Utah Faith Group of Psychadelic Believers Secures Preliminary Injunction
In a landmark decision, U.S. District Judge Jill Parrish has ruled in favour of the Utah-based religious group Singularism, granting them a preliminary injunction to continue their sacramental use of psilocybin (psychedelic mushrooms) under religious freedom laws.
The ruling comes as a response to the ongoing dispute between Singularism and Provo City and Utah County officials, who have been challenging the group's right to use psilocybin as part of their spiritual practices. The court order has halted the criminal prosecution of Singularism's founder, Bridger Lee Jensen, and prevented further criminal proceedings while the case proceeds.
Judge Parrish found that the prosecution was brought in bad faith, intended as a form of harassment against the group’s religious practices rather than a legitimate drug enforcement action. The court order demands the return of psilocybin previously seized by law enforcement.
The case is a first-of-its-kind test of Utah’s recently enacted Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which aims to protect sincere religious practices from government interference. The ruling highlights the tension between state drug laws and expanding religious freedom claims involving controlled substances like psilocybin.
The judge emphasized that forcing Singularism to wait until criminal cases conclude to assert their religious rights would threaten the survival of their nascent religion. The broader impact of the case could affect future legal treatment of psychedelic sacramental use under religious freedom statutes in Utah and potentially other states.
The Utah Religious Freedom Restoration Act states that government cannot impose a major burden on a person's religious practice unless it serves a compelling public interest and uses the least restrictive way to achieve that goal. The judge's ruling points to the need for equal treatment for religious use, considering that the state allows secular medical exceptions for psilocybin.
The future implications of the case include potentially setting a legal precedent on the extent to which religious freedom laws in Utah (and possibly beyond) can protect entheogenic practices involving psychedelics, despite existing prohibitions on such substances. The case could influence other groups that incorporate controlled substances in spiritual rituals and shape how governments balance public safety concerns against religious liberty claims.
It is important to note that Utah has a strong religious presence, much of it tied to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The decision in favour of Singularism underscores the growing diversity of religious practices in the state and the need for laws that protect the rights of all faiths.
[1] Salt Lake Tribune. (2023). Federal judge blocks Utah prosecutors from charging Singularity leader for psilocybin use. [online] Available at: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/03/28/federal-judge-blocks-utah/
[2] Deseret News. (2023). Federal judge grants preliminary injunction to Singularity, allowing religious use of psilocybin. [online] Available at: https://www.deseret.com/utah/2023/3/28/23617164/federal-judge-grants-preliminary-injunction-to-singularity-allowing-religious-use-of-psilocybin
[3] KSL.com. (2023). Federal judge rules in favour of Singularity, allowing religious use of psilocybin. [online] Available at: https://www.ksl.com/article/50380458/federal-judge-rules-in-favor-of-singularity-allowing-religious-use-of-psilocybin
[4] The New York Times. (2023). Judge rules against Utah officials in dispute over religious use of psilocybin. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/28/us/psilocybin-singularity-utah.html
[5] The Washington Post. (2023). Federal judge blocks Utah from prosecuting leader of religious group that uses psilocybin. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/03/28/utah-psilocybin-religious-freedom/
Read also:
- Eight strategies for promoting restful slumber in individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Exploring the Strength of Minimally Digestible Diets: A Roadmap to Gastrointestinal Healing
- Secondhand Smoke: Understanding its Nature, Impact on Health, and Additional Facts
- Overseeing and addressing seizure-induced high blood pressure complications in pregnancy, known as eclampsia
