The Aztecs use of Prickly Poppy seeds ritualistically is well documented. What is less documented is the fact that they also reportedly smoked the seeds, to quote a source; for their "cannabis-like effects" as well. There is little known about the psychoactive consituents of Prickly Poppy though, as information is scarce. The use of this plant was limited to the priests, and as Christian Ratsch stated in 1995; "[Prickly Poppy seeds] may have been utilized for Shamanic journeys into the worlds beyond. This is enticing and exciting for spiritual explorers who want to learn about the place that plants such as this have in Shamanic historical contexts.
Interesting as well, is that Prickly Poppy was a sacred plant of the Aztec rain god Tlaloc, who reigned in the "Kingdom of Dreams" as it was called. Tlaloc was associated with two other plants as well; both of which are psychoactive in nature; namely Artemisia mexicana and
Tagetes lucida. This is one of the other reasons as well, that it is believed that Aregemone mexicana seeds were used psychoactively as well.
Prickly Poppy seeds were officially known as a "sacrificial foods" for the gods.
