…psychedelic mushroom church, finds faith with fungi
The “sacred mushrooms,” as the church often calls them, are a Schedule I controlled substance that can carry a punishment of up to three years for possession, but registered 508(c)(1)(a) churches like Psanctuary [non-profit religious organization] have certain legal protections they say allow them to use mushrooms in controlled worship contexts.
“We believe that Sacred Mushrooms are a primary source of personal and divine revelation. We seek counsel from the mushroom, to find direction and inspiration in our faith practice. And we believe that all individuals who seek true revelation from Divinity can do so.” … by September 2021… the church had already grown to nearly 100 members… they finally got an in-person meeting space… Psanctuary says it exercises using mushrooms under the auspices of the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act… “Government shall not substantially burden a person’s freedom of religion. The right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief may not be substantially burdened unless the government proves by clear and convincing evidence that it has a compelling governmental interest in infringing the specific act or refusal to act and has used the least restrictive means to further that interest. A ‘burden’ shall include indirect burdens such as withholding benefits, assessing penalties, or an exclusion from programs or access to facilities.”
Original Article (LEO Weekly News):
Higher power: how Psanctuary, louisville’s psychedelic mushroom church, finds faith with fungi
Artwork Fair Use: Patricio Novoa Quezada
