Background

• Tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca) comes from Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia and is now a common plant in California. Tree tobacco should not be confused with smoking tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). It is on the list of toxic plants in several states, including Texas, California, and North Carolina. Native Americans in some areas substitute it for native tobacco. To enhance the spiritual experience, tree tobacco is sometimes smoked by California Native Americans in combination with Datura wrightii, which may be dangerous as both plants induce respiratory depression.
• Tree tobacco has been publicized as a safe, hallucinogenic plant on some internet websites. However, smoking or ingesting the plant has lead to death.
• There is insufficient evidence in humans to support the use of tree tobacco for any indication.

References

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