Ayahuasca Vision 2021
February 27, 2023 Sean T. Mcallister 2 citations
The legal landscape for ayahuasca in the United States is complex and contradictory. Religious groups can seek exemptions from federal drug laws through judicial or administrative processes, but the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) tightly controls administrative exemptions and has never granted one; a recent high-profile applicant, Soul Quest, was denied. Two churches have obtained exemptions via federal court litigation, and two others are currently suing the DEA. State laws vary: about two-thirds of states favor religious exemption, while the rest are unclear or negative. The DEA plans to revise its guidance on religious exemptions. Religious practitioners must navigate both state and federal law and should proceed with extreme caution.