# Is bell pepper a narcotic for anyone other than me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 10, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807 "2014-04-10T17:39:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/21 "2014-04-11T10:48:24Z")
I’m going to fry two courgette I even read this silly exchange. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/22 "2014-04-11T10:55:57Z")
Haha you guys are so funny. _So funny_! No no but seriously no I can quit anytime. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/23 "2014-04-11T15:36:48Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Lettuce have no more of these puns. No need to beet him up about it. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/24 "2014-04-11T15:52:49Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Haha you guys are so funny. _So funny_! Sure thing, bellhead. You only think that because you’re peppered out of your gourd. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/25 "2014-04-11T16:15:35Z")
And to think, I go to all this trouble to score pot. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/26 "2014-04-11T18:30:35Z")
Why do I picture Mary Katherine Gallagher smelling her fingers? ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/27 "2014-04-11T18:46:03Z")
Well, this explains [Little Chrissy](http://31.media.tumblr.com/5fc220563e9b6ccccd448efc0fad43db/tumblr_mypjbwtLoF1towomzo1_1280.jpg) in “Pecker”. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/28 "2014-04-11T18:52:03Z")
[Picture of Frylock](http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbtbqrBXLi1qcn752.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Cerealbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Cerealbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerealbox)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/29 "2014-04-21T17:00:25Z")
I remember in my drug-using days, a group of druggies on a webforum had claimed that some specific mixture of spices got them high. Like, legitimately high. The forum went “yeah, yeah” then someone would come back a few hours later and post something like “holy christ, that got me fucked up!” I don’t remember what the conclusion wound up being, but there was a chemical discussion that followed and it was suggesting that their body was perhaps metabolizing the spices into a ghb-like chemical. Due to the culture of the forum I doubt it was a prank and I don’t remember the spices used other than that it contained nutmeg while having a distinctly more intense and recreational feeling to it. Anyway, I would imagine that you might be getting high off of a psychoactive piperidine (so named because of their presence in peppers), of which I know there are many synthesized psychoactives. From what I understand, those piperidines you sometimes see used recreationally tend to be dissociatives. So the high would be a detached, calm, spacey feeling. However, wikipedia lists among psychoactive piperidines antipsychotic medications like risperdone, opioids, SSRIs, and stimulants. So who knows. ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/30 "2014-04-21T17:06:43Z")
Capsicum peppers have been reputed to produce a sense of euphoria :dubious: however, this is usually attributed to endorphins from the capsaicin, which has been bred out of bell peppers. Mostly. There is sometimes some present in the webs which hold the seeds (placenta, it’s called) which you would get full exposure to in a cut, uncleaned pepper. Yes, bell peppers are the same species\* as chili peppers, that variety has just been bred for no heat. Usually 😃 (\*Capsicum peppers are a group of closely related species that interbreed fairly readily.) OK, OK, so I’m a biologist by training who likes hot peppers. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/31 "2014-04-21T17:15:33Z")
> [@Cerealbox](#): > > I remember in my drug-using days, a group of druggies on a webforum had claimed that some specific mixture of spices got them high. Like, legitimately high. The forum went “yeah, yeah” then someone would come back a few hours later and post something like “holy christ, that got me fucked up!” > > I don’t remember what the conclusion wound up being, but there was a chemical discussion that followed and it was suggesting that their body was perhaps metabolizing the spices into a ghb-like chemical. Due to the culture of the forum I doubt it was a prank and I don’t remember the spices used other than that it contained nutmeg while having a distinctly more intense and recreational feeling to it. > > Anyway, I would imagine that you might be getting high off of a psychoactive piperidine (so named because of their presence in peppers), of which I know there are many synthesized psychoactives. From what I understand, those piperidines you sometimes see used recreationally tend to be dissociatives. So the high would be a detached, calm, spacey feeling. However, wikipedia lists among psychoactive piperidines antipsychotic medications like risperdone, opioids, SSRIs, and stimulants. So who knows. Problem is - piperidine is derived from black pepper, which is no relation to capsicum peppers. Just has a similar effect, sort of. :rolleyes: Nutmeg does in fact have a mild hallucinogen, trimyristin, in it. It says something about the university I went to (In the '70s) that one of the Chemistry classes was devoted to extracting and purifying it. :o ---
