Ayahuasca FOIA Requests Reveal a Lack of Due Process, Increased Ayahuasca Seizures, and Government Secrecy

Sean McAllister

In February 2021, the Church of the Eagle and Condor (“CEC”) and the Chacruna Institute joined forces to initiate the Ayahuasca Religious Freedom Initiative (“Initiative”). The Initiative anticipated a two-part process: first, seeking open records disclosures from the government to understand how it views and handles ayahuasca; and second, pursuing the legal recognition of the CEC as a legitimate ayahuasca church founded in the United States based on indigenous beliefs. This article reviews the insights gained to date from the government’s disclosures, or lack thereof, to the Initiative’s public records requests... continue reading.