Torsten Posted February 13, 2005 WASHINGTON - The Bush administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to block a New Mexico church from using hallucinogenic tea that the government contends is illegal and potentially dangerous. The appeal from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales argues that a lower court was wrong to allow the Brazil-based O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal to import and use the hoasca tea as part of its religious services. "The court's decision has mandated that the federal government open the nation's borders to the importation, circulation and usage of a mind-altering hallucinogen and threatens to inflict irreparable harm on international cooperation in combating transnational narcotics trafficking," the filing states. 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. The group has won several rounds at the lower courts, most recently at the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (news - web sites) in November. In December, the Supreme Court lifted a temporary stay that allowed the church to immediately use the tea after its court victories. The Justice Department (news - web sites) had argued they should be blocked from doing so until it filed a formal appeal, which it did Thursday. If the high court agrees to hear the case, it won't be heard until next term. The church's U.S. operations are based in Santa Fe, N.M. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-YT- Posted February 13, 2005 Nice bit of info there Totrsten I personally doubt that they will be able to win becasue of the US Gov but how did the religion in Amsterdam (srry cant remember their name) go about getting the use of AYA in their ceremonies and wouldnt this new case be along similar lines? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
woof woof woof Posted February 13, 2005 Hi YT, the church name is the Santo Daime, if I am not mistaken. How did they win you asked,.... well it's simple,.. the dutch officials are a bit more liberal then the US. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flip Posted February 13, 2005 ah, Young Tripper... You've seemingly have much to learn about different societies and governments. The good news about this is that they indeed do have a case as well as, the money to hire good lawers and as we've all learned from the OJ CASE good lawers can let you get away with murder in the united states in this case they might be able to get the christain mixed themed religion some slack and stop the harrassment, if not legal status as a legit religion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-YT- Posted February 14, 2005 Hi brian and flip cheers for the info Quote "ah, Young Tripper... You've seemingly have much to learn about different societies and governments." This is so true flip and i still have a long way 2 go Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Talby Posted February 15, 2005 Depressing and completely typical for this administration. :mad: This is more proof for the argument (made by delysid elsewhere) that it's the states of mind caused by certain drugs that they're going after in some cases. People in OZ have all heard about Gonzales and his relationship to Abu Ghraib, of course..? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
delysid Posted February 16, 2005 "...and threatens to inflict irreparable harm on international cooperation in combating transnational narcotics trafficking." how will it harm detecting meth-ampthet labs in our local community? how will it harm the monitoring shipments of heroin thru our ports and on our shores? how will it harm the operations of our state police forces in their efforts to monitor organised crime ? how will it harm the ability to protect our air borders from the import of synthetic chemicals and drugs of addiciton? how will it harm any effort made by any law enforcement to remove HARMFUL things from our society? inflict irreperable harm indeed .. what rot ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Dude Posted February 16, 2005 It seems you are making the destinction between narcotic and entheogen/religious sacrament - where obviously our friend gonzales is not. In the eyes of the law anything apart from the legal intoxicants and other medications that in any way is psycho-active is a narcotic - regardless of the psycho-active effect. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
delysid Posted February 18, 2005 quote: . In the eyes of the law anything apart from the legal intoxicants and other medications that in any way is psycho-active is a narcotic - regardless of the psycho-active effect. eyes of the law : anything administered in the way of Anti-Depressant medication. see : "Get Out Of Jail Free Card" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rev Posted February 21, 2005 nice to see the US gov upholds the principle of an independent judiciary Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