**Author:** ![Cerealbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Cerealbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerealbox)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/32 "2014-04-21T18:02:01Z")
> [@MacLir](#): > > Nutmeg does in fact have a mild hallucinogen, trimyristin, in it. It says something about the university I went to (In the '70s) that one of the Chemistry classes was devoted to extracting and purifying it. :o Not sure that was it. I’ve heard of smoking nutmeg. Every druggie has. But apparently this only worked ingesting it and was described as qualitatively different different than nutmeg and only worked with a few other common spices. I think it was described as being similar to MDMA. The obvious culprit, synergists, was for reasons I didn’t really care about (never tried it myself) was doubted after smarter people entered the discussion. They couldn’t find anything plausible. Once people figured out you had to eat it, several plausible enzyme interactions were identified. I think I remember hearing something along the lines that some of the chemicals in the spices were probably keeping certain enzymes busy causing it to metabolize in a novel way. The users of the discussion also identified that it didn’t taste too bad on steak. _shrugs_ I didn’t really care too much at the time because I already had a ton of K and magic mushrooms stockpiled. Anyway, probably not what’s going on with OP. But from the few discussions I’ve had with chemists, there can be all sorts of psychoactives in stuff we just haven’t identified yet. Could be OP is sensitive to some minor chemical. Or could be he just likes the smell of bell peppers. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/33 "2014-04-21T18:08:59Z")
OK, I just tried it. The smell was sort of excitingly fruity and tangy. I can kind of imagine how it might be stimulating, but it wasn’t any kind of euphoric feeling for me. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/34 "2014-04-22T02:47:08Z")
Haven’t tried bell peppers, but a good, deep nose hit off a good rose can really alter my mood. Gotta grow your own, however- florist’s roses are useless. My favorite bud of choice is called Mirandy. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/35 "2014-04-22T17:04:15Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > It can squash your sanity. You life’ll go to seed. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/36 "2014-04-22T17:22:07Z")
So, [Berke Breathed](http://www.platypuscomix.net/educational/dandelions.html) was right… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/37 "2014-04-22T17:33:18Z")
> [@MacLir](#): > > Problem is - piperidine is derived from black pepper, which is no relation to capsicum peppers. Just has a similar effect, sort of. :rolleyes: > > Nutmeg does in fact have a mild hallucinogen, trimyristin, in it. It says something about the university I went to (In the '70s) that one of the Chemistry classes was devoted to extracting and purifying it. :o Nutmeg will get you high if you ingest enough of it, but it’s not a fun high. It landed one of my friends in the hospital. Got him feverish, disoriented, and vomiting. Other accounts I have read seem to confirm that this is a common reaction. I’ve never heard of anyone trying it more than once. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/38 "2014-04-22T19:35:49Z")
> [@MacLir](#): > > Problem is - piperidine is derived from black pepper, which is no relation to capsicum peppers. Just has a similar effect, sort of. :rolleyes: > > Nutmeg does in fact have a mild hallucinogen, trimyristin, in it. It says something about the university I went to (In the '70s) that one of the Chemistry classes was devoted to extracting and purifying it. :o PIPERIDINE - I knew I’d seen that stuff before. It’s also a hazardous material UN2401. Main hazards are that it’s corrosive and a flammable liquid. _Similar to capsicum peppers indeed. 😃_ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/39 "2014-04-22T19:38:35Z")
I did read something once about being able to get a buzz from smoking a cigarette through a bell pepper, but I’m pretty sure it’s bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807/40 "2014-04-22T19:51:51Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > If I slice open a red bell pepper, place one half over my nose, and inhale deeply, I get a distinct physical kick of shuddering ecstatic pleasure for just a few seconds. It makes me feel better if I’m sad. > > I am not kidding or exaggerating about this–it literally feels to me like I took a hit of something. > > Anyone else? Anyone? I might note that Costco sells red bell peppers by the case really cheap. Also, I was told in a college plants and man biology class that the only difference between bell peppers of different colors were the different colors. I did confirm they taste exactly the same. I would suggest a double blind huffing test using various colors and my unwashed underwear. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bell-pepper-a-narcotic-for-anyone-other-than-me/685807.md?page=3)