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A new faith organization in Utah has gained significant ground in its battle for religious freedom, utilizing psychedelic mushrooms as a component of its spiritual practices. The group, known as Singularism, achieved a crucial legal victory under the state’s religious freedom regulations.
Founded by Lee Jensen, this non-profit entity filed a lawsuit against the city of Provo and Utah County in December. The complaint asserted violations of protections outlined in both the U.S. Constitution and the Utah Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
According to the lawsuit, Jensen and Singularism, alongside their for-profit arm, Psyche Healing and Bridging LLC, utilize sacramental psilocybin tea during ceremonies aimed at accessing the divine, enhancing spiritual connectivity, and alleviating psychological suffering. Jensen’s approach melds ancient religious practices with contemporary mental health techniques.
Court documents reveal that law enforcement officials conducted a search of Singularism’s spiritual center, resulting in the seizure of various items, including the sacramental psilocybin used during rituals. This led to threats of eviction directed at the landlord, raising serious concerns about the group’s future.
Jensen’s lawsuit claimed that he faced looming criminal charges associated with psilocybin possession while expressing fears that Singularism, as a small minority religion, was at serious risk from aggressive governmental actions.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Jill Parrish, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, granted a preliminary injunction. Judge Parrish determined that the county had imposed a considerable burden on the group’s sincere religious practices.
In her ruling, Parrish emphasized the potential harm to the plaintiffs, stating that the ongoing prosecution was not a benign action but part of a broader effort to intimidate them regarding their religious practices. She stated, “The irreparable injury to Plaintiffs is not merely theoretical. The prosecution has already caused Singularism to lose many of its practitioners and affiliates.”
Moreover, she pointed out that requiring the group to endure protracted criminal proceedings to protect their free-exercise rights would effectively amount to a death sentence for their fledgling religion. For this reason, she granted an anti-suit injunction that would prohibit further legal action against Jensen under the Utah Controlled Substances Act concerning psilocybin.
Despite psilocybin’s illegal status in Utah, where it is categorized alongside substances such as heroin and LSD as a Schedule I controlled substance, there have been recent developments in its therapeutic use. A state pilot program, enacted in March 2024, permits two major hospital systems to administer psilocybin and MDMA therapies under stringent regulations to individuals over 18 years old.
Judge Parrish acknowledged that the defense argued the medical psilocybin exemption did not consider religious affiliations, applying universally to all licensed healthcare providers. However, she contended that this perspective overlooked a critical issue. She clarified that the Free Exercise Clause should ensure even treatment for both religious practices and secular activities.
“A specific, secular exemption for psilocybin without a corresponding religious exemption indicates that the law fails to treat religion and non-religion equally,” Parrish stated. She suggested that the legal framework as currently structured undermines religious practice while allowing secular uses that serve similar interests.
Utah stands out as one of the most devout states in the United States, heavily influenced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly referred to as the Mormon Church. This context underlies the recent expansion of the Utah Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which came into effect in May 2024. This legislation enhances protections for religious practices and stipulates under what circumstances the government may intervene.
Specifically, the new law restricts government entities from imposing substantial burdens on religious practice unless such burdens serve a compelling government interest and are executed in the least restrictive manner possible.
Lee Jensen expressed gratitude following the court’s ruling, although the case remains unresolved. He emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of minority religions. Jensen remarked, “The judge has recognized this for what it is: retaliatory charges that emerged in bad faith. Protecting the religious freedoms of one faith ultimately safeguards the freedoms of all religions.”
As the legal landscape continues to evolve, the initiatives of Singularism may spark broader discussions about the intersection of spirituality, legality, and the use of psychedelics for therapeutic and spiritual purposes.
