DMT has been the focus of a controversial court case in Santa Fe, New Mexico that began in late 2000. In the case, members of the O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal (UDV), a religious organization with approximately 500 members in the U.S., are alleging that the United States government violated their constitutional right of freedom of religion.

The allegation stems from an incident on May 21, 1999, when the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized 30 gallons of a DMT-containing tea called hoasca from the office of the church president. UDV church members claim hoasca is an essential sacrament, like peyote is to the Native American church. At the time, no church members were arrested or charged with any crime.

On November 1, 2000, UDV members sued the DEA. Nancy Hollander, the attorney representing UDV, tried to get a preliminary injunction blocking the federal government...