A couple in Utah has filed suit against the federal government to resume their use of peyote, a sacrament of the Native American Church.
James "Flaming Eagle" Mooney and Linda Mooney are not members of a federally recognized tribe. But they say they have a right to use peyote as part of their religious beliefs.
The couple had been charged with possession and distribution of peyote after Utah officials found more than 12,000 peyote buttons at their home. The Utah Supreme Court dismissed the charges, saying that state law allows any Native American Church practitioner, regardless of tribal membership, to use the drug.
Federal authorities subsequently laid charges against the Mooneys. The charges were dropped when the couple agreed not to use the drug unless there was a change in law.
The law regarding the use of peyote by enrolled tribal members has not changed. But the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld the religious freedom rights of a small religious group in New Mexico that uses a drug in its ceremonies.
Get the Story:
Couple sue to resume their use of peyote
(The Salt Lake Tribune 5/18)
Related Stories:
Ojibwe man charged for possessing peyote
(05/02)
Man in peyote case accuses
county of wrongdoing (03/08)
Editorial:
Supreme Court opens peyote to non-Indians (2/27)
U.S. Attorney drops peyote charges against couple
(2/23)
High court scoffs at trust in
religious rights case (2/22)
Supreme Court ruling prompts study of peyote
case (02/22)
Bill to
limit peyote to tribal members advances (2/8)
White 'wanna-be' Indians target of peyote bill
(01/19)
Plea deal reached for peyote case in
Utah (12/16)
Study finds no harmful
effects of peyote use (11/04)
Distributors of peyote a dying breed in Texas
(09/19)
Navajo Nation peyote bill signed
into law (08/01)
Utah 'medicine man'
won't be released from jail (06/29)
Utah
'medicine man' and wife called drug dealers (6/27)
'Medicine man' arrested, charged in peyote flap
(6/24)
'Medicine man' claimed Indian
heritage in his 40s (05/23)
Peyote
seized from 'medicine man' in federal custody (05/06)
Utah man sues county for return of seized peyote
(4/28)
Supreme Court takes drug case
tied to peyote use (04/19)
Supreme Court
reviews case compared to peyote (04/14)
Religious group wins case tied to peyote use
(11/16)
Navajo Nation peyote, meth
legislation on hold (11/11)
Navajo bill
clarifies use of peyote on reservation (10/12)
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 against tea dispute heats
up (1/24)
Case compared to
Native American Church (10/30)
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)
Stay Connected
Contact Us
indianz@indianz.com202 630 8439 (THEZ)
Search
Top Stories
Trending in News
1 Tribes rush to respond to new coronavirus emergency created by Trump administration
2 'At this rate the entire tribe will be extinct': Zuni Pueblo sees COVID-19 cases double as first death is confirmed
3 Arne Vainio: 'A great sickness has been visited upon us as human beings'
4 Arne Vainio: Zoongide'iwin is the Ojibwe word for courage
5 Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe'
2 'At this rate the entire tribe will be extinct': Zuni Pueblo sees COVID-19 cases double as first death is confirmed
3 Arne Vainio: 'A great sickness has been visited upon us as human beings'
4 Arne Vainio: Zoongide'iwin is the Ojibwe word for courage
5 Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe'
More Stories
Crow Tribe seeks help in combating gangs Column: Churchill a nobody until 'witch hunt'
News Archive
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000