Monday, February 14, 2011

"Free Exercise" of Religion?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of Religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." Familiar, comforting words to us all. One of the great glories of our American way of life. Yada, yada.

If your religion uses a sacrament that is prepared in Brazil and is called hoasca (sometimes called ayahuasca), "free exercise" becomes a very loose term.

Recently, after ten years, the American members of "O Centro Espirita Beneficente Uniao do Vegetal"(UDV) finally worked out a settlement with various federal agencies on how hoasca can be imported, stored and used. Check it out, and find out how long you can say "free exercise of religion" before you gag with shame.

Imagine what DEA's regulations would look like if it were to recognize the religious use of marijuana in the near future.

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