Dave Hodges, 42, believes the city would have fewer opioid addicts if there were more churches offering religious sacraments in the form of psychedelic drugs. He founded the Church of Ambrosia in Oakland five years ago and it has now has 106,000 members, meaning it is technically the biggest megachurch in the US. Research into whether psychedelics can treat opioid addiction is in its early stages, but Hodges claims members have got clean since joining his church
Budget cuts and financial woes forced San Francisco to cancel its annual 420 celebration at Golden Gate Park this year, but a self-described psychedelic church says it will step in to help support the thousands of people expected to still make the "religious pilgrimage." "Anybody who is going out to Hippie Hill on 420 to smoke a joint, they're doing that religiously, whether or not they realize it," said Church of Ambrosia Pastor Dave Hodges in a statement. "This is like a pilgrimage to Mecca."...