Welcome to Terrapin Station
A Historic Exemption for the Church of Gaia
After three years of quiet strength, the Church of Gaia receives the first religious exemption for Ayahuasca through the DEA’s petition process.
Terrapin Legal is humbled and grateful to announce that on May 16, 2025, the Church of Gaia secured the first-ever exemption from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) pursuant to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Unlike other churches that have gained recognition through lawsuits, Gaia’s exemption was granted through the DEA’s own internal petition process — a non-judicial path that required years of careful preparation, documentation, and perseverance.
With this decision, Gaia joins a very small number of ayahuasca churches in the United States who have been granted the legal right to use this sacred medicine in sincere religious ceremony.
Terrapin has been honored to support Gaia through this rigorous journey. Their patience, clarity, and commitment over the years have been extraordinary. We are deeply grateful to Gaia’s leadership team, teachers, community, and support systems for helping bring this to fruition.
A heartfelt acknowledgment goes to Pat Donahue, who served as lead counsel for the Church of Gaia for over two years. His deep expertise, unwavering dedication, and steady counsel were instrumental throughout this process. Even after transitioning back to public defense, Pat remained a trusted advisor, mentor, and consultant, offering critical insight and support through the final stages.
We also extend deep gratitude to the many hands and hearts that supported this work along the way—from fellow attorneys and consultants to elders and quiet mentors who offered wisdom when it was most needed. This success belongs to no one person. It is the result of a constellation of efforts: of long nights, careful drafting, unseen prayers, and standing up for that which is sacred.
This moment is also rooted in the work of many who came before. Those who protected traditions through tumultuous times, who translated sacred experience into language that could be heard by courts and communities alike. We offer our profound respect and gratitude to the elders, lineage holders, cultural stewards, and all those who have contributed to the entheogenic ecosystem across time. This milestone stands on the shoulders of their courage, sacrifice, and devotion. May it serve as a step forward for all who walk this path with integrity.
In the weeks to come, Gaia, Pat, and Taylor will share more about this experience with the broader community. For now, the core team is taking a moment to catch our breath. It has been a wild few years, full of meaning beyond words, and we are grateful for a moment of pause before the next act begins.
You can read the public release from Gaia here.
You can read Terrapin’s newsletter here.
With gratitude and reverence,
Taylor E. Loyden
Lead Counsel for the Church of Gaia
-
In the Winter of 2025, Washington State considered SB 5201, a bill aimed at developing a regulated framework for psilocybin. In our role as advocates, we supported drafting amendments to key provisions, incorporating lessons learned from other states to ensure broad, equitable access while maintaining clear, practical regulations that reflect the state’s public health goals.
Our proposed amendments prioritized accessibility for both participants and facilitators, addressing barriers that often complicate meaningful access to psilocybin services. We drew from past experiences to help prevent the regulatory challenges seen in other state frameworks, offering practical, legally grounded solutions to refine the bill and ensure it supports the sustainable growth of the psychedelic ecosystem.
-
In January of 2025, Taylor Loyden of Terrapin Legal delivered a presentation at the Psychedelics in the Beehive event in Salt Lake City, Utah, focusing on the evolving legal landscape surrounding psychedelics and plant medicine.
The presentation explored the legal and ethical complexities faced by practitioners in various jurisdictions. Drawing from current legal frameworks and emerging regulations, Taylor shared best practices and ethical standards that help practitioners navigate legal risks while prioritizing client safety and harm reduction. Key topics included the importance of informed consent, ethical frameworks, and compliance with legal structures, all aimed at supporting the responsible, sustainable growth of psychedelic healing practices.
-
Taylor Loyden of Terrapin Legal recently delivered a Law & Ethics module for a psychedelic facilitator training, providing critical guidance on protecting plant medicine containers through proper legal safeguards. This training focused on practical, real-world steps to minimize risk, uphold ethical standards, and ensure facilitators are prepared for the complex legal landscape surrounding their work.
As psychedelic practices gain mainstream recognition, facilitators must proactively safeguard their work against legal vulnerabilities. A strong understanding of legal and ethical frameworks isn’t just protective—it’s essential for ensuring the longevity and integrity of these practices. Terrapin Legal offers tailored training to equip facilitators with the knowledge they need to operate safely, responsibly, and in alignment with evolving laws.
-
Terrapin Legal is honored to be recognized in the 2025 Top 200 Psychedelic Lawyers Guide, a testament to our dedication to advancing psychedelic law and policy. We help practitioners, churches, and organizations navigate complex legal landscapes with clarity and confidence. Our work goes beyond compliance—it’s about protecting the people and communities shaping this space.
Education and advocacy are just as vital as legal strategy, which is why we offer seminars, workshops, and discussions on evolving psychedelic laws. From risk mitigation to policy reform, we’re committed to fostering a responsible and informed ecosystem. We’re grateful for the trust of our clients and peers and look forward to continuing this work together.
-
The Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus aims to promote clinical research on the efficacy and therapeutic potential of Psilocybin and MDMA.
In November 2024, Terrapin Legal submitted a letter to the PATH Caucus in response to their request for input on safely and ethically integrating Psilocybin and MDMA into medical and therapeutic practices. Drawing on Terrapin’s extensive experience in research, advocacy, and support of the psychedelic ecosystem, our submission aimed to help shape equitable, accountable, and evidence-based federal policies.
-
In July 2024, Terrapin Legal submitted a formal comment to the DEA in response to its proposal to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the CSA. While our preferred position remains the complete removal of cannabis from the DEA’s scheduling framework, we expressed support for the proposed rescheduling to Schedule III.
This submission is a reflection of Terrapin's ongoing commitment to advocating for evidence-based policies and the equitable treatment of plant medicines. Through this advocacy, we aim to contribute to the development of policies that not only align with the scientific evidence but also support a more just and balanced approach to the regulation of cannabis and other plant-based medicines in the broader ecosystem.
-
Terrapin Legal stands in strong support of entheogenic legalization efforts in Washington State, recognizing the tireless work of grassroots advocates leading the charge. Among them, Pat Donahue has been instrumental in advancing these efforts, playing a key role in REACH (Responsible Entheogen Access & Community Healing Coalition) and other initiatives pushing for responsible, community-centered legalization.
Through legal guidance, advocacy, and coalition-building, these organizations are working to create frameworks that ensure safe, equitable access to plant medicines. Terrapin Legal is proud to support these efforts, helping to shape policies that prioritize public health, harm reduction, and the protection of traditional and emerging entheogenic practices.
-
In June of 2024, Terrapin Legal hosted a seminar examining the implications of the $15 million judgment awarded against Soul Quest Church of Mother Earth. Featuring a variety of expert speakers, the event explored critical lessons learned about informed consent, liability waivers, emergency response protocols, responsible practices, and the broader impact of the ruling on the plant medicine ecosystem.
This seminar provided valuable insights for entheogenic organizations and practitioners, emphasizing the importance of informed legal and ethical practices to safeguard communities and ensure accountability in the evolving landscape of plant medicine use.
-
In October 2022, Terrapin Legal hosted Psychedelic Law Demystified, a seminar designed to break down the complex legal landscape surrounding psychedelics. We brought together advocates, attorneys, and community leaders to share critical insights on key topics, including entheogenic religious practice in the U.S., federal tax complications for psychedelic businesses, potential defenses to criminal charges, and legal ethics in psychedelic work.