DMT, one of the most powerful psychedelic compounds known, is naturally produced by the human body. Despite being classified as a Schedule I controlled substance since 1970, trace amounts of DMT have been detected in human blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid, creating one of pharmacology's strangest paradoxes.
Your Body Produces an Illegal Drug
Right now, as you read this, your body is producing a substance that could land you in federal prison if you extracted and possessed it. Welcome to one of pharmacology's weirdest paradoxes.
Dimethyltryptamine—DMT—earned its Schedule I classification under Nixon's 1970 Controlled Substances Act, placing it alongside heroin and LSD in the category of drugs deemed to have "no accepted medical use" and "high potential for abuse."
There's just one problem: your pineal gland didn't get the memo.
The Molecule Your Brain Makes
Scientists have confirmed DMT's presence in human blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. The compound appears to be synthesized by an enzyme called INMT (indolethylamine-N-methyltransferase), which has been found in the pineal gland, retina, and lungs.
The amounts are tiny—far below what would produce any psychoactive effect. But they're measurably, undeniably there.
Why Does the Body Make It?
Nobody knows for certain. Theories range from the mundane to the mystical:
- It may be a metabolic byproduct with no particular function
- Some researchers suggest it plays a role in dreaming
- Others hypothesize it's released during near-death experiences
- It might serve as a neurotransmitter we don't yet understand
The near-death theory gained traction after researcher Rick Strassman dubbed DMT "the spirit molecule" in his 2000 book, though this remains speculative.
The Legal Absurdity
To be clear: having DMT in your bloodstream doesn't actually make you a criminal. The Controlled Substances Act targets possession, manufacture, and distribution—not involuntary biosynthesis. You'd need to extract and concentrate the compound to run afoul of the law.
But the philosophical oddity remains. The federal government has declared that a molecule your own body manufactures is too dangerous for any legitimate use, while simultaneously funding research into its potential therapeutic applications for depression and PTSD.
Not Just Humans
DMT shows up across the natural world with surprising frequency. It's been identified in:
- Over 60 species of plants
- Various mammals including rats and rabbits
- Multiple marine organisms
Some Amazonian cultures have used DMT-containing plant brews like ayahuasca in ceremonial contexts for centuries, long before Western scientists figured out what molecule was responsible for the effects.
The question of why evolution has scattered this particular compound so liberally across life on Earth remains one of biology's genuine mysteries. Your body is producing a controlled substance right now, and science still can't fully explain why.