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First Amendment Rights Case Study

Decent Essays

In 1983 & 1984, Galen Black and Al Smith lost their jobs for violating ADAPT’s (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment) abstinence-only policy. They used the drug peyote as part of their religious ceremonies as members of the Native American Church. They filed a claim for unemployment benefits, but they were denied because the reason for their dismissal was viewed as work-related misconduct (2/8). They filed a lawsuit saying this denial violated their First Amendment rights (8). Smith and his lawyer maintained that the state had no compelling interest strong enough to override the right of members of the Native American Church to practice religion. The state initially argued that its compelling interest lay in protecting the integrity

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