Kada said:

Yes, that's EXACTLY the way I feel about it.

Thank you for putting it into words.

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and that is exactly the way i feel about this post.

thanks for putting it into words

Kada said:

Yes, that's EXACTLY the way I feel about it.

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Kada said:

Yes, that's EXACTLY the way I feel about it.

Thank you for putting it into words.

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Me thinks his latest trip may have something to do with this post

When are ya gonna post up your trip report OMR 

Hey Ceph,

Thanks for the thoughtful post.  First off I want to point out that I didn't say I believed that was the reason for their illegality, but merely that the infringement upon my freedom of religion is a byproduct of their legal status. I do believe that on a very subconscious level their illegality is rooted in fear of the unknown and the need of those in power to preserve the status quo, but frankly they are illegal because of people's real and sometimes valid fears as to their dangers to health and to public safety.  And because people were very irresponsible with them at a tumultuous time in our nation's history.

However, the government's stance towards drugs makes NO sense from, as you say, a harm reduction perspective. There are years' worth of studies and clear evidence that shows the drug war hurts more people than it helps. The drug war is the anti-harm-reduction.  The drug war is my anti-drug. The drug war tears families and communities apart and persecutes the user as a criminal instead of viewing drugs as a public health problem.

Cepheus said:

Ultimately, I don't think psychedelic drugs should be central to any religious practice. Yes, I can understand their use a catalyst, but I don't think any true long term gratification will come from their use alone, at least without a somewhat spiritual context and an active effort to integrate the lessons learned in the experience into your everyday life.

No law will ever prevent me from practicing and participating in what I believe in, and I imagine this statement holds true for the entirety of humanity.

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Cepheus said:

No law will ever prevent me from practicing and participating in what I believe in, and I imagine this statement holds true for the entirety of humanity.

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mongo lloyd said:

In the Governments terms, your religion isn't a genuine religion though. It's your way of life, but I don't think you can call it a religion, so I don't feel that drug laws tread on freedom of religion. I do believe that they tread on my personal freedoms to alter my self, but I don't think that religion comes into it.

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