This chapter examines the evolving landscape of ayahuasca regulation in the United States following the legal victories of the UDV and Santo Daime churches. The chapter assesses the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) exemption process for religious use of controlled substances under the RFRA, addressing the bureaucratic and legal challenges faced by new religious groups seeking protection. It also analyzes how scholars and experts have tackled notions of “sincerity” and “religion” as established by courts and by government agencies, creating frameworks for plant medicine churches to navigate this intricate scenario. The chapter further examines the cases of Soul Quest Church of Mother Earth and the Church of the Eagle and the Condor as contemporary attempts to secure legal recognition for the religious use of ayahuasca, exploring broader implications of state agencies determining religious legitimacy.