Ayahuasca is not broadly legal in the United States, but there are specific, narrow paths to participate in ceremonies domestically. These fall into two categories: religious organizations that have won legal exemptions from federal drug law, and cities or states where enforcement of laws against natural psychedelics has been deprioritized. Understanding the difference between these two situations is important before you book anything.
Why Ayahuasca Is Restricted in the U.S.
Ayahuasca contains DMT, which is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. That makes possessing, distributing, or using it illegal in most circumstances. The brew itself isn’t specifically named in the Controlled Substances Act, but because it contains DMT, federal authorities treat it the same way.
The key exception comes from the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which prevents the federal government from placing a substantial burden on sincere religious practice unless it can prove a compelling reason to do so. Two landmark court cases opened the door for specific churches to use ayahuasca legally, and a small number of organizations have since followed that path.
Churches With Legal Exemptions
The most established legal option is attending a ceremony at a church that has received a formal exemption or court order allowing sacramental ayahuasca use. The two oldest and most recognized are Brazilian-rooted traditions that fought years-long legal battles for this right.
The União do Vegetal (UDV) won its case at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2006. The Court ruled that the government had failed to prove a compelling interest in banning this specific religious use. The UDV operates in several U.S. cities and holds regular ceremonies for its members, though it typically requires a period of engagement with the community before you participate. It functions more like a church membership than a retreat center.
Santo Daime secured its own exemption through a separate federal case decided in Oregon, Church of the Holy Light of the Queen v. Mukasey. Santo Daime churches operate in multiple states, with Oregon being a notable hub. Their ceremonies follow a structured format rooted in Brazilian Christian-syncretic tradition, often involving hymns and prayer alongside the sacrament.
More recently, the Church of the Eagle and the Condor reached an agreement directly with the DEA and other government agencies to legally import and consume ayahuasca. And in a notable first, the Iowaska Church of Healing in Washington State reportedly received DEA approval for its ayahuasca exemption petition without needing to file a lawsuit. That petition had been pending since 2019. Between 2016 and January 2024, the DEA received 24 petitions for religious exemptions involving various controlled substances, and the process has historically been extremely slow, with most petitions sitting unresolved for years.
If a retreat center or ceremony provider claims to operate legally, ask specifically what legal framework they’re operating under. A legitimate religious exemption is a specific, documented thing. Many operations in the U.S. exist in a legal gray area and could, in theory, face federal enforcement at any time.
Cities That Have Decriminalized Natural Psychedelics
A growing number of cities have passed measures making enforcement of laws against natural psychedelics, including DMT-containing plants, the lowest priority for local police. This is not the same as legalization. Federal law still applies, and these measures typically don’t create any regulated system for ceremonies or retreats. What they do is reduce the likelihood of local arrest.
Washington, D.C. passed its Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act in 2020, which specifically covers ayahuasca and makes possession or use the lowest enforcement priority for D.C. police. Colorado voters approved a ballot initiative in November 2022 that decriminalized possession, growing, and sharing of five psychedelics for personal use (including DMT) for adults 21 and over.
Several California cities have taken similar steps. San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a decriminalization measure in September 2022, and Berkeley followed in July 2023. In the Pacific Northwest, Olympia, Washington decriminalized plant-based psychedelics in August 2024, and Tacoma did the same in January 2025. Minneapolis decriminalized entheogenic plants via mayoral executive order in July 2023, and Portland, Maine deprioritized enforcement in October 2023. Multiple Michigan cities, including Hazel Park, have also decriminalized natural psychedelics.
In these locations, underground or semi-public ceremonies do operate with reduced legal risk, but “reduced” is the key word. No city decriminalization measure protects anyone from federal prosecution.
What Retreats Cost and How Long They Last
Domestic ayahuasca retreats typically charge between $200 and $400 per day. A short retreat of three to five days generally starts around $1,000 total, while longer programs spanning 12 to 21 days can run from $2,200 to $8,000. Most programs at established centers fall in the $1,000 to $3,000 per week range and include ceremonies, meals, accommodation, and integration support.
Each ceremony session lasts roughly four to six hours, and most retreats include multiple ceremonies over the course of a stay. The full experience, including preparation beforehand and integration afterward, often calls for a commitment of seven to 14 days. Programs lasting six to eight days are the most common format.
Preparation Requirements
Legitimate centers require dietary and lifestyle changes before a ceremony. These aren’t optional suggestions. Ayahuasca contains compounds that act as a type of enzyme inhibitor, which means certain foods and substances can cause dangerous reactions.
A typical preparation protocol asks you to follow restrictions for 10 days to two weeks before your ceremony. The dietary guidelines usually include avoiding pork and red meat (chicken and fish are generally allowed), cutting out dairy products, and limiting yourself to a simple selection of fresh vegetables and fruit. Alcohol and recreational drugs should be stopped at least two weeks in advance. Sexual abstinence is required in many traditions rooted in Shipibo healing practices, typically starting 10 days before the retreat.
Medication Interactions That Can Be Dangerous
This is the single most important safety consideration. Ayahuasca contains a natural enzyme inhibitor that can interact with common medications to cause serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition, or dangerous heart rhythm changes.
If you take any antidepressant, you need to know the specific risks. Most common antidepressants, including SSRIs and SNRIs, require tapering off and discontinuing at least two weeks before an ayahuasca ceremony. One widely prescribed SSRI, fluoxetine, stays in the body much longer and requires a six-week washout period. Older antidepressants in the tricyclic category carry the same two-week minimum, with some posing a higher risk of serotonin syndrome than others.
Other medications with serious interaction risks include certain sleep and anxiety medications. Trazodone requires at least one week of discontinuation due to the risk of heart rhythm problems. Buspirone, commonly prescribed for anxiety, needs at least five days. Bupropion, often prescribed for depression or smoking cessation, requires a two-week taper, though serotonin syndrome specifically is less likely with this one.
Mirtazapine, another common antidepressant, carries a risk of heart rhythm prolongation when combined with ayahuasca’s enzyme-inhibiting properties, and also requires at least two weeks off.
Any reputable ceremony provider will ask about your medications before accepting you. If they don’t ask, that’s a serious red flag. Never stop a psychiatric medication abruptly on your own to prepare for a ceremony. Tapering needs to happen under medical supervision, and some people simply cannot safely discontinue their medications for this purpose.
How to Evaluate a Provider
The lack of regulation in the U.S. means the quality and safety of ayahuasca experiences varies enormously. A few things to look for: the provider should have a clear legal basis for operating (religious exemption, or transparent acknowledgment of the legal landscape). They should conduct a thorough medical screening that specifically asks about your medications, psychiatric history, and cardiovascular health. They should have experienced facilitators present during ceremonies, and at least one person trained in emergency response.
The preparation guidelines should be detailed and enforced, not merely suggested. Integration support after the experience, whether through group sessions or one-on-one check-ins, is a marker of a serious program. And the pricing should be transparent, with no hidden fees for additional ceremonies or support that turns out to be essential.