Want to go to (Psychedelic) Church?

Only a few are protected. The rest are taking a big risk.

April 15, 2025

If you’ve ever wondered how some churches are legally serving psychedelics while others get raided, you’re not alone. 

The legal path to sacramental use of Schedule I substances isn’t just rare - it’s incredibly complex. As of April 2025, only three churches in the U.S. have secured federal religious exemption to do so. 

Here’s who made the cut—and what it actually takes to follow their lead.

1. Native American Church (NAC)

  • Founded: 1918 (formalized; traditions date back centuries)

  • US Approval: Protected under the American Indian Religious Freedom Act and AIRFAA (1994)

  • Sacrament: Peyote

  • Headquarters: Decentralized; various chapters across the U.S.

  • Important Note:

The NAC has repeatedly asked not to be used as a legal precedent by other churches seeking psychedelic exemptions.

👉 Their legal status was hard-won and culturally specific.

👉 They ask that others file on their own merits out of respect.

  • Founded: Brazil, 1961

  • US Approval: 2006 via U.S. Supreme Court

  • Sacrament: Ayahuasca

  • Headquarters (US): New Mexico

  • Founded: 2018 by Joe Tafur & Rodney Garcia

  • US Approval: 2024 via DEA/DOJ/DHS/CBP settlement

  • Sacrament: Ayahuasca

  • Headquarters: Phoenix, AZ

  • Notes:

First non-Christian psychedelic church to gain federal exemption.

Settled before trial, limiting its precedent—but offering a viable playbook for others.

🕊️ Who’s Next?

Church of the Celestial Heart (Pending Settlement)

  • Founder: Kai Karel

  • Sacrament: Ayahuasca

  • Location: California

  • Status: Settlement with DEA expected to finalize in 2025

  • Inspired by: Umbanda and Santo Daime

⚠️ So What About Everyone Else?

There may be hundreds of groups claiming religious use of psychedelics—but the vast majority:

❌ Do not have federal exemption

❌ Do not have pending DEA approval

✅ Are relying on a “defensible position” under RFRA—which is not the same as legal protection

📊 Between 2016 and 2024:

  • 24 churches formally petitioned the DEA

  • 0 were approved

  • DEA has mostly stalled or ignored petitions

👉 Translation: Most churches are not protected.

👉 Only lawsuits or negotiated settlements have led to exemptions.

⚖️ The Legal Team Behind the Wins

The wins for CEC and the Celestial Heart Church didn’t happen by accident—they were the result of a legal strategy formed by the following lawyers:

✅ What It Takes to Get a Religious Exemption

Thinking of starting your own “church”? Here’s what it really takes:

  1. Authentic Religious Framework

  • Defined theology

  • Central role of the sacrament in religious belief

  • Real community—not a corporate rebrand

  1. Proven Safety Protocols

  • Health screenings

  • Emergency plans

  • First-aid trained facilitators

  1. Secure Substance Handling

  • Locked storage

  • Dosing records

  • Controlled sourcing and importation

  1. Legal Standing

  • Most cases begin after a DEA seizure or arrest

  • You need grounds to sue or force negotiation

  1. Strong Legal Team

  • With experience in RFRA, DEA regs, and constitutional law

🔮 Is This the Future of Psychedelics?

We’re seeing a quiet shift.

Federal agencies aren’t exactly opening the gates—

But they are settling.

Still, don’t mistake this for an easy win.

🧾 Every case is unique.

💰 Every exemption is expensive.

🛡️ Every legal victory is hard-fought.

More churches will try. Few will succeed.

But the ones that do?

They may shape the future of legal psychedelic spirituality in America.

🍄 Join us at Psychedelic Science 2025!

The world’s biggest psychedelic conference returns this June — and if you want to see where this movement is headed, this is the moment to show up.

Hosted by MAPS, Psychedelic Science 2025 brings together global leaders in research, therapy, education, and advocacy — plus thousands of curious minds — for a week of transformative talks, hands-on workshops, and real community connection.

Here’s just a taste of what’s on the agenda:

🧪 Cutting-edge clinical research and therapeutic breakthroughs
🌿 Indigenous knowledge and cultural preservation
⚖️ Decriminalization progress and legal updates
🧘‍♂️ Integration practices and ethical exploration
🌀 Consciousness science and the frontiers of the mind

And as always, some of the most powerful moments happen between sessions — in the hallways, at the meetups, and in the spontaneous conversations that stick with you long after it’s over.

We’ll be there. Will you?

📍 Denver, CO
📅 June 16–20, 2025
🎟️ Register now — and use code PSY15 for 15% off your pass!

🌿 Where Integration Becomes Real

There’s theory — and then there’s practice.

This is the place for both.

From May 8–13, 2025, the School of Psychedelics is hosting a 6-day immersive training retreat at Brave Earth, a regenerative sanctuary in Costa Rica’s rainforest. It’s not a medicine retreat. It’s deeper — a full-spectrum training in Embodied Imagination® for Psychedelic Integration & Dreamwork, taught by expert facilitators including Dr. Katherine Lawson and Dr. Michelle LoFurno.

This is the same method used by practitioners across clinical, ceremonial, and personal growth settings — and now you can learn it in one of the most sacred environments on earth.

🌀 What’s included:

  • 6 days of immersive workshops, live demos, and peer practice

  • Daily wellness sessions: movement, dreamwork, and somatic integration

  • Prerequisite learning before arrival to go deeper onsite

  • Organic, locally-sourced meals and eco-accommodations

  • Certification in Embodied Imagination® for Psychedelic Integration & Dreamwork upon completion

📍 Brave Earth, Costa Rica — nestled between the Arenal Volcano and the Children’s Eternal Rainforest
📅 May 8–13, 2025
💡 Limited to 20 spots

Whether you’re a clinician, coach, ceremonial guide, or spiritual explorer — this is hands-on, real-world training to elevate your practice and support others on the path of integration.

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