In 2023, religious exemptions could be a very wise topic to study. The laws on what can be considered religious use (in regards to drugs being used as a sacrament) can vary greatly, and are greatly disputed. According to Wikipedia, Rastafari can be seen as “religion” that uses marijuana. Whereas The Native American Church for American Indians use the peyote cactus🌵. But what about the rest of us? I wondered this as I started writing my last book, and I think I have the answer.
So the Wikipedia article on religious exemptions mentions this fact “In the United States, the First Amendment guarantees that Congress will make no law "prohibiting the free exercise" of religion”. This is good information to know, and I want to try to remember it the best I can. Because this can be beneficial for claiming religious purposes for the average American who doesn't belong to one of those aforementioned religions (for obvious reasons).
Now before I go any further with religious exemptions, I'll also note some other clever language like “ornamental purposes” and “for research purposes only”. Those are phrases every drug enthusiast should know about, believe me, it can be a game-changer. Other legal loopholes can be doctor's prescriptions and travelling to areas where certain drugs are decriminalized.
Now, in 1990 Congress passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This was basically a addition to an Act of the same name being passed in 1978. Which in turn was a direct response to the federal laws banning peyote in 1967. But I find it important to point out that although on paper these laws only benefit Native American Indians, it should be noted many of the laws were changed due to the Native American Church and their use of peyote as a sacrament.
The Native American Church was founded by a half-white half-Indian man named Quanah Parker. Parker himself has a fascinating family history that I discuss further in my new book that I will plug at the end of this article. But I mention that he is half white for a reason, and that is because a white man, or black or brown or yellow or whatever, should all have the same religious freedom.
In 1979, R. Gordon Wasson published an article titled “Traditional use in North America of Amanita muscaria for divinatory purposes” which in fact proves that Amanita muscaria mushrooms were used historically in North America for divinatory purposes. That same year, an American Indian author “Keewaydinoquay” published an article titled “The Legend of Miskwedo”. Miskwedo is what the Indians called Amanita muscaria mushrooms.
So just in 1979 alone, all the proof you would ever need to show these mushrooms were used for divinatory purposes can be found. With that being said, there is a true argument to be had for using these mushrooms on present day for divinatory purposes. But thankfully these mushrooms are already legal in all states except Louisiana. But this freedom should expand to include all psychedelics that one wishes to use to speak with his (or her) God.
So although I am half-jokingly making a new Church, I'm serious about the idea. If only to be able to have a religious exemption whenever I may need it. Timothy Leary tried this in 1966 with his LSD-based religion “The League of Spiritual Discovery”. But Leary was a con artist in many ways and failed because he was too much of a wannabe guru. Well, partially failed, the Church does still have members today.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this article, please consider buying my new book where I cover everything about legal drugs, loopholes, exemptions, drug language, folklore etc. I cover psychoactive plants, fungi, fish, snakes, lizards, bees, ants and so much more. The book is nearly 100 pages with premium color illustrations throughout.
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