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Supreme Court OKs Hallucinogenic Tea
Associated Press ^ | February 21, 2006 | Gina Holland

Posted on 02/21/2006 7:42:06 AM PST by AntiGuv

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that a small congregation in New Mexico may use hallucinogenic tea as part of a four-hour ritual intended to connect with God.

Justices, in their first religious freedom decision under Chief Justice John Roberts, moved decisively to keep the government out of a church's religious practice. Federal drug agents should have been barred from confiscating the hoasca tea of the Brazil-based church, Roberts wrote in the decision.

The tea, which contains an illegal drug known as DMT, is considered sacred to members of O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal, 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.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: New Mexico
KEYWORDS: billofrights; cannibis; constitutionlist; dea; dmt; donutwatch; dope; dopefiends; doublestandard; drugs; firstamendment; freedomofreligion; govwatch; hallucinogenictea; hallucinogens; hoasca; hoascatea; opium; psychedelics; psychotropicdrugs; psyechedelictea; religion; religiousexpression; religiousfreedom; ruling; scotus; supremecourt; wod; wodlist
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To: cotton1706

For the record, polygamy is banned by the Utah Constitution, not by the Federal government. Way back in the day when people still understood what enumerated powers meant (when incidentally Federal prohibition laws didn't exist) it was acknowledged that the Federal government did not have the power to prohibit polygamy in a State. So, in order for Utah to become a State, they were required to enshrine polygamy bans in their Constitution, since the Federal territorial ban would be invalid upon Statehood.


21 posted on 02/21/2006 8:01:21 AM PST by AntiGuv
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To: cotton1706
But if we moved back to the original understanding, a state legislature could ban the practice, if necessary.

Don't think so.

Not unless the People gave the legislature the authority to tell them what they could possess or ingest.

Oh, that's right. The People, not possessing that restrictive power ourselves, are incapable of giving something we don't possess to anyone.

Darn! It's that pesky Freedom thing again. :-)

22 posted on 02/21/2006 8:02:32 AM PST by MamaTexan (I am NOT a ~legal entity~, nor am I a *person* as created by law!)
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To: SandyInSeattle

I haven't stepped foot there in years, but I'm quite confident it's still wine at my Orthodox church's communion.


23 posted on 02/21/2006 8:02:42 AM PST by AntiGuv
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To: AntiGuv

Another name for hosaca is Ayahuasca.

You need plants that are (currently) imported from South America.

Will SCOTUS allow this church to grow their own DMT-containing plants, or will they need to be imported still?

BTW if you have phalaris aquatica grass on your land, you are growing a plant that contains DMT. Likewise Illinois Bundleflower and several others- you can now start your own church!


24 posted on 02/21/2006 8:03:35 AM PST by DBrow
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To: AntiGuv

Interesting.

I suspect the switch to grape juice in various faiths may have something to do with sensitivities toward any alcoholics in the congregation who would be unable to participate (or may want to participate a little too often...)


25 posted on 02/21/2006 8:05:11 AM PST by Not A Snowbird (Official RKBA Landscaper and Arborist, Duchess of Green Leafy Things)
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To: SandyInSeattle

Lutherans get wine, Baptists get grape juice. If you want to get a blast in church, come over to the Dark Side.


26 posted on 02/21/2006 8:06:10 AM PST by jonascord ("As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!")
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To: conserv13

"Well, it is illegal to give alcohol to minors, but in many churches kids get wine at communion."

Actually, communion is specifically exempted, at least under Texas law.

(In Texas, a parent/legal guardian/spouse can also provide alcohol to a child and/or under-21 spouse, as long as the parent/legal guardian spouse remains within eyesight.)


27 posted on 02/21/2006 8:07:02 AM PST by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: apackof2

Did you ever notice that guise and guile are kissing cousins?


28 posted on 02/21/2006 8:07:21 AM PST by Old Professer (Fix the problem, not the blame!)
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To: AntiGuv
So if my "church" decided to make pot "sacred" and smoke it at every "church gathering" that's OKAY??? Ridiculous.

Does this set a precident for claiming the right to illegal drug use as part of a religious ritual?

29 posted on 02/21/2006 8:07:44 AM PST by I'm ALL Right!
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To: conserv13
Well, it is illegal to give alcohol to minors, but in many churches kids get wine at communion

I don't believe that's true, churches use grape juice

30 posted on 02/21/2006 8:07:59 AM PST by apackof2 (You can stand me up at the gates of hell, I'll stand my ground and I won't back down)
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To: jonascord

BTW: Turkeys DO fly. I hit a wild turkey one day; took out my windshield.


31 posted on 02/21/2006 8:08:17 AM PST by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: AntiGuv

This gives a whole new meaning to the church "pot luck" dinners.


32 posted on 02/21/2006 8:08:23 AM PST by I'm ALL Right!
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To: I'm ALL Right!

"So if my "church" decided to make pot "sacred" and smoke it at every "church gathering" that's OKAY??? Ridiculous."

No, it has to be a "legitimate and historical religious practice." This is not new; as above, American Indians have been using Peyote for years under this.


33 posted on 02/21/2006 8:09:28 AM PST by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: SandyInSeattle

I know that the Orthodox Church requires that Communion follow a very explicit and specific ritual that must use wine, not any alternative. It's been that way for nearly a couple millennia now. Heck, that's why they're called Orthodox after all. ;)


34 posted on 02/21/2006 8:09:36 AM PST by AntiGuv
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To: Old Professer
Did you ever notice that guise and guile are kissing cousins?

Good point all related to big brother, deception

35 posted on 02/21/2006 8:09:39 AM PST by apackof2 (You can stand me up at the gates of hell, I'll stand my ground and I won't back down)
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To: jonascord

Your tagline: That is my favorite episode of WKRP. I wish I could find a copy of that one, and the one where Venus explains the atom to the gang member.


36 posted on 02/21/2006 8:09:47 AM PST by I'm ALL Right!
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To: SandyInSeattle

For fear that a Barney Gumble might go off the wagon with a sip of wine ours has wine or grape juice. Hmmm now that I think of it those percautions may be insufficient since Barney flipped out after drinking non-alcoholic Champaign.


37 posted on 02/21/2006 8:09:59 AM PST by justshutupandtakeit (Public Enemy #1, the RATmedia.)
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To: MeanWestTexan

Did you Duck?


38 posted on 02/21/2006 8:10:28 AM PST by Old Professer (Fix the problem, not the blame!)
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To: AntiGuv

Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.

It was good for our mothers.
It was good for our mothers.
It was good for our mothers.
And it's good enough for me.


Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.


Makes me love everybody.
Makes me love everybody.
Makes me love everybody.
And it's good enough for me.


Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.


It has saved our fathers.
It has saved our fathers.
It has saved our fathers.
And it's good enough for me.


Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.


It will do when I am dying.
It will do when I am dying.
It will do when I am dying.
And it's good enough for me.


Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.


It will take us all to heaven.
It will take us all to heaven.
It will take us all to heaven.
And it's good enough for me.


Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.


39 posted on 02/21/2006 8:11:27 AM PST by Huck (Roe/Kelo: You have a right to privacy IN your bedroom; you just don't have a right TO your bedroom.)
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To: jonascord
Lutherans get wine, Baptists get grape juice. If you want to get a blast in church, come over to the Dark Side.

LOL! I'll keep that in mind. :-)

40 posted on 02/21/2006 8:11:29 AM PST by Not A Snowbird (Official RKBA Landscaper and Arborist, Duchess of Green Leafy Things)
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