Article

2006-02-21 Home Front: Culture Wars

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that a small congregation in New Mexico may use hallucinogenic tea as part of a four-hour ritual intended to connect with God.

Justices, in their first religious freedom decision under Chief Justice John Roberts, moved decisively to keep the government out of a church's religious practice. Federal drug agents should have been barred from confiscating the hoasca tea of the Brazil-based church, Roberts wrote in the decision.

The tea, which contains an illegal drug known as DMT, is considered sacred to members of O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal, which has a blend of Christian beliefs and South American traditions. Members believe they can understand God only by drinking the tea, which is consumed twice a month at four-hour ceremonies.

New Justice
Samuel Alito did not take part in the case, which was argued last fall before Justice
Sandra Day O'Connor before her retirement. Alito was on the bench for the first time on Tuesday.

Posted by tipper 2006-02-21 12:04|| || Front Page|| [11132 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Is there an iced tea version?

Posted by bigjim-ky 2006-02-21 15:20|| 2006-02-21 15:20|| Front Page Top

#2 What was the vote???

Posted by Iblis">Iblis 2006-02-21 17:36|| 2006-02-21 17:36|| Front Page Top

#3 Like 6-4 or was that 8-3? But like the majority was awesome, dude.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-02-21 17:39|| 2006-02-21 17:39|| Front Page Top

#4 Heh. "Unanimous". Nevermind...

Posted by Iblis">Iblis 2006-02-21 17:45|| 2006-02-21 17:45|| Front Page Top

#5 Can we order it at work? I mean our database design could not be any more screwed up.

I feel a religious conversion coming on!

Al

Posted by Frozen Al">Frozen Al 2006-02-21 17:51|| 2006-02-21 17:51|| Front Page Top

#6 Atlanta and 34 seconds is the answer.

Posted by 6 2006-02-21 18:48|| 2006-02-21 18:48|| Front Page Top

#7 some background on DMT from the LSD-FAQ

...

1) DMT, DET, psylocin, psylocybin, : The mushroom psylocybin cubensis contains all four of these indole derivatives, as well as others. DMT is
dimethyltryptamine, an indole derivative which has functionalized at the 3 position with the dimethyl ethylamine group. It is a close relative to the
amino acid, tryptophan, which until recently was available in bulk at vitamin shops, until some jerk poisoned himself by taking a wonga dose of
it. [Actually it may have been a single toxic batch mistakenly produced in Japan.] A prep came out in 1984 for LSD using l--tryptophan as the
precursor, so this may have facilitated the government's pullin it from the shelves.

DMT, and it's brother DET (diethyltryptamine), have no oral activity, so have to be smoked. They stink like fish oil when lit, though. Both have hallucinogenic effects within 2-3 minutes of toking, wand while DMT lasts for only a half hour, DET is a smoother, more euphoric high, lasting twice as long. DET has effects similar to psylocybin.
Psylocybin is DMT which has a functional group, phosphoryloxy-, at the 4 position on the indole ring. This group is immediately converted to hydroxyl- as soon as the stuff hits your stomach to give the cousin, psylocin. In preparing the drug, then, it is not necessary to proceed beyond the psylocin.
DMT and DET are easily derived from many indole derivatives, the easiest of which is indole-3-acetic acid. The reaction stinks to high heaven of indole gunge, skatoles (methylindoles), and indenes. Bad news if you want to make it at home, because the stench is pervasive. Other derivatives, using phenyl or butyl groups have been reported as having oral activity, so it is not necessary to smoke the stuff. Doses run at about a hundred mgs for smoked drug,(a disclaimer further on says 20-30mgs with 100 killing one) while psylocin is orally active at about 5 mgs.

... and it continues on to describe plants that contain it extractions and such.

The key point is:
DMT, and it's brother DET (diethyltryptamine), have no oral activity,
so have to be smoked.

So if they are drinking it as tea the effect would only be in reaction with something else added to the mix. Perhaps that's one reason the Supremes didn't get too excited.

DMT
CH
/ 3
// \--- --- CH CH N
|| || || 2 2
\ // / CH
N 3
H

...

When DMT is smoked or injected, effects begin in seconds, reach a peak in five to twenty minutes and end after a half hour or so. This has earned it the name "businessman's trip." The brevity of the experience make its intensity bearable, and, for some, desirable.

...

