Psychedelic Mushroom Religion Wins Major Victory in Utah Court

Many religions throughout history have incorporated drugs into their rituals. Some Native American tribes use psychedelic cactus in their religious ceremonies. The Rastafarians regularly use cannabis. Some believe that ancient European groups used certain mushrooms during their rituals and festivals as well. A recent court case in Utah could pave the way for the religious, legal use of psychedelic mushrooms. What could this mean for the future of religious freedoms in the United States?

 Utah Police Seize Drugs From Founder of Psychedelic Mushroom Religion

In November of 2024, Utah police raided the property of a psychedelic mushroom religious group called “Singularism.” This is a new religion in Utah that uses psychedelic mushrooms during its religious rituals. During the raid, authorities seized quantities of mushrooms and the holy scriptures of this group. This raid also resulted in criminal charges against the founder. Prosecutors allege that the religion is a sham and that the real purpose of Singularism is to simply sell drugs.

The religious group sued Provo City and Utah County as a result. Although City and County officials tried to dismiss the lawsuit, a judge rejected these attempts. In addition, the judge ordered the prosecutors to pause their criminal proceedings until the lawsuit was resolved. In making her decision, the judge noted that the religion had already lost many of its followers due to this criminal case. She also expressed concern that if the criminal case proceeded before religious freedom issues were addressed, the religion could die before it ever had a chance to grow. 

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2024

This case is a direct result of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2024. This law gives Utah residents much more freedom to challenge any kind of behavior that interferes with their right to religious freedom and expression. The lawmakers who drafted this bill probably didn’t predict that it would pop up in a case involving a religion advocating for psychedelic mushroom use within just 12 months. 

Although this bill might have been created in order to protect Christian values, the United States Constitution clearly prevents the state from giving preferential treatment to any specific faith. As a result, the court must uphold the rights of Singularism followers in exactly the same way they would approach a case involving Christians. 

The Founder Faces Years in Prison

Although this might sound like an interesting story to many, the potential consequences are very real for the founder of this religion. He now faces a charge of psilocybin possession with intent to distribute, a felony that could lead to many years in prison. Psilocybin is the compound found in a psychedelic mushroom that causes hallucinogenic effects. He also faces additional charges of THC and drug paraphernalia possession.

In other words, this man’s freedom depends on the outcome of the lawsuit. If he fails to win in civil court, the criminal case against him will proceed – and the evidence against him is considerable. He openly advertised his use and distribution of psilocybin, even inviting local officials in the area to participate in his “voyages.” If a trial proceeds, it will be one of the most interesting religious freedom cases in recent memory. 

The Goal of the Universal Life Church’s Blog

Each month, various lawsuits test the nature of religious rights in this country. While the basis for many religious rights is the United States Constitution, there are still countless cases that question the exact nature of these rights. The Universal Life Church’s blog is focused on documenting the most noteworthy of these cases in an objective manner that can be easily understood by readers.