Ian Benouis

Earth medicines and self-surrender to source saved my life. The goal of the mystical experience is altered traits not altered states. Huston Smith. Nature loves courage. Terence McKenna. Ask the plants of the earth and they will teach you. Job 12:8. If you see the day of judgement coming finish planting a tree. Muhammad

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A Litigator’s Analysis of the Soul Quest Letter from Greg Lake’s upcoming third book, “The Law of Entheogenic Churches in the United States (Volume III): The Definition of Religion Under the First Amendment in Light of the Sacramental Consumption of Entheogens”

Ian Benouis is a West Point graduate, former Army officer and Blackhawk helicopter pilot who participated in Operation Just Cause in the Republic of Panama.

He is patient number one, General Counsel at the Mission Within spearheading the veterans treatment program where over 350 Navy SEALS and other special operators have been successfully treated with iboga and toad (5-meo-dmt) for PTSD, addiction and TBI.

The Law of Entheogenic Churches in the United States gives its reader a foundational understanding of the law surrounding the legality of ayahuasca and other entheogenic-based churches in the United States.

The book covers the following topics:
Chapter One: The Religious Freedom And Restoration Act
Chapter Two: Claims and Defenses under the Religious Freedom and Restoration Act: A Case Law Survey
Chapter Three: DEA’s Regulation of Entheogenic Churches
Chapter Four: General Guide to Forming a Non-Profit Church
Chapter Five: Frequently Asked Questions

The Law of Entheogenic Churches in the United States was written in laymen’s terms so the average reader can understand and acquire a foundational understanding of the law in this area. This book discusses the Supreme Court precedent involving the ayahuasca religion UDV and the Oregon District Court opinion involving the ayahuasca religion of the Santo Daime.

As ayahuasca and other natural entheogenic medicines gain popularity as a religious sacrament, this area of the law will become increasingly relevant. In this book, author George G. Lake, Esq. imparts the necessary knowledge needed to navigate this area of law.

The Law of Entheogenic Churches in the United States gives its reader a foundational understanding of the law surrounding the legality of ayahuasca and other entheogenic-based churches in the United States.

The book covers the following topics:
Chapter One: The Religious Freedom And Restoration Act
Chapter Two: Claims and Defenses under the Religious Freedom and Restoration Act: A Case Law Survey
Chapter Three: DEA’s Regulation of Entheogenic Churches
Chapter Four: General Guide to Forming a Non-Profit Church
Chapter Five: Frequently Asked Questions

The Law of Entheogenic Churches in the United States was written in laymen’s terms so the average reader can understand and acquire a foundational understanding of the law in this area. This book discusses the Supreme Court precedent involving the ayahuasca religion UDV and the Oregon District Court opinion involving the ayahuasca religion of the Santo Daime.

As ayahuasca and other natural entheogenic medicines gain popularity as a religious sacrament, this area of the law will become increasingly relevant. In this book, author George G. Lake, Esq. imparts the necessary knowledge needed to navigate this area of law.

Dave is a veteran cannabis advocate and previous dispensary owner in California.

We dive deep in to the story of how his church was raided, Prop 215, Prop 64, Measure Z, asset forfeiture, the War on Drugs, the Portugal experiment, medicine churches, decriminalization, federal descheduling and rescheduing and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

We go all the way down the rabbit hole and come back out with fresh tails and perspectives and how to dig our way out of the drug war we are waging against our own selves.

When a soldier brings back trauma from the battlefield, there’s no single reliable way to help them integrate back into society. Everybody needs a different approach. For Ian Benouis, he rediscovered the power of plant medicines after his exit from the military and as he was working his way through law school. It led him on a path to introduce other veterans to plant medicines by organizing trips for them and as a lawyer activist working with a number of plant medicine organizations and churches.   

Dave and Jason are combat veterans and twenty plus year career soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan respectively and then after retiring received medical disability for their service.

They are both advocates and activists in Texas for natural healing with cannabis and other psychedelic medicines.

Dave and Jason share their personal healing journeys, insights and visions in to the decriminalization, medicalization and legalization of cannabis and entheogens in Texas and nationally.