At the Zide Door church of entheogenic plants in Oakland, Calif., the minister wears a robe printed with cannabis leaves. During sermons, members are free to smoke marijuana — received as a “sacrament” — in an effort to connect with a higher power.
In August 2020, the church’s operations were interrupted when Oakland police officers raided the building and seized about $200,000 in cannabis, psilocybin mushrooms and cash, claiming that the establishment operated more like an illegal dispensary than a religious institution. No one was arrested or charged, although the items seized were never returned, according to news reports.
Now, the Zide Door Church is suing the city of Oakland and its police department, alleging that the raid violated its constitutional and religious freedoms.
Source: Psychedelics as a sacrament? Lawsuit says drugs are a religious right.