Although religions have used entheogens in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, psychoactive substances are illegal in most states. Cannadelic Miami invited Gary Smith to provide psychedelics professionals and consumers with insight into how freedom of religion applies to such sacramental practices.
Presenting “God and Mushrooms: Psychedelics, Religion and the First Amendment” with Greg Lake, CEO of Entheoconnect, Gary discussed the court’s historically subjective interpretation of the First Amendment, what legally qualifies entheogens as religious and why a specific lineage or history of use matters. Their presentation also highlighted recent court cases with Soul Quest, Santo Daime and UDV, offering challenges, lessons learned and guidance for similar organizations.
A member of the Psychedelics Bar Association’s Legalization and Regulation Committee, Gary is a leading proponent of legalizing psychedelic experimentation. He is general counsel to the nation’s oldest multi-racial peyote church and has acted as a legal consultant in numerous cases. He also authored Psychedelica Lex, the preeminent legal manual for individuals and groups interested in psychedelics and entheogens.