Non-Native Americans OK'd for Ceremonial Peyote in UT

June 24, 2004

Source: The First Amendment Center

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=13562

On June 24, 2004 The First Amendment Center reported, "The Utah Supreme Court has ruled that non-American Indian members of the Native American Church may use peyote in religious ceremonies. In a unanimous decision June 22 in State of Utah v. Mooney, the court found in favor of James and Linda Mooney and their church, the Oklevueha Earthwalks Native American Church. The Mooneys had been charged in October 2000 with drug distribution for providing peyote to members and visitors of their church. Officers confiscated about 12,000 peyote buttons from the six-acre complex that serves as home to the church."