Federal judge sides with a Utah religion that uses ‘magic mushrooms,' citing new state law
On Nov. 11, 2024, Bridger Lee Jensen, founder of the religious group Singularism, was searched and detained at the faith's 'spiritual center' by officers with Provo City Police Department, court documents show. Undercover officers posed as individuals interested in the faith in order to obtain information about the members' use of psilocybin, commonly known as 'magic mushrooms.'
'The judge has recognized this for what it is. It's retaliatory charges that came in bad faith,' Jensen told ABC4.
One week after the search, Jensen filed a lawsuit against Utah County and Provo City claiming police violated the faith's constitutional rights of exercising sincere religious beliefs under the First Amendment.
Jensen says the county weaponized the criminal justice system to shut down his religious group. 'I just want the same freedoms that… I am afforded by the constitution.'
Singularism
frequently use 'sacramental psilocybin' as part of spiritual ceremonies.
The group's website details its mission to provide a 'sacred space where science and spirituality unite.' Many of the faith's practicing members say they found the faith looking for healing from trauma.
'We integrate the profound potency of psilocybin, a revered entheogenic substance with long standing religious use, into our own ceremonies as a means to facilitate deep spiritual connections,' the website reads.
The faith cited a 2024 state law, which gave additional protections to religious groups, when claiming their right to use magic mushrooms.
New state law
, which went into effect on May 1, 2024, prohibits the government from 'burdening a person's free exercise of religion,' adding further protection for faith groups.
The law further details instances when such a burden is warrant saying it must be essential to 'furthering a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest.'
In the ruling, the court found that Jensen properly brought the RFRA law before the court, citing the county imposed a 'substantial burden' on sincere religious exercise.
Jensen says Singularism is the first to use the RFRA law in defense of religious practices, claiming the group is also the first to be granted the right to use magic mushrooms. 'We have the right to do what we are doing.'
Utah County and Provo City recently filed a motion to dismiss the case, citing the Utah Controlled Substances Act. However, the motion was denied by U.S. District Judge Jill Parrish, who also issued an order ceasing further proceedings in the case, granting Jensen's motion to restrain his criminal case.
ABC4 reached out to Provo City for a statement, but declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.
Setting precedent
'We were really thankful for support from the court,' Jensen said following the ruling. 'We've just been looking to solve this the whole time and make peace.'
Final judgment in the case is still pending in the court, but Jensen says he's optimistic about what the ruling means for other religious groups.
'When you protect the religious freedoms of one religion, you protect the freedoms of all of them,' he said.
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