Religious Freedom and the Global Regulation of Ayahuasca

This book explores the legal, political, and ethical challenges of the global regulation of ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew containing N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). It examines the complex implications of the international expansion of ayahuasca, including health, spirituality, and human rights impacts, and investigates the conceptual, philosophical, and legal distinctions between shamanism, religion, and medicine.

Format: Hardback
Length: 254 pages
Publication date: 29 March 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the multifaceted legal, political, and ethical complexities surrounding the global regulation of ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew containing N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). As a Schedule I substance under the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the legality of ayahuasca's ritual use has varied across different regions of the world. The chapters in this volume explore the profound implications of the international expansion of ayahuasca, encompassing its impact on health, spirituality, and human rights. They also examine the legal and policy ramifications on national governments, highlighting the delicate balance between protecting freedom of religion and ensuring public health, safety, and morality.

Through a comparative analysis of various contexts in North America, South America, and Europe where ayahuasca is consumed, the book examines the conceptual, philosophical, and legal distinctions between shamanism, religion, and medicine. It offers valuable insights to scholars with interests in indigenous religion, as well as in the intersection of religion and law.

This book is a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to understand the complex dynamics surrounding the regulation of ayahuasca and its impact on individuals, communities, and societies worldwide.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367028756