Couldn't You Choose a Sacrament That's Less Fun and More Nauseating?
The U.S. Supreme Court was unanimous in concluding that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act protects the ritual use of the psychedelic tea ayahuasca by the tiny American branch of O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao Do Vegetal (UDV). The Pima, Arizona-based Church of Cognizance, whose leaders are scheduled to be tried on drug charges next week, probably will have a lot more trouble making a similar case. Although the Church of Cognizance is even smaller than the UDV, its sacrament--marijuana--has a much bigger recreational following, which could make all the difference as the government argues that it can't afford to make an exception for religious use.
