State | Ayahuasca Legal Status↓ | Additional Ayahuasca Legality Details | |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Alabama | Illegal | |
![]() | Alaska | Illegal | |
![]() | Arizona | Illegal | |
![]() | Arkansas | Illegal | |
![]() | California | Illegal | Several cities, such as Oakland, Santa Cruz, and Berkeley, have decriminalized certain plant-based entheogens. These efforts are local, not statewide. |
![]() | Connecticut | Illegal | |
![]() | Delaware | Illegal | |
![]() | Florida | Illegal | |
![]() | Georgia | Illegal | |
![]() | Hawaii | Illegal | |
![]() | Idaho | Illegal | |
![]() | Illinois | Illegal | |
![]() | Indiana | Illegal | |
![]() | Iowa | Illegal | |
![]() | Kansas | Illegal | |
![]() | Kentucky | Illegal | |
![]() | Louisiana | Illegal | |
![]() | Maine | Illegal | |
![]() | Maryland | Illegal | |
![]() | Massachusetts | Illegal | Some cities, like Somerville, Cambridge, and Northampton, have deprioritized enforcement against entheogens. This is non-binding and mostly symbolic. |
![]() | Michigan | Illegal | |
![]() | Minnesota | Illegal | |
![]() | Mississippi | Illegal | |
![]() | Missouri | Illegal | |
![]() | Montana | Illegal | |
![]() | Nebraska | Illegal | |
![]() | Nevada | Illegal | |
![]() | New Hampshire | Illegal | |
![]() | New Jersey | Illegal | |
![]() | New Mexico | Illegal | |
![]() | New York | Illegal | |
![]() | North Carolina | Illegal | |
![]() | North Dakota | Illegal | |
![]() | Ohio | Illegal | |
![]() | Oklahoma | Illegal | |
![]() | Pennsylvania | Illegal | |
![]() | Rhode Island | Illegal | |
![]() | South Carolina | Illegal | |
![]() | South Dakota | Illegal | |
![]() | Tennessee | Illegal | |
![]() | Texas | Illegal | |
![]() | Utah | Illegal | |
![]() | Vermont | Illegal | |
![]() | Virginia | Illegal | |
![]() | Washington | Illegal | Some cities, such as Seattle, Port Townsend, and Tacoma, have passed local resolutions deprioritizing enforcement. No statewide decriminalization. |
![]() | West Virginia | Illegal | |
![]() | Wisconsin | Illegal | |
![]() | Wyoming | Illegal | |
![]() | Oregon | Decriminalized for small amounts | Measure 110 (2020) decriminalized possession of small amounts of all drugs, including DMT. Measure 109 legalized psilocybin therapy, but it does not cover DMT. |
![]() | Colorado | Decriminalized | In November 2022, voters passed Proposition 122, decriminalizing natural psychedelics (including DMT) for adults 21+. A regulated access program for licensed healing centers was expected by late 2024, but appears delayed as of early 2025. |
![]() | District of Columbia | Decriminalized |
Many people are looking for a religious experience, and one of the most popular ways to do so is to try ayahuasca. This unique substance has been used for centuries to promote connections with the spiritual world, but it has only recently gained popularity among people of European backgrounds. With such a strong interest in the unique substance, everyone must ensure they know how to use it safely. There are a few important points that everyone has to keep in mind.
Even though ayahuasca is a compound that is only now gaining popularity among people of European descent, it has been popular for a long time among people of Native American backgrounds. Before the arrival of European settlers in North America, ayahuasca was used by Native Americans for religious ceremonies.
There was a strong belief that ayahuasca made it easier to connect with spiritual deities. Users would take the plant, isolate the compound, and get led through a religious experience with the help of a shaman. Even though the situation has changed slightly in the modern era, many tribes still use this compound regularly. Many people closely tie the compound to their identity as a people.
Like many other compounds, the exact nature of what ayahuasca might do to you can vary significantly from person to person. If you are interested in giving this compound a try, it is important to start low and go slow. Until you know how your body will react to the compound, you do not want to increase the amount of ayahuasca you take too quickly.
It is important to remember that you could end up with an adverse reaction. It is a compound that can lead to hallucinogenic symptoms, and there are a lot of psychoactive properties. While it is unlikely, you can have some adverse effects. That is why many people recommend that you only use this compound in the presence of someone else.
It is difficult to tell where this compound is legal in the U.S. It is federally illegal as its component, DMT, is a Schedule 1 substance. However, if you are on Native American land, they make their own rules. The federal government considers tribal land sovereign and able to self-govern, so you should be fine to try this compound as long as you are on their land.
In addition, there are a few states where ayahuasca has been decriminalized. Suppose you are in Oregon, Washington, and certain cities in California or Michigan. In that case, you should be able to use the compound on your own, but there might be some local regulations that you need to take into account as well. While it is likely that a lot of other states will legalize the compound in the near future, it is still important for you to look at the local regulations in your area to make sure you don’t break any laws.