Update: Michigan Family Court Prohibits Boy from Ingesting Sacramental Peyote

April 23, 2003

Source: The Associated Press

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030423/ap_on_re_us/peyote_child_6

On April 23, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "a 4-year-old boy must wait until he is physically and emotionally ready before he can ingest sacramental peyote at American Indian ceremonies, a family court judge said... In his 31-page decision Tuesday, Judge Graydon W. Dimkoff described peyote as 'dangerous' and prohibited the boy from ingesting the peyote as a minor until he is fully aware of the implications and has permission from both parents... The boy's father, Jonathan Fowler, 36, a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, had asked Dimkoff to reverse an earlier decision and allow his son to ingest sacramental peyote with him at the Native American Church of the Morning Star. Fowler contended that prohibiting the boy from ingesting peyote infringes on his religious freedom."