Peyote use will be limited to card-carrying members of the Native American Church under bill pending in the Navajo Nation Council.

According to the bill, tribal members need to be registered with the Azee' Bee Nahagha of Din� Nation in order to use peyote, a hallucinogenic. Council delegates said they want to prevent non-Indians from using a sacrament of the Native American Church.

The situation arose when a man claiming Native ancestry in Utah was busted for selling peyote. The Utah Supreme Court said all Native American Church members, regardless of heritage, could use the drug. Federal authorities are considering charges.

Get the Story:
Committee votes to limit NAC membership (The Gallup Independent 10/11)

Court Decision:
State of Utah v. Mooney (June 22, 2004)

Related Stories:
U.S. may prosecute Native American Church figure (08/31)
Non-Indian peyote case could head to Supreme Court (08/16)
Ruling allows non-Indians to use peyote in Utah (06/23)
Utah Supreme Court hears arguments in peyote case (11/5)
Utah 'medicine' man at center of court battles (08/26)
Peyote limited to recognized U.S. Natives (5/7)
Peyote use disputed in Utah (5/18)
Man prevented from using peyote (5/10)
'Medicine man' settles lawsuit (3/30)
Peyote: For Indians Only? (1/8)
Peyote raid raises questions (7/17)
The Peyote Exemption (7/17)
Police seize peyote (7/12)