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N.M. Church May Use Special hallucinogenic Tea for Christmas Services, SCOTUS
Yahoo ^ | 12.10.04

Posted on 12/12/2004 6:31:17 PM PST by Coleus

N.M. Church May Use Special Tea for Now

Fri Dec 10, 8:09 PM ET

By MARY PEREA, Associated Press Writer

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The U.S. Supreme Court (news - web sites) sided Friday with a New Mexico church that wants to use hallucinogenic tea as part of its Christmas services, despite government objections that the tea is illegal and potentially dangerous.

The high court lifted a temporary stay issued last week against using the hoasca tea while it decides whether the Brazil-based O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal is permitted to make it a permanent part of its services.

The legal battle began after federal agents seized 30 gallons of the tea in a 1999 raid on the Santa Fe home of the church's U.S. president, Jeffrey Bronfman.

Bronfman sued the government for the right to use the tea and the church won a preliminary injunction, which was upheld by 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (news - web sites) in Denver. The Bush administration then took the case to the Supreme Court.

"They're delighted," attorney Nancy Hollander said of the church members she represented. "They're so thrilled that they can celebrate Christmas for the first time since 1998."

Bronfman and attorneys for the government did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

The church, which has about 140 members in the United States and 8,000 worldwide, said the herbal brew is a central sacrament in its religious practice, which is a blend of Christian beliefs and traditions rooted in the Amazon basin.

Hollander said the tea is drunk in a ritual similar to the Catholic Communion. Church members then sit in a circle and meditate; they believe the tea brings them closer to God.

The tea is brewed from plants found in the Amazon River Basin and contains DMT, which officials say is a controlled substance under an international treaty.

However, Bronfman's complaint contends the tea is "non-addictive, is not harmful to human health and poses none of the risks commonly found with the use of certain controlled substances."

The church had drawn parallels to federal protection for members of the Native American Church using peyote, which also has hallucinogenic properties.



TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: New Mexico
KEYWORDS: 1stamendment; churchandstate; constitutionlist; cults; donutlist; donutwatch; firstamendment; hispaniccults; newmexico; nm; religiousfreedom; religioustolerance; scotus; scotuslist; substanceabuse; tea; usconstitution; wod; wodlist
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They can get high on Tea while a Catholic Priest is threatened with arrest by the police for using a whole 2 oz. of wine while celebrating mass outside a Colorado Abortion Mill.  Nah, there's no bias against Catholics and/or the Culture of Life.
 
Colorado Priest busted for Communion wine, Wants variance to Celebrate Mass outside abortion clinic

1 posted on 12/12/2004 6:31:18 PM PST by Coleus
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To: 2ndMostConservativeBrdMember; afraidfortherepublic; Alas; al_c; american colleen; annalex; ...


2 posted on 12/12/2004 6:32:30 PM PST by Coleus (Roe v. Wade and Endangered Species Act both passed in 1973, Murder Babies/save trees, birds, algae)
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To: Coleus

OK
So now if I decide to start my own "church" and decide that one of the rituals is smoking dope or shooting crank I would be legal.
If I get busted I complain of religious/racial discrimination.


Right???


3 posted on 12/12/2004 6:39:29 PM PST by 76834
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To: Coleus
However, Bronfman's complaint contends the tea is "non-addictive, is not harmful to human health and poses none of the risks commonly found with the use of certain controlled substances."

Yep, heard that before on FR about 4 zillion times.

4 posted on 12/12/2004 6:50:50 PM PST by LowOiL (Christian and proud of it !)
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To: Coleus
However, Bronfman's complaint contends the tea is "non-addictive, is not harmful to human health and poses none of the risks commonly found with the use of certain controlled substances."

Yep, heard that before on FR about 4 zillion times.

5 posted on 12/12/2004 6:51:25 PM PST by LowOiL (Christian and proud of it !)
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To: 76834
So now if I decide to start my own "church" and decide that one of the rituals is smoking dope or shooting crank I would be legal.

