Court Says Church Can Brew Hallucinogenic Tea

beliefnet ^ | Monday March 23, 2009

[nickcarraway]

A church in Ashland, Ore., can import and brew a hallucinogenic tea for its religious services, under a federal court ruling issued March 19.

Judge Owen M. Panner issued a permanent injunction that bars the federal government from penalizing or prohibiting the Church of the Holy Light of the Queen from sacramental use of "Daime" tea.

The church, which blends Christian and Brazilian indigenous beliefs, uses tea brewed from the ayahuasca plant in their services. The tea contains trace amounts of the chemical dimethyltryptamine, or DMT.

According to the church's lawsuit, the tea is the central ritual and sacrament of the religion where members believe "only by taking the tea can a church member have direct experience with Jesus Christ."

The Ashland church filed its suit against the federal Department of Justice and Treasury Department in February arguing that the tea should be allowed under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Panner ruled that federal drug enforcement agencies are prevented from prosecuting the church for importing, possessing and distributing the tea and as long as they abide by the judge's guidelines.

[nickcarraway]

Supreme Court OKs Hallucinogenic Tea

[randog]

...the tea is the central ritual and sacrament of the religion where members believe "only by taking the tea can a church member have direct experience with Jesus Christ."

Yeah, I think I remember reading something like that in the Bible. </sarcasm>

[OneWingedShark]

Two words: Church Ale.
THAT has a far better tradition and story.

[divine_moment_of_facts]

DMT is 10 times stronger than LSD! Now every Doofer is going to call themselves a church. Unfreakin’ believable!

[BenLurkin]

Reminds me of the parable of the man who leaves his house unattended and comes back to find it infested with robbers.

These folks leave their minds unattended — who or what comes in through the unlocked door?

[PGR88]

“...Church of the Holy Light of the Queen from sacramental use of “Daime” tea. The church, which blends Christian and Brazilian indigenous beliefs, uses tea brewed from the ayahuasca plant in their services...”

Why not just call them PAGANS?

[bgill]

In other news, there has been an unexpected run on grow lights.

[stylecouncilor]

RUTLE FAN: "I'm from the Maxwell House Coffee Brewers Association. How hard was it to kick 'tea' and what are the symptoms of 'tea withdrawal?' "

STIG O'HARA: "Well I can't answer that!"

RON NASTY: "I think that one of the main symptoms of tea withdrawal is that people generally...

HOST: "Generally speaking?"

RON NASTY: "Generally...[Ron searching for words] are generally less prone to give opinions and leave the bathroom in a neat and tidy state."

[SunkenCiv]

the Church of the Holy Light of the Queen

Imagine, a whole cult based on tranvestism.

[SunkenCiv]

the Religious Freedom Restoration Act

Dogpile