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Ayahuasca
is a psychoactive sacramental used by members of the Uniao do
Vegetal and the Santo Daime religions. In Brazil, where these
religions have their origins, the religious use of ayahuasca
is expressly protected by law. In the United States,
ayahuasca is not listed as a scheduled substance under federal
or state law. The principle plants used to make ayahuasca
(Banisteriopsis caapi, and Psychotria
viridis) are also unscheduled.
Nevertheless,
despite its status as a bona fide sacramental and the fact
that it is brewed from unscheduled plants, chemical testing of
ayahuasca may reveal the presence of dimethyltryptamine (DMT),
the synthetic version of which is controlled
under federal and state law. The question of whether this is
sufficient to make the sacred tea, itself, a controlled
substance is currently before a US
federal court.
See Also:
Cognitive
Liberty Top News, April 2005
Includes ayahuasca news item.
Cognitive
Liberty Top News, Feb. 2005
Includes ayahuasca news item.
Cognitive
Liberty Top News, Jan. 2005
Includes ayahuasca news item.
Law
Office of Richard Glen Boire
The CCLE's legal counsel is an expert on ayahuasca and other
entheogen law. If you have been arrested or are seeking expert
consultation on a matter involving ayahuasca, he may be able
to help.
Trial Ordered For Man Importing
Amazonian Plants
ATLANTA—Describes the Shoemaker legal case which pits the US
government against the vine and leaves used to make ayahuasca,
the South American visionary tea used for physical, emotional
and spiritual healing.
Canadian Court: Shaman Must
Give Up Ayahuasca Use and Complete 150 Days Community Service
An Ecuadorean shaman who brewed a potion that killed an
elderly native woman on a Manitoulin Island reserve received a
one-year conditional sentence in a ruling that gives approval
to native healing ceremonies.
Patent on "Da Vine" B.
caapi.
EROWID
VAULT on ayahuasca
MULTIDISCPILINARY
ASSOCIATION OF PSYCHEDELIC STUDIES
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