Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/05pdf/04-1084.pdf
Page Number: 10

Cite as:  546 U. S. ____ (2006) 

5 

Opinion of the Court 

tropic  Substances,  a  treaty  signed  by  the  United  States 
and implemented by the Act.  Feb. 21, 1971, [1979–1980],
32 U. S. T. 543, T. I. A. S. No. 9725.  See 282 F. Supp. 2d, 
at 1252–1253. 

The District Court heard evidence from both parties on 
the  health  risks  of  hoasca  and  the  potential  for  diversion 
from  the  church.    The  Government  presented  evidence  to 
the effect that use of hoasca, or DMT more generally, can 
cause  psychotic  reactions,  cardiac  irregularities,  and 
adverse  drug  interactions.    The  UDV  countered  by  citing
studies  documenting  the  safety  of  its  sacramental  use  of 
hoasca and presenting evidence that minimized the likeli-
hood of the health risks raised by the Government.  With 
respect to diversion, the Government pointed to a general 
rise in the illicit use of hallucinogens, and cited interest in 
the illegal use of DMT and hoasca in particular; the UDV 
emphasized  the  thinness  of  any  market  for  hoasca,  the 
relatively small amounts of the substance imported by the 
church,  and  the  absence  of  any  diversion  problem  in  the 
past.

The  District  Court  concluded  that  the  evidence  on 
health  risks  was  “in  equipoise,”  and  similarly  that  the 
evidence  on  diversion  was  “virtually  balanced.”    Id.,  at 
1262, 1266.  In the face of such an even showing, the court 
reasoned that the Government had failed to demonstrate a 
compelling interest justifying what it acknowledged was a 
substantial  burden  on  the  UDV’s  sincere  religious  exer-
cise.  Id.,  at  1255.  The  court  also  rejected  the  asserted 
interest  in  complying  with  the  1971  Convention  on  Psy-
chotropic  Substances,  holding  that  the  Convention  does
not apply to hoasca.  Id., at 1266–1269. 

The  court  entered  a  preliminary  injunction  prohibiting 
the Government from enforcing the Controlled Substances 
Act  with  respect  to  the  UDV’s  importation  and  use  of 
hoasca.  The injunction requires the church to import the
tea pursuant to federal permits, to restrict control over the