A court ruling on religious use of peyote has prompted Utah lawmakers to consider a measure that would impose more restrictions on such use of the drug, the Associated Press reported Jan. 22.

Under the bill, only members of federally recognized Native American tribes could use peyote, and then only during traditional religious ceremonies. Backers say the bill would prevent people from claiming to be Native Americans or religious users in order to avoid prosecution for peyote use.

The Utah Supreme Court recently threw out a case against Linda and James Mooney, founders of the Oklevueha EarthWalks Native American Church, for providing peyote to church members and visitors. The court said that state law failed to recognize that federal law allowed religious use of the drug.

Native Americans were disturbed about the publicity surrounding the Mooney case, but also anxious to maintain their rights to use peyote.