The spiritual landscape in the United States has, in just a few short years, been transformed. We started noticing a big increase of these churches based around psychedelics. In the 2023 Pew Research Center survey, we see an almost opposite trend. In fact, four in ten U.S. adults report that they’ve become more spiritual as they’ve gotten older. This burgeoning interest in spirituality dovetails nicely with the emerging legality of psychedelic substances in religious contexts. It is this environment that creates conversations about what the emerging technological frontier means for public policy and personal freedoms.
Singularism, a new movement founded by Bridger Jensen, is another testament to this wave. Last November, Jensen’s journey took a surprising turn. He quickly became surrounded by a SWAT team immediately upon stepping off of work. His organization is currently fighting legal battles that could greatly deepen religious freedom protections. Although ayahuasca is at the forefront of this movement now, the ramifications could go much deeper. Jensen’s comments came in response to lamentations about the possible damage that might come from all this enthusiasm about psychedelic practices.
“I think some people will end up going to jail having tried to replicate our process.” – Bridger Jensen
The history of legalized psychedelic churches goes back to the early 2000s. The most poignant example that launched this movement was the recent alarming event where law enforcement confiscated 30 gallons of ayahuasca tea from a church in New Mexico. This event led to a much larger international movement for legal recognition of psychedelics in religious ceremonies. Over the years, various organizations have sought legal protections under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which mandates that the government meet a high legal threshold before imposing restrictions on religious practices.
From fiscal year 2016 through January 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has only granted 24 organizations’ petitions. These groups applied for exemptions to be allowed to use psychedelics in their religious ceremonies. The Church of Gaia recently became the first psychedelic Church to be granted legal religious exemption. They accomplished this historic first through a rulemaking rather than a lawsuit.
Jeffrey Breau, an expert on this topic, noted, “Many of these churches have started within the last five, six, seven years.” This rapid growth has led some to estimate that more than 500 psychedelic churches are now in operation throughout the country. Thousands more are probably operating illegally under the radar.
Singularism uses psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, in its ceremonies, with participation fees as high as $1,400 per session. Jensen’s hope for Singularism is that its legal struggles could pave the way for broader acceptance of various psychedelic practices. As exciting as this progress is, he cautions that it sometimes does so at a significant cost.
“Will there be more practices getting recognition after this? Absolutely, but it won’t be without tremendous casualties as well.” – Bridger Jensen
Connor Mize, ceremonial leader of the Church of Gaia Connor is currently working on logistics to expand their community offerings. He even sponsors visas for Peruvian teachers, who help to put students through elaborate ceremonies. On the home front, he’s helping to build a circular, mat-filled building, specifically equipped to host these gatherings.
Mize really stressed that their practices are the real deal, explaining, “It’s not a goofy thing you do in your spare time. Yet his commitment rereads as a broader faith expressed by psychedelic churches. And they hope to offer powerful spiritual formation opportunities in addition to recreational alternatives.
Even with the array of challenges these organizations undoubtedly face, many have in fact triumphed in victories over legal challenges. In 2006, the Church of Gaia achieved a landmark victory by suing the DEA under RFRA, establishing a precedent for other groups seeking similar recognition. The legal landscape is changing at breakneck speed. Moving forward in 2024 and 2025, Arizona and California churches are receiving legal protection for using psychedelics, thanks to their successful settlement negotiations with the DEA.
Taylor Loyden, another key player in this movement, remarked on ongoing negotiations involving other churches: “There are some that are in negotiation processes.” This reflects an evolving landscape where various organizations are seeking to align their practices with regulatory frameworks while maintaining their spiritual missions.
Breau noted that the current administration may be leaning towards a more lenient stance on religious freedom concerning plant medicine.
“There is probably in this administration some desire to be a little looser on religious freedom for plant medicine, because that will also help them be looser on religious freedom in other contexts.” – McAllister
As psychedelic churches continue to proliferate around the country, difficult questions about spiritual practice, legality, community well-being, and public health are left unanswered. Critics make the case that even if Singularism’s advancement is helpful, it could still unintentionally motivate people to go down similar roads until adequate protections are established. While Jensen recognized these risks, he is cautiously optimistic about the future.
More people are seeking spiritual practices outside of traditional religious homes. That’s why it’s important for practitioners and regulators alike to approach this quickly evolving space with care and consideration. The changing conversations even within the small space of psychedelic churches show a greater pursuit of melding time-honored practices with modern-day understanding.