How did R. Gordon Wasson’s 1955 participation in an Oaxaca mushroom ceremony affect public attention to the practice?

In 1955, R. Gordon Wasson became the first non-Indigenous person known to participate in a sacred mushroom ceremony in Oaxaca, Mexico. His subsequent public account of this experience brought significant attention to the practice, triggering an influx of visitors to the region who were seeking to experience the mushrooms themselves.1

This surge in interest also drew the attention of Mexican federal police. While the publicity led to increased scrutiny and forced the traditional ceremonies to be conducted with less openness, the mushroom religion has persisted in the backcountry of Oaxaca.1