Interview with Jeffrey Bronfman, RepresentativeMestrefor the Uniâo do Vegetal Church in the United States
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – June 01, 2005
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
In November 2004, Jeffrey Bronfman, representative of the União do Vegetal Church, highlighted a critical legal battle over ayahuasca, a sacred sacrament for his faith. With the U.S. Supreme Court poised to hear a case regarding the seizure of significant quantities of ayahuasca tea intended for religious rituals, this situation underscores tensions between religious freedom and drug legislation. As Bronfman navigates this complex intersection of law and spirituality, it raises important questions about coercion and the rights of religious practices in America.
Abstract
A telephone interview was held in November of 2004 with Mr. Jeffrey Bronfman, representative mestre for the União do Vegetal Church in the United States, which utilizes ayahuasca as a religious sacrament. At the time of this writing, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case in which a large quantity of the ayahuasca tea was seized in the U.S. destined for sacramental use in church ritual. Mr. Bronfman discusses his church's attempt to seek remediation in the courts on this freedom of religion issue, in conflict with current drug legislation outlawing the ayahuasca tea as a scheduled drug.