Religious tolerance is one of the founding principles of the United States. As the election process has unfolded we have heard about perceived religious persecution of Christian America, especially from Rick Santorum. Yesterday he suspended his campaign for president and vowed “We’re going to continue to fight for the Americans who stood up and gave us that air under our wings that allowed us to accomplish things that no political expert would have expected.”
The continued “fight” will likely revolve around religion but will Santorum and the rest of the government support religious tolerance for other groups? The Oklevueha Native American Church utilizes marijuana as a part of their religious rituals. As the title of this article suggests, will our country choose religious freedom or continue to wage war against individual liberties? A new lawsuit, Oklevueha Native American Church of Hawaii Inc. V. Holder, may force the federal government to make that choice. The suit may stimulate a national conversation on marijuana and stop the federal government from avoiding an honest discussion with the American people.
Earlier this week the Ninth Circuit Court of Federal Appeals ruled that Okleveuha Native American Church could sue the federal government over marijuana seizures. The decision reverses the ruling from a lower court decision rendered by U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway. The group is seeking protection through the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the case is the result of authorities seizing marijuana from Rex Mooney, member of the church. The Okleveuha Church is affiliated with the larger Native American church and already has been granted legal use of peyote for religious rituals.
The Okleveuha Native American Church aims to promote education on “American Native indigenous ceremonies.” With peyote already being having been granted legal status for religious uses, it would seem like typical petty pot politics to prevent marijuana from attaining the same legal status. The case may prove to be historic on several levels. For one, it could be an extremely pivotal moment for religious rights for the original Americans, and may also force the federal government into legalizing at least some form of marijuana use.