Controversial church that serves hallucinogens relocates to Casco
A controversial ayahuasca church has relocated from New Hampshire to Casco.
Pachamama Sanctuary, which hosts religious retreats using the highly effective, largely unlawful, hallucinogenic substance ayahuasca, has formally relocated to a brand new 40-acre facility in Casco. It left New Hampshire final yr amid friction with city officers in Canterbury.
Canterbury officers filed an injunction towards Pachamama in June 2022 over issues concerning the facility’s smoke alarms, septic methods, emergency signage, parking plans and snow elimination skills, New Hampshire Public Radio reported in December.
In consequence, sanctuary founder Derek Januszewski agreed to pay $3,661 to the city to cowl its authorized prices and one other $45,000 in fines for violating the injunction. After the fracas, Januszewski vowed to depart New Hampshire. In June, NHPR reported that the church was transferring to an undisclosed Maine location.
Januszewski has additionally been accused of misusing church funds after those that paid deposits for retreats that had been canceled throughout the church’s transfer. He denied the allegations and stated refunds can be given. It’s not clear if that occurred.
Now, in line with a press launch, Pachamama Sanctuary has re-opened in Casco.
“Ceremonies are hosted each weekend,” the discharge states.
The urged donation for its guided, hallucinogenic journeys is $888 per journey.
Based on the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, ayahuasca is constructed from two totally different South American crops. It’s often brewed as a tea and the hallucinogenic beverage is outstanding in shamanistic practices of sure indigenous tribes of the Amazon area.
Ayahuasca exists in a grey authorized space in america. It’s unlawful apart from spiritual makes use of.
Based on Pachamama Sanctuary’s press launch, “Ayahuasca has many well being advantages together with therapeutic trauma, accelerating development and reaching the next stage of consciousness, harmonizing your feelings, discovering extra about your self.”
The Nationwide Institutes of Well being cites research performed in Spain which demonstrated ayahuasca can be utilized safely in regular, wholesome adults. Nonetheless, it additionally states there was scant scientific analysis into the substance’s precise therapeutic advantages.
Januszewski first used ayahuasca in 2017 whereas battling dependancy, states the press launch. He then based the sanctuary in 2019.
