I know a shaman who uses peyote for spiritual practices, and because of her culture, it is totally legal and she cannot be prosecuted for it. I am of European descent and was raised a catholic, but if that is the reason I will be sent to jail with peyote, isnt that prejudice against my race and religion? I know some kids take peyote, a magical plant, for granted and disrespect it, using it just to trip out and get high rather than going on a journey. I do not do that. I respect the plant and use it for spiritual purposes. So how can this be illegal? Where is the line drawn and how can they determine my intent and why I use the plant?
I like your perspective... If freedom of religion is grounds to allow drug use... and it is illegal to discriminate against people based on religion..... Then anyone should be allowed to use drugs (at very least for spiritual purposes)...
Actually it may be legal for you depending on where you are. If you live in Utah or several other states peyote is legal for ALL races in bona-fide religious practices I.E. in a ceremony of an established peyote church such as the NAC. My branch of the NAC has sued the government quite a few times to obtain this liberty for both native and non-native peoples in various states around the US and many cases have been Won, particularly in Utah and Arizona. The laws are not the same from state to state it depends on where you are. Where i live only those with 1/4 native ancestry and proof of tribal membership can legally possess peyote. The fact of the matter is if you are in ceremony with natives it is less likely that you will be prosecuted. Carrying the medicine on you, and not being native is a good way to get in trouble around here. Add marijuana or another illegal drug into the picture and you really won't have a shred of a case. Just because you claim its religious use doesn't mean shit in the eyes of the law. You have to prove it. There are certain objects that can help prove the intent of religious use. Gourd rattles, Sage, Cedar, Feathered fans, Drum Sticks, Deer Hides and a Cedar Box if carried with peyote all serve to highlight that it is being used for religious purposes. Also a card proving your church membership would help. Really if you aren't native you should just have natives help you get your medicine and keep it in your home or in meetings. If someone is kind enough and has the right papers they can mail it to you directly, or you can just partake in ceremony where there is always medicine provided. Carrying around peyote in a place where your rights don't exist is only a surefire way to go to jail. Even for natives there exists a very real possibility of arrest and i have talked to 100% native people that have gone to jail despite all the laws protecting them. Some of them have gone to jail multiple times for it. Play it safe. Don't try and take on the laws, let my church the Oklevuah and the ACLU do that for you. They are fighting every day to secure the rights of all the people who revere this special medicine, Peyote.
May creator protect all his children trying to learn through the sacred ways of the Pejuta Wakan. Aho! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHiD6PaWnus&feature=related"]YouTube - Navajo Early Morning Blessing
i wish people would use this precious resource much more sparingly and look to other cactii (e.g. Trichocerus species) instead. Last i heard, Peyote was endangered. AND it takes a good 15-20 years to properly mature one . . .
