A new religious group based in Utah that incorporates “psychedelic mushrooms” into its practices achieved a legal victory this week under the state’s religious freedom law.
Lee Jensen, the founder of the non-profit Singularism, filed a lawsuit against the city of Provo and Utah County in December, alleging violations of protections under the U.S. Constitution, state constitution, and the Utah Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
According to the complaint, Jensen, Singularism, and the group’s for-profit arm, Psyche Healing and Bridging LLC, utilize sacramental psilocybin tea for spiritual purposes and to alleviate human suffering by blending traditional entheogenic religious practices with modern mental health approaches.
Court documents reveal that law enforcement officials conducted a search at Singularism’s spiritual center, seized sacramental psilocybin, and threatened the landlord to evict the group from the property.
U.S. District Judge Jill Parrish granted a preliminary injunction in favor of the plaintiffs, stating that the county placed a significant burden on their religious freedom. Parrish emphasized that the prosecution appeared to have been initiated in bad faith as part of an effort to harass the group for their religious practices.
Psilocybin is illegal in Utah under most circumstances, classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. However, a state pilot program allows two hospital systems to use psilocybin and MDMA therapy for behavioral health treatment under strict regulations.
Utah’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, in effect since May 2024, prohibits government entities from substantially burdening a person’s free exercise of religion without a compelling governmental interest.
Jensen expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, highlighting the importance of protecting religious freedoms for all faiths.
