Gwydion Posted April 20, 2005 US church's illegal tea faces ban Believers in the religion say the tea is sacred The Supreme Court is to consider whether a US branch of a Brazilian religion can import an hallucinogenic tea used as a sacrament. An appeals court ruled the sacramental use of the tea cannot banned because of a 1993 religious freedom law. The hoasca tea which comes from the Amazon contains an illegal substance that can pose health hazards. But adherents of the O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal religion say the tea connects them to God. 'Mind-altering' substance Founded in Brazil in 1961, the religion is a mix of Christian and indigenous South American beliefs. It has about 8,000 followers in Brazil and since 1993, around 130 in the US, centred around a branch in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 1999, US customs officials seized a shipment of three drums labelled "tea extract" sent from Brazil to the US branch. The ... decision has mandated that the federal government open the nation's borders to the importation, circulation and usage of a mind-altering hallucinogen Paul Clement, Justice Department Thirty gallons (136 litres) of the tea was also taken from the home of Jeffrey Bronfman, the head of the church's American chapter. The tea contains dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, which the government says is unsafe for use, even under medical supervision. But lawyers for the group cited experts who maintain sacramental use of the tea causes no harm. They called for an injunction to prevent the authorities from impounding the tea and to allow its importation and use in church services. The Justice Department called for a Supreme Court review after the government lost an appeal. "The ... decision has mandated that the federal government open the nation's borders to the importation, circulation and usage of a mind-altering hallucinogen," acting Solicitor General Paul Clement of the Justice Department said. The Supreme Court will hear the case and announce a decision during its next term which starts in October. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrBumpy Posted April 21, 2005 I just had a slightly related thought... What did the churches use for Church wine in the US during prohibition? -bumpy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benzito Posted April 21, 2005 They just used normal water. The powers of christ did the rest! Presto Change-o! [ 21. April 2005, 05:28: Message edited by: Benzito ] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Floyd Posted April 22, 2005 welsch, from welsch's grape juice, got his start making grape juice to replace the wine Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flip Posted April 26, 2005 quote: posted 20 April, 2005 13:29 I just had a slightly related thought... What did the churches use for Church wine in the US during prohibition? To answer the question there was a specific exemption made for the christain/chatholic services made within the law Since most of the push for prohibion came from the pulpit one would figure they would have such provisions. This did allow a few wineries to "survive" (as such) and not forced into the vinager production market. you should see the public service /propiganda films that survive they're actually funny in a right wing religious... tooo bad I'm seeing such simularities with todays moronicly catered crap. [ 25. April 2005, 21:18: Message edited by: Flip ] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
planthelper Posted April 26, 2005 spok's voice: fazinating. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
