Native American Church Appeals to Congress to Fund Preservation, Cultivation of Peyote
Last week, leaders of the Native American Church (NAC) asked Congress to allocate funds toward efforts to preserve lands where peyote can be cultivated. Peyote is a psychedelic cacti that is often used in religious ceremonies of the Native American Church. The plant’s primary habitat is located in Texas, near the United States-Mexico border. The federally protected plant is classified as a Schedule I substance but can be cultivated, harvested and used by the church, per an amendment to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. Despite federal protections, the plant’s supply is limited, which is why members of this particular…