3d3b}}.
Kansas	Schedule I	''D. stramonium'' classified as Schedule I since 2008{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=df6bc5c2}}.
Nevada	Schedule I	Controlled substance; exception for FDA-approved pharmaceutical formulations{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=9853250f}}.
Louisiana	Restricted	Illegal when intended for human consumption; legal for landscaping or decorative use{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=b156c414}}.
Connecticut	Restricted drug	Classified as restricted except for FDA-approved preparations{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=df6258cf}}.
New Jersey	Controlled distribution	Distribution of Datura preparations is criminalized; the state may destroy discovered plants{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=339ce391}}.
Oklahoma	Controlled (conditional)	Controlled under synthetic substance laws when used "as a drug"{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=f69d9e81}}.
Australia	Schedule 1 poison	Nationally prohibited substance{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=9512f067}}.
Canada	Unscheduled	Legal to grow and possess{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=2e151fc1}}.
United Kingdom	Legal	Not listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=4328ba34}}.
India	Legal	Commonly used in religious contexts{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=f30aec40}}.
Brazil	Controlled (partial)	''Datura suaveolens'' (angel's trumpet) is a controlled substance{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=6e1533bf}}.
Norway	Legal (restricted import)	Legal to grow; importation by mail is prohibited{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=681852be}}.
European Union	No EU-wide scheduling	Member states may impose restrictions. Scopolamine and atropine regulated as pharmaceuticals. Directive 2002/32/EC regulates Datura seed contamination in animal feeds at a maximum of 1000 mg/kg{{cite|doi=10.1080/19440049.2014.914249|anchor=28529139}}.

[[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids (scopolamine, hyoscyamine, atropine) are not [[glossary:structural-analog|structural analogs]] of any scheduled substance class and are not subject to analog act provisions in any known jurisdiction. The US [[glossary:federal-analogue-act]] applies only to substances substantially similar to [[glossary:schedule-i]] or II compounds — tropane alkaloids fall outside this scope.

The Datura experience is defined by its anticholinergic mechanism rather than by the serotonergic or [[substance_class:psychoactive/dissociative]] pathways that characterize most other hallucinogenic plants. The central feature is a true [[effect:delirium]] — a global [[glossary:disruption]] of cognition, orientation, and reality discrimination — rather than a perceptual overlay on intact [[glossary:awareness]]. [[glossary:hallucination|Hallucinations]] across visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory domains are experienced as indistinguishable from reality; the user does not recognize them as drug-induced. Dense anterograde [[effect:amnesia]] blankets the [[glossary:intoxication]] period in most cases, rendering the experience largely irretrievable in retrospect. Preparation method modulates onset speed and peak [[glossary:intensity]] but does not alter the fundamental character of the syndrome. Pharmacologically, Datura occupies a position distinct from [[glossary:serotonergic-psychedelics|classical psychedelics]] (psilocybin, [[substance:lsd]]), dissociatives ([[substance:ketamine]], DXM), and even other [[substance_class:psychoactive/deliriant|deliriants]]. Its closest pharmacological comparator is ''Atropa belladonna'' (deadly nightshade), which contains the same [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloid profile and produces an identical anticholinergic syndrome. The [[glossary:subjective-experience]] is most accurately described as a toxic delirium with hallucinatory features, not as a [[substance_class:psychoactive/psychedelic]] or entheogenic state.

