Maine church sues federal government over alleged interference with ayahuasca ceremonies, citing religious freedom protections and DMT Schedule I status

Pachamama Sanctuary in Casco, Maine is suing the federal government over what it says is interference with its ayahuasca ceremonies. The dispute centers on whether the church can legally use a tea containing DMT, a Schedule I substance, as part of protected religious practice under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Constitution. The conflict reflects a broader tension between federal drug enforcement and claims for spiritual exemptions involving psychoactive sacraments. Ayahuasca has been recognized in some religious liberty cases, but access usually depends on tightly contested legal and regulatory standards around sincerity, safety, and controlled substance law. The case could affect how far federal agencies must accommodate entheogenic churches in the United States, especially when congregations seek formal protection for ceremony, distribution, and possession of ayahuasca-based preparations.