The Zide Door Church of Entheogenic Plants in Oakland, led by Pastor Dave Hodges, centers its worship around psilocybin as a legally protected religious sacrament—not therapy or recreation. With over 135,000 members, it operates in a legal gray zone, navigating federal prohibition through constitutional claims of religious liberty. Lawyer John Rapp, motivated by personal tragedy and healing, defends such churches pro bono, drawing on Supreme Court precedent while confronting the DEA’s slow, restrictive exemption process. Courts assess legitimacy using concrete criteria: defined leadership, rituals, theology, and texts—standards the church actively formalizes. A 2020 Oakland police raid, though disruptive, amplified its visibility and membership. Yet financial strain persists: cash-only operations, high security costs, and thin margins underscore the precariousness of operating outside banking and legal frameworks. Despite skepticism, the movement frames itself as spiritual harm reduction—and as a growing force pushing toward federal policy reform.