The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether a religious group based in New Mexico can use a hallucinogenic tea that is considered an outlawed drug.

The O Centro Esp�rita Beneficiente Uni�o do Vegetal, or UDV, says its use of the hoasca tea is protected. The group compares itself to the Native American Church, which is allowed to use peyote, also on the outlawed drug list.

NAC leaders have protested the comparison. The Bush administration also rejected the link and wants UDV to stop bringing the tea into the U.S.

Get the Story:
Supreme Court to Decide Whether Church Can Import Drug (The Washington Post 4/19)
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Supreme Court to Hear Case of Dispute Over Religious Group's Use of Banned Drug (The New York Times 4/19)
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Church Tea Goes to High Court (The Albuquerque Journal 4/19)
Hallucinogenic tea case will be heard by Supreme Court (AP 4/19)

UDV Decisions:
En Banc (November 12, 2004) | Panel (September 4, 2003) | Federal Judge (September 12, 2002)

Peyote Decision:
State of Utah v. Mooney (June 22, 2004) (7/12)

Relevant Links:
Uniao do Vegetal - http://www.udv.org.br
Ayahuasca - http://www.ayahuasca.com/

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