2005 – Ayahuasca Made Illegal in France After a French Court Rules in Favor of Santo Daime Church
Is ayahuasca legal in France? The short answer is—not anymore.
In 2005, leaders of a French Santo Daime church, the originally Brazilian religion centered around ayahuasca use, were on trial for trafficking controlled substances. The French court ruled in favor of the Santo Daime, judging that, on the basis of the Schaepe letter, ayahuasca did not fall under their laws against DMT and was not a controlled substance in France. A brief period of ayahuasca legality existed in France at this time.
On May 3, 2005, a new law went into effect in France that banned the non-licensed possession of Banisteriopsis caapi, Peganum harmala, Psychotria viridis, Diplopterys cabrerana, Mimosa hostilis, Banisteriopsis rusbyana, harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine (THH), harmol, and harmalol. This list includes the ayahuasca vine itself as well as the most common plants and chemicals used in ayahuasca analogues. France is the only country in the world to ban possession of the ayahuasca vine, as well as of Syrian Rue (Peganum harmala).
References
Labate, B. (2005). Sad News: Ayahuasca Forbidden in France. Bia Labate website