If I get busted I complain of religious/racial discrimination.

Right???

Wrong - these people are "grandfathered in" because their established religious use of DMT predates the laws and treaties against it. NO psychotropic drugs (except perhaps, cannabis) were illegal before the '60s.

6 posted on 12/12/2004 6:55:46 PM PST by mfulstone
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To: mfulstone

So What?
I can trace my family tree back to 1703.
So why aint I "grandfathered"
Also if Jesse "Reverunnnd" Jacksooooon can start a church why cant I??


7 posted on 12/12/2004 6:59:09 PM PST by 76834
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To: Coleus
the Santa Fe home of the church's U.S. president, Jeffrey Bronfman.

There is more wierd stuff in that burg..........

8 posted on 12/12/2004 7:00:58 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: 76834

Can I join? Where do I sign up?


9 posted on 12/12/2004 7:02:05 PM PST by libertyman
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To: Coleus; martin_fierro; cyborg; arasina; fortunecookie

Nothing says Christmas like hallucinogenic tea.


10 posted on 12/12/2004 7:03:28 PM PST by Petronski (Sleepin' on the interstate, ah whoa-o, Gettin' wild, wild life.)
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To: Petronski
Oh yeah!?

I can make a rum cake that will make you see God!

11 posted on 12/12/2004 7:04:39 PM PST by Cogadh na Sith (--Scots Gaelic: 'War or Peace'--)
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To: libertyman

Just send your generous love offering to the "Grand Poobah snd Reveruund 76834"

If your love offering is large enuf we just might send you a prayer cloth......


12 posted on 12/12/2004 7:04:44 PM PST by 76834
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To: Cogadh na Sith
I can make a rum cake that will make you see God!

LOL

13 posted on 12/12/2004 7:05:13 PM PST by Petronski (Sleepin' on the interstate, ah whoa-o, Gettin' wild, wild life.)
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To: libertyman

More:
Cash or Money orders preferred.
If check, your prayer cloth will not be sent till the check clears the bank.

That ripping noise in the background is me tearing up old socks and underwear getting them ready to ship.


14 posted on 12/12/2004 7:07:41 PM PST by 76834
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To: Cogadh na Sith

Copy that!

I make a Christmas "Nog" that will put you down like a horse if you're not careful with it.

It doesn't have any egg in it, so I just didn't feel right calling it "egg nog".

Plus, just "Nog" gives you at least a small warning - it sounds strong, and it is.


15 posted on 12/12/2004 7:18:35 PM PST by The Coopster
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To: The Coopster

Just do Wild Turkey on the rocks.
Without the rocks.....


16 posted on 12/12/2004 7:20:10 PM PST by 76834
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To: Coleus
"They're so thrilled that they can celebrate Christmas for the first time since 1998."

Funny, I have not had any difficulty celebrating Christmas lately ...

17 posted on 12/12/2004 7:23:28 PM PST by ClearCase_guy (The fourth estate is a fifth column.)
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To: ClearCase_guy

All we Catholics have is red wine.


18 posted on 12/12/2004 7:36:45 PM PST by John Will
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To: All

This "shroom tea" is known as yage, and the Indians of Brazil and Peru have used it for centuries. Here is an article here: http://www.fiu.edu/~mizrachs/yage.html

Why exactly they are allowed to do it here is another matter entirely.


19 posted on 12/12/2004 7:51:18 PM PST by No_Outcome_But_Victory (Please pray for Ann, my pregnant wife. (High risk pregnancy.))
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To: Coleus

Ayahuasca can also be made with common plants found in the CONUS.

Several plants contain DMT, while others contain Harmine.

The people who use the stuff don't do it just to get high, it's not a party. It really is used for religious purposes and there really is a history going way back.


20 posted on 12/12/2004 8:20:18 PM PST by DBrow
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