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Colombian Shaman Arrested in TX for Aya

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Propyl Power

Bluelighter
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
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589
http://www.freetaitajuan.org/

On Tuesday, October 19, 2010, while en route to Oregon to offer traditional Ayahuasca ceremonies, Cametsa traditional healer and Colombian national Taita Juan Bautista Agreda Chindoy was detained at the Houston International Airport. His baggage was searched and he was formally arrested by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) for possession of his ancestral medicine, 'Yaje' or 'Ayahuasca'. Upon revealing the prescense of DMT in the liquid medicine, he was charged with possession with intent to distribute a “Schedule 1 Drug”. After a judge found probable cause for his conviction on Friday, October 22nd, he was taken to the Joe Corley Federal Detention Facility in Conroe, near Houston, Texas. Since Taita Juan's arrest, a group of his close friends and students have been working around the clock to build his legal defense and to support him and his family in Colombia. Based on the charges Juan is facing up to 20 years in federal prison.
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I know it's obvious here, but why the fuck do charges like these stick in this current day?
 
where are the multicultural diversity-is-great libs now?

this guy could use some
 
¿Qué dice el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, o el Ministerio de la Protección Social?

It's they who should pay for his defense, I think. As Hispanics we're always passionate about music and dancing and ideologies and beaches and cuisine and all that, but when the US tries to force its will on us we bend over and take it smilingly.

Hunch: Colombia doesn't have the balls to stand up to the DEA.

This story should be in their newspapers.

seep is pissed
 
This guy must not have known that wine and crackers are the only traditional sacraments allowed here.
 
^^lol. Seriously. But this is a bummer, I thought yayhuasca was protected for specific religious groups?

Dude should have totally waited to brew that shit.
 
dankstersauce said:
I thought yayhuasca was protected for specific religious groups?
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Yeah, I just read a number of articles linked from another non-drug-related site after the New York Times [lol] just published a multi-page article on huasca-tourism in Peru. All of the articles I read mentioned that ayahuasca (and the component parts) are protected for legitimate shamans in the US under religious freedom legislation.

I imagine that with the right lawyer, he'll manage to slide out of this one. Hopefully.

It's not as if ayahuasca is an"escape" drug, but that rarely seems to matter to the DEA or other anti-drug goons.
 
^Thats cool I didnt know ayahuasca was allowed along with mescaline/cacti for those people (In the states). I wonder if they're allowed to take it off the reservation? I would imagine it would be treated as a sched 1 just like anybody else if they were caught with it off of the reservation.
 
I have a feeling he will get off scott free... if the indians may use peyote legaly in there ceremonies why cant these people??

PUBLIC LAW 103-344 - OCT. 6, 1994
108 STAT. 3125 -- 103d Congress
Passed House 8/8/94 -- Passed Senate 9/26/94

AN ACT

TO AMEND THE AMERICAN INDIAN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE TRADITIONAL USE OF PEYOTE BY INDIANS FOR RELIGOUS PURPOSES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "American Indian Religious Freedom Act Amendments of 1994".

SECTION 2. TRADITIONAL INDIAN RELIGIOUS USE OF THE PEYOTE SACRAMENT.

The Act of August 11, 1978 (42 U.S.C. 1996), commonly referred to as the "American Indian Religious Freedom Act", is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section:

"SEC. 3. (a) The Congress finds and declares that--

"(1) for many Indian people, the traditional ceremonial use of the peyote cactus as a religious sacrament has for centuries been integral to a way of life, and significant in perpetuating Indian tribes and cultures;

"(2) since 1965, this ceremonial use of peyote by Indians has been protected by Federal regulation; ................

http://www.lectlaw.com/files/drg25.htm
 
spini4 said:
I have a feeling he will get off scott free... if the indians may use peyote legaly in there ceremonies why cant these people??
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Without leverage from an outside force to persuade anybody on a dirty sounding issue to the media or general public, no politician wants to hop on something like this.
 
well of course no politician will want to jump on bored but I'm pretty sure many lawyers will...
 
nopipesdfw said:
Without leverage from an outside force to persuade anybody on a dirty sounding issue to the media or general public, no politician wants to hop on something like this.
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Some Colombian pols would jump all over this if it's legit (if he was doing it in accordance with Camënta tradition). Question is will his own State Department defend him.

No reason any US politician should have anything to do with this. In fact, they should butt out.
 
i know there was a case with a church called unao de vegetal or something and the courts ruled they were protected and could use ayahuasca.
this guy will get off probably, btu it wasnt the smartest idea bringing the shit with im.
 
Every day i come onto bluelight, click on "drugs in the media" and read more sickening stories that make me more and more embarrassed and disgusted to be an American.

I wish there would be more positive articles about drugs posted. :(
 
I'm surprised the judge found probable cause. Since UDV vs. Gonzales was handed down in 2006 Ayahuasca has been legal for UDV members. The ruling only applies to the UDV currently. Non-members aren't included, at least not as the ruling was written. It could be applied as such by this court, and I suspect they will (depending on the guy's personal history), but it's far from a guarantee.
 
seep said:
¿Qué dice el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, o el Ministerio de la Protección Social?

It's they who should pay for his defense, I think. As Hispanics we're always passionate about music and dancing and ideologies and beaches and cuisine and all that, but when the US tries to force its will on us we bend over and take it smilingly.

Hunch: Colombia doesn't have the balls to stand up to the DEA.

This story should be in their newspapers.

seep is pissed
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you have a right to be pissed, my friend and this is coming from one of those multicultural-bleeding-heart liberals
 
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