===Toxicity=== No human [[glossary:lethal-dose|LD50]] has been established for Datura or its constituent [[substance_class:chemical/tropane]] alkaloids. In [[glossary:animal-model|animal studies]], atropine oral LD50 in mice is approximately 75–500 mg/kg (species-variable). For humans, an oral dose of approximately 50 mg atropine sulfate has been described as potentially fatal; no established lethal dose for [[substance:scopolamine]] exists{{cite|pubmed=1943073|anchor=4ad341c5}}. The European Food Safety Authority established a group acute reference dose (ARfD) for (-)-hyoscyamine and (-)-scopolamine combined at '''0.016 µg/kg body weight''', based on decreased [[glossary:heart-rate]] observed in human volunteer studies — a sub-toxic endpoint, not a toxic threshold{{cite|doi=10.2903/j.efsa.2013.3386|anchor=445fdc60}}. Dietary exposure of toddlers from grain contamination alone could reach up to 7 times this ARfD on approximately 11–18% of consumption days{{cite|doi=10.2903/j.efsa.2013.3386|anchor=076c3790}}. ====Fatal cases==== * '''2025:''' A 58-year-old male died after accidental [[glossary:ingestion]] of a meal contaminated with Solanaceae plant material. Atropine and scopolamine were detected in all postmortem matrices including vitreous humor — the first documented [[glossary:fatality]] from accidental foodborne tropane alkaloid ingestion{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102995|anchor=ec2dc48b}}. * '''2004:''' A 19-year-old male was found dead after intentional seed ingestion for hallucinogenic effects. Postmortem [[glossary:plasma-concentration|blood concentrations]] were hyoscyamine 1.1 µg/mL and scopolamine 0.2 µg/mL — the highest recorded at time of publication{{cite|pubmed=15080209|anchor=b647beae}}. * '''2016:''' A 35-year-old homicide victim received Datura administered in a drink during a robbery. Death resulted from [[glossary:arrhythmia|cardiac arrhythmia]] secondary to severe anticholinergic syndrome{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.028|anchor=90ccdf5c}}. ====Contaminant and adulterant risks==== ''Datura'' seeds are a well-recognized contaminant of grain crops (buckwheat, millet, quinoa). The EU regulates ''Datura'' seed presence in animal feeds at a maximum of 1000 mg/kg under Directive 2002/32/EC, with analytical target levels set at 800 µg/kg for the sum of hyoscyamine and scopolamine{{cite|doi=10.1080/19440049.2014.914249|anchor=6cf356e9}}. Mass poisonings from contaminated grain and flour have been documented. Datura is not sold commercially as a recreational product; contamination risk is primarily agricultural and accidental. Variable [[glossary:potency]] across species, organs, seasons, and growing conditions renders any uncharacterized plant preparation intrinsically unpredictable{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.chroma.2012.02.036|anchor=171918e5}}. Commercial herbal products have occasionally been found to contain undisclosed ''Datura'' material on forensic testing. ===Psychological risks=== Acute [[glossary:psychosis]] occurs at toxic doses and was documented in 12 of 17 severe ''D. stramonium'' [[glossary:intoxication]] cases reviewed by the Swiss [[glossary:toxicology]] Information Center over 29 years (1966–1994), with 2 additional cases of coma{{cite|pubmed=8711457|anchor=892de9d2}}. A series of 7 patients aged 14–27 treated in a single month in Kraków demonstrated both central and peripheral anticholinergic symptoms; 5 required physostigmine (2–6 mg){{cite|pubmed=11199892|anchor=21cdeeb8}}. Extensive [[effect:amnesia]] is typical — patients rarely retain any memory of the intoxication period{{cite|pubmed=7423162|anchor=8c249575}}. Residual [[effect:anxiety]], [[effect:paranoia]], and [[effect:dysphoria]] may persist after resolution of acute [[effect:delirium]]. Risk of accidental self-harm, falls, and trauma during the delirious state is substantial due to motor [[glossary:impairment]], disorientation, and inability to distinguish [[glossary:hallucination|hallucinations]] from reality. An 8-year-old male with accidental ''D. stramonium'' ingestion presented with aggression, [[glossary:agitation]], delirium, and visual hallucinations — children are documented as particularly susceptible to toxic effects{{cite|pubmed=25341608|anchor=e562c5fd}}. ===Tolerance and dependence=== No published controlled human studies on [[glossary:tolerance]] development or abuse liability for Datura specifically have been identified. The anticholinergic drug class generally carries low physical dependence potential. [[substance_class:chemical/cholinergic]] rebound effect ([[effect:excessive-sweating]], gastrointestinal cramping, bradycardia) has been described upon abrupt