DMT FAQ (Draft, inserted into LSD FAQ)
8 Aug 94

DMT, DiMethylTryptamine, or 3-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-indole is a chemical
in the same class of drugs as Psilocybin and LSD. Structurally related to serotonin, their effects on the body are similar and cross-tolerance can and is developed between DMT, LSD and Psilocybin.

DMT is not absorbed into the blood stream when taken orally and therefore is usually inhaled as a powder or smoked.

Description and properties:

DMT, N,N-diemethyltryptamine, Nigerine, desoxybufotenine, 3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-indole is a white, pungent-smelling, crystalline solid with a melting point of 49-50 degrees Celsius, hydrochloride salt hygroscopic, picrate m.p. 171-172 degrees Celsius and methiodide m.p.215-216 degrees Celsius. It is insoluble in water, but soluble in organic solvents and aqueous acids.

History:

DMT was first synthesized in 1931, and demonstrated to be hallucinogenic in 1956. It has been shown to be present in many plant genera (Acacia, Anandenanthera, Mimosa, Piptadenia, Virola) and is a major component of several hallucinogenic snuffs (cohoba, parica, yopo). It is also present in the intoxicating beverage "ayahuasca" made from Banisteriopsis caapi, and it may have oral effectiveness due to the presence of several naturally occuring inhibitors of catabolic deamination.

.. there is the TEA the Supremes approved ..

Human Biochemistry and Pharmacology:

Both the parent compound tryptamine and the N-methyltransferase system which is capable of converting it to DMT, occur in humans, but there is as yet no evidence that DMT is formed "in vivo". DMT has nonetheless been identified in
trace amounts in the blood and urine of both normals and of schizophrenic patients, but its origins and functions are unknown. Following intramuscular administration, maximum blood levels of about 100 ng/ml are observed in 10 minutes, coincident with the maximum changes in electroencephalographic responses. The plasma clearance t-1/2 [half-life] is about 15 minutes.
Elevated blood levels of indoleacetic acid (IAA) are seen during the time of peak effects, implying its role as a metabolite. Urine levels of IAA are also elevated and account for about 30% of the administered drug. An increase in 5-hydroxy-IAA excretion suggests the involvement of serotonin in DMT action. Unchanged DMT is not excreted.

Human Psychopharmacology:

DMT is inactive orally at dosages of over 1000mg. With intramuscular injection, there is an abrupt threshold of activity shown with 30mg, and a
complete psychedelic experience results from the administration of 50-70mg (75mg subcutaneously, 30mg by inhalation). An unusual feature of the induced intoxication is the speed of onset and short duration. Within 5 minutes of administration there is mydriasis [dilated pupils], tachycardia [rapid heart beat], a measurable increase in blood pressure, and related vegetative disturbances which usually persist througout the drug experience. In 10-15 minutes, the full intoxication is realized, generally characterized by hallucinations with the eyes either open or closed, and extensive movement within the visual field. There is difficulty in the expression of one's thoughts, and in concentration on a given subject. There is usually a mood change to the euphoric with unmotivated laughter, but instances have been reported in which paranoid ideation has promoted anxieties and feelings of forboding into a state of panic. The subject is largely symptom-free at 60 minutes, although some residual effects have been seen in the second hour. With the inhalation route of administration the time scale is contracted, with onset of effects noted in 10 seconds, a short period of full intoxication at 2-3 minute, and a complete freedom from any residual effects within 10 minutes. At higher drug levels, there are increased vegetative symptoms, and these effectively overwhelm the psychedelic experience at dosages of 150mg i.m. Interactions with other drugs are rarely seen; a sensitivity has been observed with pretreatment with methlysergide, but there is no cross-tolerance
with LSD. Repeated usage does not appear to lead to either physical or psychological dependency.

Legal Status:

DMT is explicitly named as a Schedule I drug in the Federal Controlled Substances Act; registry number 7435.

Lots more in the FAQ but that's a good start at understanding what the Supremes just approved.

Posted by 3dc 2006-02-21 20:33|| 2006-02-21 20:33|| Front Page Top

#8 Oh I left out the effects of the drug this wise men just approved. One wonders if they tried it before voting... Imagine meeting a person on this tea or even worse if they are driving a car..

