Man to stand trial over South American jungle vines

ATLANTA - A man from Peru accused of illegally importing jungle vines and leaves to brew a hallucinogenic tea must stand trial, a federal magistrate ruled Wednesday. <br> <br> U.S. Magistrate Alan Baverman declined to dismiss an indictment against Alan Thomas Shoemaker, whose lawyer contended the Peruvian ayahuasca vines and huambisa leaves are legal substances. <br> <br> Baverman noted that Shoemaker is accused of importing almost 1,000 pounds of the materials, ``the combination of which make a potent hallucinogenic brew.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Shoemaker and his son were charged in April, a year after U.S. Customs officials at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport found three crates of the vines and leaves aboard a flight from Peru. <br> <br> Shoemaker, 49, said in a recent interview that he moved to Peru 10 years ago to study shaman folklore. His lawyer, Page Pate of Atlanta, said Shoemaker planned to use the tea solely for religious purposes in the United States.