The "vine of the soul" vs. the Controlled Substances Act: implications of the hoasca case.

Summary

A Supreme Court decision in 2006 allowed a religious group to use the hallucinogen hoasca sacramentally, impacting future cases regarding religious freedom and psychotropic substances. The article discusses arguments from both the church and government, details case facts, analyzes the ruling, and assesses the potential for expanding religious exemptions for entheogen use based on this decision.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In 2006, the Supreme Court paved the way for the sacramental use of a hallucinogen, hoasca, to be imported, distributed and ingested by a religious group. This case has broad implications for religious freedom for using sacramental psychotropics and how such cases might be decided in the future. This article outlines the arguments used both by the church and by the government. It lists the facts of the cases, explains and analyzes the decision, evaluates the likelihood of expansions of religion-based exceptions for entheogen use in light of the Supreme Court's decision and offers a profile for those groups most likely to receive such an exemption.