Will have to Ayahuska be made criminal? An NS non secular freedom case checks that argument

The first indication was that something closed was being slammed out of the truck doors, a luxurious break for peace inside a shocking piece, Anapolis Royal located under a long drive in a wooden rural outstretch, Anapolis Royal, not away from the bizarre city of NS

Within moments, a formal leader named Michael Edzich was arrested, and the police were inside a tent -like structure, leaving Gobsmack six women, which were in the last hours of the three -day spiritual retreat.

“It was very violating our space,” Jennifer Wilson, who attended the November 2022 ceremony, told a Halifax court this week.

What the RCMP officials found on the site is a target-like substance located inside a freezer, now the Nova Scotia is at the center of an unusual case in the Supreme Court this week, which effectively considers the federal government to be an illegal medicine against the right to religious freedom.

A plant-based tea-based tea that arises in Amazon is a psychidelic matter that credits some followers with life-changing experiences, often calling it a drug or a rite, or even “grandmother”, which helps with trauma or helps to connect with the earth.

Religious ceremonies around the substance move deep into parts of indigenous South America, but in recent decades, interested in Ayahuska from outside the region has increased as a possible mental health or addiction therapy, and a spiritual practice.

Western countries have made a herd to retreat in places like Peru, which gives rise to the word “Ayahuska Tourism”. Celebrities like actor Will Smith have talked about their experiences, and the Ayahuska ceremony of NFL Star Aaron Rhoders was depicted in Netflix documentary.

But an important element of Ayahuska, the component N, N-Dimethytriptamine, usually called DMT, remains illegal in many countries including Canada, which lists it as prohibited in the control of controlled drugs and substances, laws that make hundreds of drugs including cocaine and heroin, illegal.

After his arrest on November 14, 2022, 52 -year -old Edzich was accused of possessing DMT for the purpose of smuggling along with imports and production.

Adzich’s lawyers are arguing over the right to freedom of religion of their customer, and want Justice Josh Arnold, who is listening to the case, to order that Ayauska is clearly excluded from the Act.

His lawyer, Asaf Rashid, said, the heart of logic in an interview is that “the use of Ayahuska should be considered part of a protected spiritual practice, not subject to crimes under controlled drugs and substances.” He said that several studies and surveys have found that Ayahuska does not harm.

The case has so far fallen under the public radar, and Edizich has tried to avoid carefully, although on the first day of the hearing, more than 30 supporters were seated in the public gallery in the court on Tuesday.

Adzich rejected the earlier request for an interview, but is expected to testify in the case. He has pleaded not guilty.

Canada has a more public fighting on another psychidelic, psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, including several raids in unauthorized dispensaries in recent years.

Advocate Paul Levin, who represents a person charged in an Ontario case, launched a charter challenge in 2023, arguing that Psilocybin is a “freedom of thought tool”, and freedom of thought is protected under the charter of rights and freedom. He said that a judge is due to the regime on the matter in October.

“We do not wrap adults in bubble rap, we allow adults to make decisions for ourselves,” they said about Ayahuska. “If we are talking about an important spiritual experience, it is not completely safe for the government to allow it.”

He and others have drawn similarities between psychidelix and earlier court cases, including medical marijuana, who withdraws some restrictions, followed by the federal government’s decision to legalize the federal government’s decision to legalize entertaining cannabis.

But Adzich case, for all its attractive nuances, can relax on more worldly questions. Under the Act of controlled drugs and substances, people or groups can seek a discount that allows them to officer and use an prohibited substance including scientific or religious reasons.

According to court records, Adzich did not apply for exemption. His lawyer refused to say in an interview why more evidence is not submitted in the court.

But a defense legal brief stated that Edzich had learned that it had taken a church, in Montreal, 16 years later in 2017, to secure a discount in 2017, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees on the way. This was “not possible” for Adzich, whose spiritual calling understood it. “

However, a health Canadian official said in a court affidavit that the spring has been filed that the average time to process the request and exemption is now 13 months. The agency said that 12 discounts have been given for Ayhuska for religious purposes.

Investigation conducted by Miami seizure

Charter Challenge, if it succeeds, will make Ayahuska legal in Canada. The prosecution is opposed to the application of Edizich.

A report by a psychidelic researcher commissioned by the prosecution allowed the “existing regulatory channels” for legally sanctioned Ayahuska celebrations, but suggested that underground groups could be protected without any inspection.

Prosecutor Glenn Sheouir said in an interview, “I believe that the law is a full answer to anyone who is demanding a legitimate access to controlled substances in Canada.”

In a brief case filed by the prosecution, the case arises from the seizure of a black tar-like substance by the US customs in Miami. Homeland Security learned that the package was lucky for a woman living in New York.

He allegedly told the authorities that Edzich had asked him to rebuild the item, then sent it to Canada. He allegedly told him that it was tobacco and “flower water”, but to labeled it as a birthday gift and coffee.

In court records and in witness questions, Scheuer has raised questions about the safety of Ayahuska, which indicates concerns about heart issues or antidepressant people. Under the influence of Ayahuska, there have also been reports of users accidents, or crime victims.

People who drink Ayahuska sometimes vomit, a reaction known as purification. In interviews and testimony, followers say that both the Ayahuska ceremony can be intense and intense, especially if someone has intended to dig in the previous trauma.

A relaxed organized group providing safety and legal advice, Ayahuska Canadian Executive Director Alan Finni said he first attended a ceremony in Peru when he was 59 years old.

He said that he “scared hell by himself” because he was facing frightened childhood experiences, and vowed to re -eyes. But a mitigation assured him that it was only the beginning, he said, and he participated more.

“Ayahuska rotated my life around,” he said. “The idea is that Ayahuska is a psychidelic, as if it is an entertaining substance of some kind. I can guarantee that if you feel that Ayahuska was entertaining, I will sit with you in a ceremony. You take some eyes and then tell me how entertaining it is.”

The court records filed by Defense stated that Edzich first took Ayahuska in 2009, later trained with doctors of the Amazonian Shipibo tribe and is eligible as the facility of the Ayahuska ceremony.

Witnesses participating in the November 2022 retreat have described the filling form that included questions about any health conditions.

He said that the evening’s Ayhuska ceremonies included Drinking liquid from a cup and Edzich singing traditional songs known as “Ikros”. During the days, there were circles and walks shared in nature.

A shared circle was about to begin when the police landed on the vert. The officials were honorable, the witnesses said, asking one to ask if he should remove his shoes.

Nevertheless, it was a fierce end at the end of a week of deep vulnerability, witnesses said, one raided the police “knife in the heart”.