COURT OKAYS CHURCH'S TEA

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously yesterday that a small
congregation in New Mexico can use hallucinogenic tea as part of a
four-hour ritual intended to connect with God.

Justices, in their first religious freedom decision under Chief
Justice John Roberts, moved decisively to keep the government out of a
church's religious practice. Federal drug agents should have been
barred from confiscating the hoasca tea of the Brazil-based church,
Roberts wrote in the decision.

The tea, which contains an illegal drug known as DMT, is considered
sacred to members of O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal,
which has a blend of Christian beliefs and South American traditions.
Members believe they can understand God only by drinking the tea,
which is consumed twice a month at four-hour ceremonies.