Church of Ambrosia

Church of Ambrosia
Formation2019
FounderDave Hodges
TypeReligious organization
HeadquartersOakland, California, United States
Coordinates37°47′29″N 122°15′01″W / 37.79145°N 122.25037°W / 37.79145; -122.25037
Region served
San Francisco Bay Area
Members137,000 (claimed) (2026)
Head Pastor
Dave Hodges
SubsidiariesZide Door Church of Entheogenic Plants
Websitehttps://ambrosia.church/

Church of Ambrosia, also known as Zide Door, is a nondenominational religious organisation and psychedelic church founded in 2019 in Oakland, California. It is led by Dave Hodges and operates primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The church is known for sacramental use of psychedelic drugs, particularly cannabis and psilocybin mushrooms, which it distributes at religious services and public events.[1][2][3] It has been described as part of a movement of contemporary psychedelic and entheogen-based religious organisations in the United States.[4][5]

The church opened a second location in San Francisco in 2023, which later closed in 2024 amid regulatory and zoning disputes. The organisation has also engaged in public advocacy related to drug policy and psychedelic legislation in California.

In 2020, its Oakland premises were raided by Oakland Police Department following allegations of unlicensed cannabis sales, leading to subsequent legal action against the City of Oakland. The organisation has also faced ongoing disputes with local authorities regarding permitting, zoning compliance, and enforcement actions related to its operations.

History

Dave Hodges, who had a background in cannabis activism and lobbying for legalization, founded Church of Ambrosia in January 2019 in Oakland, California.[6][7][8]

In April 2023, the church opened a second location in the South of Market neighbourhood of San Francisco.[9][10][11]

Operations

The church conducts public events around the use of entheogenic substances, including psilocybin mushrooms and cannabis. It has been described in media coverage as organising gatherings linked to cannabis culture and psychedelic advocacy, including events coinciding with the annual 4/20 observances in the San Francisco Bay Area.[12]

In 2024, the organisation announced plans to provide harm-reduction and support services during an unsanctioned 4/20 gathering at Hippie Hill in San Francisco, alongside other groups and volunteers participating in the event.[13][14]

The organisation has publicly commented on legislation affecting psychedelic substances in California, including the veto of Senate Bill 58 by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2023.[15][16]

Controversies

2020 police raid

In May 2019, following a complaint that the church was operating as a cannabis dispensary without a permit, an undercover police officer visited the church, became a member, and purchased cannabis. On August 13, 2020, the Zide Door building was raided by Oakland Police Department.

In August 2022, Hodges filed a lawsuit against the City of Oakland and the Oakland Police Department alleging civil rights and religious freedom violations.[17][18] The lawsuit was later voluntarily dismissed, and the church applied for a conditional use permit.[19]

San Francisco location

In August 2024, former employees reported becoming "disillusioned" with the church and Hodges.[20]

In December 2024, the church closed the San Francisco location, citing targeted harassment by the San Francisco Planning Department.[21][22][23][24] This followed sustained legal and regulatory pressure regarding distribution and use of controlled substances, as well as ongoing disputes regarding zoning and compliance regulations for the operation of physical premises.[25][26][27][28][29]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Inside the world's largest psychedelic mushroom church : Planet Money". NPR. 2026-01-23. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  2. ↑ "The Church of Ambrosia: Religion, Law, and the Role of the Scholar in a Contemporary Psychedelic Church | AAR Annual Meeting". papers.aarweb.org. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  3. ↑ "This 'Psychedelic Church' Is Handing Out Magic Mushrooms to Hundreds of Members for Free—Yes, Really". Popular Mechanics. 2025-02-19. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  4. ↑ Black, Lester (2024-08-22). "This San Francisco church has 115K members yet might be illegal". SFGATE. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  5. ↑ Busby, Mattha (2024-06-05). "Inside the Megachurch Where Shrooms and Weed Are Religion". VICE. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  6. ↑ Yakowicz, Will. "The Prophet Of Shroom: Inside America's Largest (And Trippiest) Megachurch". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  7. ↑ "Inside the Bay Area's Church of Magic Mushrooms". Hyperallergic. 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  8. ↑ Faretra, Joe (2024-06-13). "Inside cannabis-worshiping megachurch with armed guards and 'Prophet of Shrooms'". Daily Star. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  9. ↑ Pescovitz, David (2023-04-13). "Oakland's magic mushroom church is opening a new chapel in San Francisco". Boing Boing. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  10. ↑ "Oakland's Magic Mushroom Church Opens San Francisco Outpost". sfstandard.com. 2023-04-19. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  11. ↑ Dilworth, Miles (2024-04-14). "San Francisco's psychedelic pastor says he can get people off fentanyl". Mail Online. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  12. ↑ Cano, Ricardo (2024-03-31). "No hallucination: Hundreds back magic mushrooms at Oakland psychedelic wellness conference". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  13. ↑ News • •, Tony Hicks | Bay City (2024-04-18). "'We see this as a religious event': Church to offer services for those celebrating 4/20 in SF". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  14. ↑ "SF 'psychedelic church' to provide support services for unsanctioned 4/20 event". KRON4. 2024-04-18. Archived from the original on 2024-04-30. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  15. ↑ "Church of Ambrosia Responds to Gov. Newsom's Veto of SB58". Archived from the original on 2025-04-18. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  16. ↑ writer |, Natalia Gurevich | Examiner staff (2024-08-15). "Standards for psychedelic religions vital, leaders say". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  17. ↑ Krishnan, Manisha (2022-08-17). "A Magic Mushrooms Church Is Suing Cops for Raiding $200K of 'Sacrament'". VICE. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  18. ↑ "Psychedelic Church Files Lawsuit Over Police Raid | High Times". 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  19. ↑ Burnett, Ayla (2023-08-21). "Oakland's psychedelic mushroom church applies for permit to keep operating". The Oaklandside. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  20. ↑ writer |, Natalia Gurevich | Examiner staff (2024-08-15). "Bad Trip: An Examiner Special Investigation". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  21. ↑ "World's largest "psychedelic church" to shut down San Francisco location - CBS San Francisco". www.cbsnews.com. 2024-12-12. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  22. ↑ "Church Of Ambrosia |". Les Echos Comfi (in French). 2024-12-10. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  23. ↑ Carreon, Mary (2025-02-20). "Psychedelic church gets shut down in the Bay". DoubleBlind Mag. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  24. ↑ Black, Lester (2024-12-11). "'Huge setback': SF's massive psychedelic church is leaving the city". SFGATE. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  25. ↑ Dunne, Rowan (2024-12-12). "San Francisco psychedelic church shuts down over hostility from city officials". Mugglehead Investment Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  26. ↑ "World's largest psychedelic church about to close its doors in San Francisco - CBS San Francisco". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  27. ↑ "San Francisco church with 'magic mushrooms' to close after alleged harassment by city". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  28. ↑ "San Francisco Mushroom Church Will Close, Alleging It Was Targeted by City | KQED". www.kqed.org. 2024-12-11. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  29. ↑ "'Magic Mushroom Church' Is Closing Down Its SoMa Location, Claiming Harassment From SF City Hall". SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports. 2024-12-11. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
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