Texas Observer

“Medicine” churches are popping up in #Texas, offering members a potential legal cover for #psychedelic rituals.

People spend thousands to learn to administer #bufo, a trendy but rare substance. Experts worry there's little oversight, leaving these groups ripe for abuse. And what Andrew Logan experienced with the Universal Shamans of the New Tomorrow left him shaken.

https://www.texasobserver.org/bufo-brooke-tarrer-universal-shamans-new-tomorrow-psychedelics/

(📸 Photo by Adam Shellooe)
#MentalHealth #Drugs #Law #Culture #psychedelics #indigenous
(Edit: Typo)

A Bad Trip with the Toad Shaman

Psychedelic churches charge thousands to teach practitioners to administer bufo, a trendy “sacrament.” But experts warn of hidden dangers.

The Texas Observer
Dec 23, 2022 at 3:44pmWeb
Show threadR.J. MacReady Dec 23, 2022
@TexasObserver "#bufo" sounds like a setup for one of those #ligma jokes.
Show threadTexas ObserverDec 23, 2022
@azula ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Show threadAlexSDec 23, 2022
@TexasObserver what's the dress code to lick the holy toad? Do they have coffee & donuts??
Show threadTexas ObserverDec 23, 2022
@alexschmitz coffee would probably stain the white clothing that's required
Show threadSomewhere In ATXDec 23, 2022

Adding it to my growing list of reasons to start a "real" church:

• Local property tax evasion on land speculation
• State sales tax evasion on bulk mutual aid purchases
• Fed. tax dodge (own nothing, vow of poverty, everything is owned by church)
• Perfect venue for community meetings/music shows
• Marry my friends for cheap (already doing this)
•Shaman able to administer sacraments: Ayahuasca, Bufo, Marihuana??

@TexasObserver

Show threadTexas ObserverDec 23, 2022
@SomewhereinATX 🙏
Show threadMDKDec 23, 2022
@SomewhereinATX @TexasObserver https://psilomethoxin.com/
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Show threadMushroomDec 23, 2022

@TexasObserver This is a very sad and disturbing article.

People are not going to achieve anything spiritual by participating in the abuse and death of animals.

Anyone can do a web search for synthetic 5-MeO-DMT and have it delivered in 2 days. If you believe that all natural is best, there are entheogenic plants and fungi much better for your body and mind, without harming the Sonoran Desert toad.

Show threadPatty KimuraDec 24, 2022
@TexasObserver Holy Jesus, let's hope they aren't licking cane toads. I once watched one hop up a flight of stairs, and another methodically jump against elevator doors waiting for them to open. They are massive carnivorous nightmares.
Show threadRadicalWoman111Dec 24, 2022
@TexasObserver
Just when psychedelics are finally beginning to get respectable, a bunch of nitwits have to lick frogs and probably start another reefer madness like panic before psilocybin is legal in MY STATE. 😠
Show threadTexas ObserverDec 26, 2022
@RadicalWoman111 it's very frustrating!
Show threadluka_threadDec 26, 2022
I'm in favor of people using whatever nonaddictive psychoactive substances they want so long as they're well informed. The existing extreme restrictions placed on psychedelics are a small tragedy limiting our growth as a society and allowing their inevitable use to be more dangerous than were psychedelics accepted and educated about.
Show threadTexas ObserverDec 26, 2022
@luka No argument here but the well-informed part becomes more challenging when you have people pushing these substances as a panacea, and you also have people setting themselves up to be "experts" after they take a weekend intensive. Psychedelics can be very beneficial but there's also potential for abusive so-called teachers to hurt people, among other risks. The drug war really hurts the education part, for sure. —Kit
Show threadluka_threadDec 28, 2022
@TexasObserver You have a nuanced perspective that's refreshing to read. Thanks for sharing.
Show threadTexas ObserverDec 28, 2022
@luka you're welcome, thanks for engaging. I recommend checking out the group Psymposia and the first season of the podcast Cover Story which is partly about them. It influenced the editorial approache we took to this piece (even beyond Andrew's interview with them)