Here is a person's trip-report from the same FAQ

a hit of dmt 10/9/84 - zarkov

i loaded about 40-50 milligrams of dmt into a glass pipe on top of a small amount of damiana. even though i had been warned, i was still
shocked at how harsh the first toke was. it tasted and smelled like burning plastic. i involuntarily exhaled. i immediately took a second toke. the heavy white smoke rushed up the pipe as harsh as before, but i was somewhat better prepared for the terrible taste and i was able to
hold the smoke for a few seconds. i exhaled, took a third toke, and was able to hold this last lungful. suddenly i began to hear a loud,
moderately high-pitched carrier wave. immediately, the room started vibrating in sympathy. the pattern on the wall hangings oscillated madly
in time to the buzzing that overlaid the carrier waves fundamental tone. simultaneously, a heavy, trembling feeling swept over my entire body as
if i were being propelled at multiple g acceleration by some giant rocket engine. my visual field dissolved in the most amazing colors. i could not see the room over the intensity of the visual effects. the events of the preceding paragraph occurred in the space of a few short seconds.

closing my eyes, i got a glimpse of several entities moving in front of a giant complex control panel. the visions were not crystal clear and seemed as if i were viewing it through a scrim. the creatures were bipedal and of about human size. it was impossible to say more other
than they did not move like the giant insect creatures i have seen clearly under the influence of stropharia mushrooms. there was a direct
awareness of an overwhelmingly powerful and knowledgable *presence*! it was neither frightening, nor encouraging. it was just mentally there. a thought came, unbidden, into my head. i realized that i was viewing god central. the central panel i saw was the control panel for the entire universe.the vision was fleeting and dissolved into a vision of much greater clarity. a gaggle of elf-like creatures in standard issue irish elf costumes, complete with hats, looking like they had stepped out of a hallmark cards happy saint patricks day display, were doing strange things with strange objects that seemed to be a weird hybrid between crystals and machines.

this vision was also fleeting, and it dissolved into a visual pattern unlike that experienced by me on any other psychedelic or combination of
psychedelics. the visuals were interlocking sinusoidal patterns arranged in a japanese chrysanthemum pattern that filled my entire visual field. the pattern was ever-changing and the colors of the individual patterns changed independently of the underlyng pattern. the colors were intense and came in a magnificent variety of colors: metallics, monochromes,
pastels, each flickering in and out of existence as if obeying some undetected ordering principle.

an idea came into my head that i was seeing the true universe or universe as it really exists. that is to say, i was seeing *directly* the vibrations of every particles in the universe that i was somehow in contact with. i was directly seeing the universe withough ordering it into an arbitrary reality tunnel -- i.e., perceived solid, objective reality. the visual pattern seemed to be a sort of m-dimensional lissajous curve formed by the intersection of i with the shock wave of
space-time causality.

the carrier wave remained strong throughout the experience. while definitely the same type of phenomena as the carrier wave heard under the
influence of psilocybin mushrooms, the dmt carrier wave was *much* louder than even the loud carrier wave heard under the influence of ten grams of
very potent, dried stropharia mushrooms. also, by comparison to the mushroom experience, the carrier wave sounded as a purer tone -- i.e., the sinusoidal component dominated the buzzng component. my throat was too sore from the harsh smoke and the control of my breathing was hindered by the intensity of the expereince, so i was unable to sing or even generate a solid tone, to attempt audio driving of the visuals.

the overwhelming sense of a *presence* did not disappear when the vision changed to visual patterns, but remained an almost palpable entity as lon as the visuals remained intense. i never felt the foreboding -- let alone the direct challenges -- i have felt under the influence of
stropharia mushrooms whenever the feeling of contact with the presence has been strong. the presence was just there and *very* powerful. i
felt that i had glimpsed whiteheads god.

the period of intense visuals lasted about eight minutes. the side effects remained unpleasant, but easily ignorable. the dmt left me euphoric and very bemused for about an hour.

definitely far out and very impressive!

Posted by 3dc 2006-02-21 21:23|| 2006-02-21 21:23|| Front Page Top

#9 I'm the same way with Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-02-21 21:38|| 2006-02-21 21:38|| Front Page Top

17:40 swksvolFF
17:34 Ebbuger Whuque4103
17:30 Ebbuger Whuque4103
17:02 Melancholic
16:27 Gravilet Snanter4154
16:20 Chaise Speaking for Boskone7897
16:02 Skidmark
16:01 Skidmark
15:46 Skidmark
15:41 Skidmark
15:37 swksvolFF
15:36 Skidmark
15:34 Skidmark
15:27 Skidmark
14:48 NoMoreBS
14:31 NoMoreBS
14:16 NoMoreBS
14:15 NoMoreBS
14:04 swksvolFF
13:47 Regular joe
13:43 swksvolFF
13:38 swksvolFF
13:34 swksvolFF
13:31 Abu Uluque