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🕊️ Legal Standing and Sacred Mission of Sugarleaf Church

Sugarleaf Church is a federally protected religious institution dedicated to the sacramental use of Entheogenic Sacraments, including Cannabis and Psilocybin Mushrooms, as sacred elements of our spiritual practice. We are committed to defending the religious and cultural rights of our Native American members, whose practices are protected by:

  • The American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA), 42 U.S.C. § 1996

  • The Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA), 25 U.S.C. § 1302

  • The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb et seq.

  • The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc et seq.

  • The First, Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

With 29 legal victories, including landmark cases such as People v. Heidi Lepp (CRF-17-5015, Cal. Super. Ct. 2017), State of Nevada v. Pastor Tony Rigato (2025), and Dutton Case No. 2017015532 (Michigan, 2017), we have successfully established the right of our members to practice their faith without government interference. View our first win here: Pastor Tony Arrested

⚖️ Legal Framework & Native American Protections

Sugarleaf Church operates in full compliance with federal law and is particularly focused on safeguarding Native American spiritual rights:

🔹 AIRFA

Protects the ceremonial use of Entheogenic Sacraments by Native Americans. In Jensen v. Utah County (2025), the federal court ordered the return of sacred Cannabis, recognizing it as a religious artifact under AIRFA and RFRA.

🔹 ICRA

Guarantees due process and equal protection for Native members and prohibits discriminatory or retaliatory enforcement of law against Native spiritual practices.

🔹 RFRA

Prevents the government from burdening religious exercise unless using the least restrictive means to serve a compelling interest. Recognized in Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita, 546 U.S. 418 (2006).

🔹 RLUIPA

Ensures religious liberty in zoning and custodial settings, as reinforced in Holt v. Hobbs, 574 U.S. 352 (2015).

🔹 42 U.S.C. § 1983

Provides a federal remedy for violations of constitutional rights under color of state law, including unlawful interference with religious expression.

🔹 First Amendment

Safeguards free religious exercise and shields our Sacramental practices from discriminatory or selective prosecution (Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah, 508 U.S. 520 (1993)).

🔹 Fifth Amendment

Protects against double jeopardy and ensures due process, particularly important for Church members subject to repetitive or retaliatory prosecutions.​

🛡️ Double Jeopardy: Constitutional Shield for Our Members

The Fifth Amendment’s Double Jeopardy Clause protects members—particularly Native Americans—from being prosecuted more than once for the same religious conduct.

Notable precedents:

  • State v. Heidi Lepp (Yuba County, CA, 2017): Reverend Lepp was acquitted on 28 felony counts after the seizure of 30,000 pounds of Sacramental Cannabis. The court affirmed our religious use and transport as lawful under RFRA and AIRFA.

  • Ashe v. Swenson, 397 U.S. 436 (1970): Once a jury decides a fact in favor of a defendant, the government cannot relitigate it.

  • Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299 (1932): Prohibits multiple prosecutions for the same conduct under different charges.

  • Smith v. State, 26 N.E.3d 1167 (Ind. App. 2015): Affirmed that prosecuting Native Americans for sacramental conduct after prior acquittals violates both double jeopardy and AIRFA.

  • Grady v. Corbin, 495 U.S. 508 (1990): Bars prosecution for the same underlying conduct, regardless of how it’s charged.

These protections trigger collateral estoppel and prevent government actors from weaponizing the law against members who have already been cleared in prior cases.

🌿 Sacred Sacramental Practices

  • Spiritual Purpose: Cannabis and Psilocybin Mushrooms are used reverently as part of our divine communion, healing ceremonies, and rites of passage, especially for Native American members continuing cultural traditions.

  • Responsible Use: Sacraments are administered under strict protocols to ensure safety, sanctity, and lawful practice, consistent with Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita.

📚 Empowering Our Members

  • Education: We provide workshops, handbooks, and legal briefings to ensure members understand their rights under AIRFA, ICRA, RFRA, and the Constitution.

  • Advocacy: Led by Reverend Heidi Grossman-Lepp, a qualified expert witness with 29 RFRA victories, Sugarleaf Church provides strategic guidance and documentation for members facing legal threats.

🤝 Community Engagement & Advocacy

  • Building Bridges: We collaborate with local communities and public officials to educate and reduce stigma around Native American spiritual practices and entheogenic use.

  • Defending Freedom: Sugarleaf Church speaks out for religious liberty, especially for Indigenous faiths targeted by outdated drug policies or discriminatory enforcement.

🔐 Regulatory Integrity & Internal Oversight

  • Strict Compliance: We follow all applicable laws concerning the cultivation, distribution, and use of Sacraments in religious settings.

  • Internal Oversight: Rigorous controls prevent diversion, ensure safe handling, and maintain the sanctity of our faith-based operations.

🌎 Join the Movement

Sugarleaf Church is more than a sanctuary—it is a legal, cultural, and spiritual movement rooted in Indigenous wisdom, constitutional law, and divine healing. Our 29 victories and legal framework stand as proof: we are protected, we are sacred, and we are not backing down.

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