------ Forwarded Message > From: sasha karlik <sa...@greens.org> > Reply-To: <newpacif...@yahoogroups.com> > Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:20:14 -0700 > To: sasha <sa...@greens.org> > Subject: [NewPacifica] Religious freedom wins out | Mail Tribune -*- Judge OKs > psychedelic tea for Ashland sect | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | News >
> http://news.google.com/news?ned=us&ncl=1317486516.html > > Religious freedom wins out > Judge rules Ashland church can use hallucinogenic tea during services > var isoPubDate = 'March 21, 2009' > March 21, 2009 > <javascript:NewWindow(740,530,'/apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=mm0013',0)> > By Chris Conrad > <javascript:NewWindow(740,530,'/apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=mm0013',0)> > Mail Tribune > ASHLAND A federal judge Thursday confirmed the right of worshippers to drink > hallucinogenic tea during services at an Ashland church. > > Members of the Church of the Holy Light of the Queen, a Brazilian-based church > with branches in Ashland and Portland, filed the motion to drink Daime tea > during services, because they believe its hallucinogenic properties allow them > a direct connection to Jesus. > > Related Stories > * Church awaits ruling on use of hallucinogens > <http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090220/NEWS/902200329 > > > * Church goes to court over right to hallucinogenic tea > <http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090219/NEWS/902190345 > > > Links > * Read the church's complaint in the Daime tea case > <http://www.mailtribune.com/_images/PDF/DaimeTeaComplaint.pdf> > * Read U.S. District Judge Owen Panner's decision in the Daime tea case > <http://www.mailtribune.com/_images/PDF/DaimeTeaJudgment.pdf> > Church leader Jonathan Goldman, 58, said U.S. District Court Judge Owen > Panner's ruling was a boon for religious freedom and liberty in the United > States. > > "Everybody is very happy and relieved," Goldman said. > > "It's been a 10-year process and to come to such a beautiful and blessed > conclusion is a great day for us." > > The church took its case to court under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act > after federal agents in 1999 arrested Goldman for possessing the tea leaves. > > The Ashland church is a branch of the Santo Daime, a mixture of Catholicism > and Shamanistic Brazilian beliefs. > > The ruling ordered the church to work closely with Drug Enforcement > Administration agents to ensure the tea, which contains the hallucinogenic > drug dimethyltryptamine (DMT), does not fall into the wrong hands when it is > imported from Brazil. > > "We are looking forward to reaching a reasonable accommodation with the > government," Goldman said. > > Among other provisions, Panner ordered the church to provide the DEA with the > names and Social Security numbers of members who routinely handle the tea > outside of ceremonies. The church does not have to identify any other > worshippers, according to court documents. > > The DEA has the right to inspect the tea supply, but cannot do so during the > church's religious ceremonies. In addition, the tea will be kept in a > padlocked refrigerator. > > The church is responsible for keeping records detailing how much of the tea is > dispensed during services. Current and new members will be asked if they have > a history of psychosis that may be susceptible to the effects of DMT. The > church is asked to encourage members to seek the advice of a doctor before > ingesting the tea. > > Calls to the U.S. Department of Justice seeking comment Friday were not > immediately returned. > > Goldman said church members in Brazil and Europe have contacted the Ashland > congregation to praise Panner's decision. > > "The government's case was based purely on speculation, and speculation does > not have much weight," Goldman said. "We were just ourselves in court and made > the point that Daime tea has not done any harm." > > Goldman said prospective members were hesitant to join the church in the past > for fear that they were breaking the law when drinking the disputed tea. > > "We do not push our beliefs in anyone's face and do not use anything to entice > new members to join," Goldman said. "People come to us on their own and now > they can feel safer because we have come under the light." > > About 80 people practice the religion in Oregon, Goldman said. > > Court documents state the preparation of the tea is a labor-intensive process > undertaken by several members. Its creation coincides with prayer and the > singing of hymns. > > "We are grateful we have taken our place in the circle of religious dialogue > in this country," Goldman said. "I believe in divine justice, but it is good > to know earthly justice is still possible." > > Reach reporter Chris Conrad at 776-4471; or e-mail ccon...@mailtribune.com. > > -------------------------------------------------------- > http://www.katu.com/news/41610362 > > Judge OKs psychedelic tea for Ashland sect > > > Related Content > * Church wants hallucinogenic tea legalized > <http://www.katu.com/news/local/40008822.html> > Story Published: Mar 20, 2009 at 7:14 PM PDT > > Story Updated: Mar 20, 2009 at 8:06 PM PDT > By Associated Press > PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A federal judge says members of a Brazilian-based > Christian church in Ashland can import, distribute and brew hallucinogenic > tea. > > U.S. District Judge Owen Panner issued a permanent injunction barring the > government from prohibiting or penalizing the sacramental use of "Daime tea." > > It is brewed from two Amazonian plants that contain the hallucinogenic drug > dimethyltriptamine, or DMT. The tea is also known as ayahuasca tea. > > Panner's order, issued Thursday, said activities of The Church of the Holy > Light of the Queen, an Ashland-based branch of the Santo Daime (pronounced > die-may) sect, are legal. > > His order prohibits the federal government from interfering or prosecuting > church members who follow a list of regulations set out in his order. > > > > -- > If you no longer wish to receive emails of this nature you can opt-out any > time, just reply to sa...@greens.org or <skar...@sonic.net> > <mailto:skar...@sonic.net> with the word "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. > ### > ------ End of Forwarded Message
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