U.S. Supreme Court Okays Ayahuasca Use

The U.S. Supreme Court approves ayahuasca use for religious purposes. This is a victory for the religious freedom to use whatever substance that delivers spiritual ascension.


Court Allows Church's Hallucinogenic Tea

By GINA HOLLAND
Associated Press Writer | February 21, 2006 3:18 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A small branch of a South American religious sect may use hallucinogenic tea as part of a ritual intended to connect with God, a unanimous Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

In its first religious freedom decision under Chief Justice John Roberts, the court said the government cannot hinder religious practices without proof of a "compelling" need to do so.

"This is a very important decision for minority religious freedom in this country," said lawyer John Boyd, who represents about 130 U.S. members of O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal who live in New Mexico, California and Colorado.

The tea, which contains an illegal drug known as DMT, is considered sacred to members of the sect, which has a blend of Christian beliefs and South American traditions. Members believe they can understand God only by drinking the tea, which is consumed twice a month at four-hour ceremonies.

A trial judge found the government's evidence that the drug is harmful was equal in weight to information provided by the sect that said its method of use in tea is not.

Roberts, in writing the opinion for the court, said the government had failed to prove that federal drug laws should outweigh the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which Congress passed in 1993 to prohibit burdening a person's exercise of religion.

The Bush administration had argued that the drug in the tea not only violates a federal narcotics law but a treaty in which the United States promised to block the importation of drugs including dimethyltryptamine, also known as DMT.



Ayahuasca preparation: The Power and The Light


Religious groups of various faiths, along with civil liberties organizations, filed friend-of-the-court briefs supporting the sect. "This is just one step in the right direction in the fight for religious liberty," said Jared Leland, legal counsel for The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty in Washington.

New Justice Samuel Alito did not take part in the case, which was argued last fall before Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement. Alito was on the bench for the first time on Tuesday.

The justices sent the case back to a federal appeals court, which could consider more evidence.

Roberts, writing his second opinion since joining the court, said that religious freedom cases can be difficult "but Congress has determined that courts should strike sensible balances."

The case is Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao Do Vegetal, 04-1084.


Sources:

The following sources were used in the creation of this Kentroversy Paper . . .

Court Allows Church's Hallucinogenic Tea (February 21, 2006 3:18pm)

Erowid Psychoactive Vaults

Ayahuasca.com

Ayahuasca Dreams

The Lycaeum: Entheogenic Database and Community

Peruvian Ayahuasca Recipes