cessation of chronic anticholinergic [[glossary:medication]] use but is not well-documented for Datura plant exposure specifically{{flag|safety-citation-needed}}. Psychological dependence is expected to be low. The extreme aversiveness of the delirious experience — characterized by amnesia, terror, and complete loss of reality contact — discourages repeated recreational use in most individuals. In the Rodgers 1993 [[glossary:case-series]], self-reported users often did not repeat the experience{{cite|pubmed=8434447|anchor=8e891ddf}}. The 2020 review noted Datura-associated drug use "among teens" who typically did not escalate to repeated use{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.02.005|anchor=11ec90f5}}. No established cessation programs or [[glossary:withdrawal]] management protocols specific to Datura exist. The extreme unpleasantness of the experience functions as a natural deterrent to repeated use. ===Drug interactions=== The most significant interaction is '''additive anticholinergic burden'''. Concurrent use of Datura with any medication possessing anticholinergic properties — tricyclic [[substance_class:psychoactive/antidepressant|antidepressants]], first-generation antihistamines, [[substance_class:psychoactive/antipsychotic|antipsychotics]] with anticholinergic activity, antiparkinsonian agents ([[substance:trihexyphenidyl]], benztropine), bladder antimuscarinics (oxybutynin, tolterodine), and antiemetics ([[substance:promethazine]]) — produces additive or synergistic anticholinergic [[glossary:toxicity]]. Pharmacovigilance data demonstrate that the average anticholinergic drug burden in adverse event reports involving antipsychotic-treated patients reaches 2.4 concurrent atropinic drugs, with at least one atropinic drug present in 59.4% of reports{{cite|doi=10.1111/fcp.12321|anchor=6b537797}}{{flag|additional-citations-needed}}. [[glossary:severity]]: potentially life-threatening. '''CYP3A4 inhibitors''' — including grapefruit juice, ketoconazole, erythromycin, and fluconazole — would be expected to increase scopolamine and hyoscyamine plasma levels by inhibiting first-pass [[glossary:cyp3a4]] [[glossary:metabolism]]. Grapefruit juice increases scopolamine AUC to approximately 142% of control{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=4272d8c6}}{{flag|additional-citations-needed}}. Clinical [[glossary:case-report|case reports]] documenting specific CYP3A4 [[glossary:inhibitor]] interactions with plant-derived Datura exposure have not been published. '''CNS depressants''' — [[substance:alcohol]], [[substance_class:chemical/benzodiazepine|benzodiazepines]], and [[substance_class:psychoactive/opioid|opioids]] — produce additive [[glossary:central-nervous-system]] [[effect:depression]]. Alcohol additionally increases alkaloid extraction from plant material when used as a preparation solvent{{cite|pubmed=1943073|anchor=9dd3fe61}}{{flag|additional-citations-needed}}. '''Physostigmine''' ([[substance_class:pharmacological/acetylcholinesterase-inhibitor]]) serves as the specific antidote for severe central anticholinergic syndrome, reversing both central and peripheral effects at doses of 1–6 mg IV in monitored settings{{cite|pubmed=11199892|anchor=4ba570e0}}{{cite|pubmed=25386392|anchor=9225ae67}}. ===Contraindications=== '''Absolute contraindications:''' * '''Angle-closure glaucoma:''' [[effect:pupil-dilation|Mydriasis]] caused by muscarinic [[glossary:blockade]] can precipitate an acute angle-closure crisis — a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment to prevent permanent vision loss. * '''Urinary obstruction or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH):''' Anticholinergic-mediated detrusor [[effect:muscle-relaxation]] and urethral sphincter contraction produce acute urinary retention. * '''Pregnancy:''' Scopolamine crosses the placenta readily{{cite|pubmed=16175141|anchor=14ef3ba0}}{{flag|additional-citations-needed}}. Anticholinergic exposure during [[glossary:pregnancy]] carries fetal risk. '''Relative contraindications:''' * '''Cardiac disease:''' [[glossary:tachycardia]] and cardiac arrhythmia risk is elevated; fatal cardiac arrhythmia has been documented in a Datura poisoning case{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.028|anchor=cdf7f368}}. * '''Elderly individuals:''' Heightened [[glossary:sensitivity]] to anticholinergic toxicity, with greater risk of [[effect:cognitive-impairment]], falls, and delirium at lower doses. M1 [[glossary:antagonism|receptor antagonism]] in the aging CNS carries disproportionate cognitive risk{{cite|doi=10.1111/j.1742-1241.2010.02449.x|anchor=ccf21243}}. * '''Pediatric populations:''' Children are particularly susceptible to