Sacred Plant Practices Today: Law, Lineage, and Lessons Learned

A future where sincere psychedelic churches operate legally requires more than a compelling legal argument of religiosity or the resources to defend their rights in court: it demands that these communities demonstrate a commitment to ethical integrity, health and safety, and accountability—best practices that ensure both public trust and genuine protection for their members. Legal protections and best practices are deeply interconnected: clear legal standing incentivizes higher standards, while the adoption of best practices strengthens the case for securing these protections. Panelists will share how a dysfunctional administrative petition process prevents most churches from accessing their rights, why churches are often left to operate without guidance, and how to develop and maintain standards that increase transparency, safety, and accountability.A future where sincere religious communities that engage in ceremony with sacred substances operate legally requires more than a compelling legal argument of religiosity or the resources to defend their rights in court. It demands that these communities demonstrate a commitment to ethical integrity, health and safety, and accountability—best practices that ensure both public trust and genuine protection for their members. Legal protections and best practices are deeply interconnected: clear legal standing incentivizes higher standards, while the adoption of best practices strengthens the case for securing these protections. Further, effective self-regulation amongst churches increases the quality of best practice standards, normalizes these religious beliefs and practices, and reduces the need for excessive governmental regulation of these communities. This panel will explore the relationship between legal protections, best practices, and self-regulation, and new opportunities for religious practices in greater depth.