Inside the US's psychedelic church boom, where taking drugs is legal
Religious groups using banned drugs are increasingly testing the limits of faith and law – and winning.
The Church of Gaia in Spokane, Washington, has all the makings of a traditional place of worship: regular gatherings, communal songs and member donations – except they also serve ayahuasca, a psychedelic substance that can induce nausea and, at times, projectile vomiting.
“This is a purely spiritual practice,” said Connor Mize, the ceremonial leader of the Church of Gaia. “It’s not a thing you do just for fun.”
Psychedelics are classified as schedule 1 substances and banned throughout most of the US. But a small number of churches have won the right to use them as sacraments: since the 2000s, four organizations have secured legal protections for psychedelic use after protracted battles with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
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The growth coincides with a turn to spirituality as Americans fall out of favor with traditional religion.
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At Singularism, the church focuses solely on mushrooms in ceremonies that can cost up to $1,400 per round. It isn’t unusual for participants to find closure with estranged family members or face ego death during a session, said Jensen. “Some of them are very euphoric and pleasant, and some of them are very understandably difficult and can be at times uncomfortable.”
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“I think some people will end up going to jail having tried to replicate our process,” said Jensen. “Will there be more practices getting recognition after this? Absolutely, but it won’t be without tremendous casualties as well.”
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/25/psychedelic-church-drugs-legal
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This is interesting. I had only heard of there being indigenous ceremonies that would use ayahuasca. I had a friend that did this once. He said he was vomiting his guts out. Then began the hallucinations and tripping. He said he desperately wanted it all to stop. It took 8 hours for the tripping to calmed down. He said it was psychologically/spiritually mind blowing.
He also said, never again!