anticholinergic toxicity — even small quantities of plant material produce serious CNS symptoms{{cite|pubmed=25341608|anchor=01d4a66e}}. * '''Psychiatric illness:''' Datura may precipitate acute psychosis or worsen existing psychotic conditions. Documented in 12 of 17 severe Swiss cases{{cite|pubmed=8711457|anchor=473c86c3}}. * '''Users of anticholinergic medications:''' Additive burden as described under [[glossary:drug-interaction|Drug Interactions]] above. * '''Hepatic impairment:''' CYP3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism of scopolamine is the primary [[glossary:clearance]] mechanism; hepatic impairment may increase systemic exposure{{flag|safety-citation-needed}}. ====Drug testing==== Standard urine immunoassay drug panels do '''not''' detect scopolamine, hyoscyamine, or atropine. Detection requires targeted GC-MS or LC-MS analysis, typically performed only in forensic or specialized toxicology contexts{{cite|pubmed=15080209|anchor=1689bbf2}}{{cite|doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.028|anchor=8085997d}}. An individual impaired by Datura may pass a standard workplace drug screen.

Neither ''Datura'' nor its primary alkaloids (hyoscyamine, [[substance:scopolamine]], atropine) are listed in the schedules of the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 UN [[glossary:convention-on-psychotropic-substances]], or the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. The alkaloids are regulated as pharmaceuticals in most jurisdictions, but the plant itself is generally not internationally scheduled. Legal status varies significantly at the subnational level, particularly in the United States{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=f835f28b}}.

Jurisdiction	Classification	Key provisions
United States (federal)	Unscheduled	Not listed under the Controlled Substances Act. Scopolamine and hyoscyamine are FDA-regulated pharmaceuticals when sold as medicines but are not DEA-scheduled when present in their natural plant source{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=91a0b95f}}.
Kansas (US state)	Schedule I	''D. stramonium'' classified as a Schedule I controlled substance since 2008{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=11590e98}}.
Nevada (US state)	Schedule I	Controlled substance with exception for FDA-approved pharmaceutical formulations{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=ea8e2de2}}.
Louisiana (US state)	Restricted	Illegal when intended for human consumption; legal for aesthetic, landscaping, or decorative purposes{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=bb4ffd53}}.
Connecticut (US state)	Restricted drug	Classified as a restricted drug except for FDA-approved preparations{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=bbfc6ec6}}.
New Jersey (US state)	Controlled distribution	Distribution of Datura preparations is criminalized; the state may destroy discovered plants{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=75837277}}.
Oklahoma (US state)	Controlled (conditional)	Controlled under synthetic substance laws when used "as a drug"{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=aa3025c1}}.
Australia	Schedule 1 poison	Nationally prohibited substance{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=8bc9f51a}}.
Canada	Unscheduled	Legal to grow and possess{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=7ad0dcea}}.
United Kingdom	Legal	Legal to grow and possess; not listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=d88add02}}.
India	Legal	Commonly used in religious contexts{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=17c51893}}.
Brazil	Controlled (partial)	''Datura suaveolens'' (angel's trumpet) is a controlled substance{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=0e1ffbdf}}.
Norway	Legal (restricted import)	Legal to grow; importation by mail is prohibited{{cite|name=erowid-datura-law|type=web|author=Erowid|year=2024|title=Datura Legal Status|url=https://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_law.shtml|anchor=792b3577}}.
European Union	No EU-wide scheduling	Individual member states may impose restrictions. Scopolamine and atropine regulated as pharmaceuticals. EU Directive 2002/32/EC regulates Datura seed contamination in animal feeds at a maximum of 1000 mg/kg{{cite|doi=10.1080/19440049.2014.914249|anchor=e8ce7a9e}}.

{{flag|citation-needed}} Legal status data above derives primarily from [[article:erowid|Erowid]] (web-retrieved, 2024) and may not reflect recent legislative changes. Verification against official state statutes is recommended before reliance, particularly for Kansas, Nevada, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Australia.