Forbes
Magic Mushroom Pastor Willing to Go to Jail for New San Francisco Church
Zide Door's Founder Defies Police and Prosecutors
Members Pay $5 Monthly for Services and Psychedelic Experiences
The notorious "magic mushroom pastor" Dave Hodges has announced his plans to open a new church in San Francisco, despite the threat of arrest and prosecution. Hodges is the founder of the Zide Door Church of Entheogenic Plants in Oakland, California, which has become one of the most prominent magic mushroom churches in the United States.
In March 2024, Hodges announced that he would be stepping down as pastor of Zide Door to focus on his new church in San Francisco. He said that the new church would be called the Church of Ambrosia and would offer a variety of services, including psychedelic-assisted religious ceremonies.
Hodges said that he is willing to go to jail for his new church because he believes that psychedelic mushrooms are a sacred medicine that can help people connect with the divine. He said that he has seen firsthand the benefits of psychedelic mushrooms in his own life and in the lives of his congregants.
Hodges's announcement has been met with mixed reactions. Some people support his decision to open a new church, while others believe that he is breaking the law and should be arrested. The Oakland Police Department has said that it will not raid Zide Door Church, but it has not ruled out the possibility of arresting Hodges if he opens a new church in San Francisco.
The Zide Door Church of Entheogenic Plants was founded in 2019 and has quickly grown to become one of the largest magic mushroom churches in the United States. The church has over 60,000 members who pay $5 a month for services and psychedelic experiences.
The church has been raided by police several times, but Hodges has always been able to avoid arrest. He has said that he is willing to go to jail for his beliefs and that he will not stop offering psychedelic-assisted religious ceremonies.
The Oaklandside
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