Hallucinogenic tea: a constitutional right?

In November the Supreme Court heard arguments from American members of a Brazilian religious sect, O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal--loosely translated as Union of the Vegetable--to allow them to continue to use a hallucinogenic tea in religious ceremonies. Hoasca tea is made from a Brazilian plant that contains an illegal controlled substance.

The group has only 130 members in the U.S., but its case, which relies upon the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, has garnered support from representatives of nearly every major religion, including an amicus brief from the U.S. Catholic bishops.