| You may already have heard about the Colorado | | | | induce a psychedelic effect that may include |
| River Toad, also known as the Sonoran Desert Toad, | | | | hallucinations, visual illusions, distorted perception, |
| but didn't realize it. Do you remember a silly song by | | | | unusual brightness and beauty and a mood of |
| Mason Williams in 1964 that gained some popularity | | | | euphoria that may include unmotivated laughing. |
| called "Them Toad Suckers"? Or perhaps you have | | | | These effects are said to be of relatively short |
| heard the urban legend that people can get high by | | | | duration and the experience has often been |
| licking a certain kind of toad. These notions are based | | | | described as pleasant. |
| on the scientific fact that the Bufo Alvarius toad has | | | | It is because the hallucinogenic or psychedelic |
| glands that secrete a very unusual substance. On its | | | | properties of toad venom have similarities to those |
| legs, behind its eyes and over its ears are glands that | | | | of other controlled substances, including cannabis, |
| appear to be large sized bumps, and they secrete a | | | | LSD, magic mushrooms and peyote cactus, |
| venom that is milky looking in appearance. This | | | | lawmakers, police officers and other law enforcement |
| venom is a dangerous substance. It is powerful | | | | officials in some jurisdictions, particularly in the United |
| enough to kill a cat, dog or even a human being, | | | | States of America, are looking to make possession |
| conceivably, if they were unfortunate enough to | | | | of a Bufo Alvarius toad illegal. In come areas, |
| ingest a sufficient quantity of the stuff. Besides being | | | | individuals who were found to be owning a Sonoran |
| toxic in the digestive system, it also can irritate eyes | | | | Desert Toad have already been charged with |
| and nasal areas seriously. For this reason, people who | | | | committing a crime. Because of these legal issues, |
| handle Colorado River Toads should be very cautious | | | | any person who is interested in keeping a Colorado |
| always to wash their hands afterwards. | | | | River Toad as a unique pet should do his or her |
| Why, then, you may be wondering, are these bizarre | | | | homework and learn more about the rules that |
| creatures kept as pets by owners who say they are | | | | govern their particular community, or else they may |
| cute and who take loving care of them? The reason | | | | perhaps risk stepping afoul of the law. |
| is a bit perverse. It is because the venom of the | | | | There are several ways a person may obtain a Bufo |
| Bufo Alvarius toad, in addition to being poisonous, | | | | Alvarius toad. These include capturing them in the |
| also contains large quantities of a chemical alkaloid | | | | wild and purchasing them. There are now online |
| called 5-MEO-DMT, which happens to be a powerfully | | | | information sources that reveal details about where |
| hallucinogenic substance. If this venom is dried and | | | | people can find or buy a Colorado River toad for |
| then smoked in a pipe, for example, it is said to | | | | themselves if they so desire. |