Ask NORML: Viability of the Religious Use of Marijuana Defense

[KripDrip]

so if it was part of my religion to sacrifice my family and rape my kids, should that be legal? This is a slippery slope.

[LighterOfDewbies]

I know the religious defense has worked for Ayahuasca...do you think it might also reply to other entheogenic substances, like perhaps psilocybin mushrooms?

[Revolution2pointO]

I have a feeling if I would have told the judge it was for religious purposes only, he would have sneered at me and gave me a harsher punishment.

[notagain1952]

It is fundamental to the Christian religion, it is just that few people are aware of this fact. Busted in Nov '10 and my court date is Aug 8 in Williamson County, TX but it keeps getting pushed out as I am arguing my 1st Amendment rights. Wish me luck as I am defending myself as I have not found anyone to represent me.

[ArisProducer]

For some reason NORML admits to working on the vary case they refuse to acknowledge, Guam V Geurro. This case proved the viability of the religious use defense. NORML now admits it in there blog but refuses to retract this message. It seems they want you to believe what is not true. It's called lying by omission.

[NatlNORML]

Guam V Geurro was a very interesting and nuanced case (based heavily on Guam's Bill of Rights and the Guam Organic Act). NORML is not saying the right to religious use doesn't or shouldn't exist, simply that with most cases, most of the time, courts have yet to reliably recognize a citizen's right to do so. A handful of cases over 40 years out of over 20 million arrests doesn't make it a sound enough defense to rely on when facing serious jail time. We support this concept, US courts however...

[CBennett420]

One has to wonder at the motivation for NORML to keep kicking this can..... So what did we learn from Kieth, don't try to enact your Constitutional rights to freedom of religion, just join NORML and contribute cash, they know all about getting it legal, as they have been trying unsuccessfully for 40 years!

[CBennett420]

pot almost became legal under carter, if it were not for Kieth Stroup, The administration of President Jimmy Carter had favored marijuana reform; however, Peter Bourne, Carter's drug adviser, disagreed with Stroup on ending the spraying of Mexican marijuana fields with the herbicide paraquat. So Stroup told a reporter that Bourne snorted cocaine at NORML's 1977 Christmas party. Bourne was subsequently fired.

[CBennett420]

Stroup is wayyy off. Rastafarian is a relatively new religion, less than 100 years old. The religious use of cannabis in all sorts of traditions that are much older and many of these "new age" religions which Stroup comments on, are tied in with these older traditions. There was a time in the USA that medical use was not recognized either, people changed that, and who is to say that will not happen again with reliigous use pioneers.

[xcannabiscom]

1. There have been people like Ed Forchion that has fought for and won his religious freedom on federal property in New Jersy.

2. James Mooney in Utah won a case against him concerning giving peyote (Schedule I drug) to non-native Americans

3. The First Amendment is a constitutional right regardless if the authorities misinterpret that law.

4. Ras Ta Fari's ancient connection is through the Bible, not through their 20th century Emperor Ras Ta Fari aka Halie Selassie I. Keith is mistaken.

[vx3k]

I believe cannabis brings me closer to "god". No need to be judged other by what nature allows to flourish..A plant that can be used as medicine? Never heard of that..../palm

[hgeny]

Banning marijuana is just another continues attack on americans civil rights of freedom. This has nothing to do with protecting americans. This keeps the DEA 55 billion taxpayers dollars rich and drug dealers in business while punishing americans that grow or use cannabis, hemp. Plant a seed, grow more weed, keep american cannabis green.

[gettingolder2]

Been waiting all my life, for someone, to prove there is a god, to me, but it has not happened yet. James Randi has a million Dollars, to give away, if someone wants to put up or shut up.

[xcannabiscom]

@gettingolder2 I can prove intelligent design easily.

[harobmx123]

religion is a bunch of crap,god isn't real and obviously people who matter don't think so either otherwise marijuana would b legal if people believed "god" put it here

[adgalati7]

@harobmx123 you're right, "religion" is a bunch of crap. Saying there is no God however, makes you a fool. I don't understand how someone can actually truly believe that our existence came out of nowhere... anyway, once again its a shame that religious people give themselves a bad name on this topic as you have shown your influence by them. Religion is just a bunch of rules and traditions that make people stray away from the very real aspect of what religion is trying to teach: spirituality

[adgalati7]

ummm although i agree, the religion of Rastafari didn't start until the 1900s so why did he say hundreds of years lol

[tempersne]

Also, Genesis 1:29 states very clearly that marijuana is a sacrament to all whom follow the god in the bible.

[tempersne]

You are not accurate the Supreme court ruled in Gonzalez v UDV that the US could to ban a control substance in a tea used for religion. Curiously during the argument the court specifically asked about marijuana but the set a broad precedent. Also it should be noted that the language was changed to disallow the acts use in state court.

[SteffanieJ19]

Legalize it!!

[pilethebodies]

I completely agree that Americans should be protected by the 1st. I don't personally use religion as an excuse to smoke due my lack of belief. BUT I DO believe that the Bible is a REAL book of stories over time. The Christian religion (all forms included) recognizes the Bible as the base of Christianity. The United States government recognizes GOD on all currency.

I see a world full of hypocrites who 'Pray' to said GOD but don't practice what they believe because they care about Public Face. BS.

[adgalati7]

@pilethebodies That is exactly what most christian denominations believe and its really sad.  You're so right, a bunch of hypocrites who believe in a God who created the earth (as do I) but then throw one of his most amazing versatile, natural resources back in his face and say that its evil. And just because a pastor from a pulpit declares that, all the members of the church are going to believe it. Just sad...

[pilethebodies]

@adgalati7 I have more respect for you, not just admitting your beliefs, but also that we share a view on that subject and ultimately for the FACT that you don't care that other people see your support of something viewed Illegal.

I support what Keith says also on the fact that the govt shouldn't care why WE want to smoke, do they care why people drink or smoke cigarettes? No, its revenue to them, why should they! But sadly we all know a bible quote that supports it indirectly.

Decriminalize it!

[rmmy100]

@pilethebodies so true. thats what the word means when it speaks of those in the world or apart of it. just wine is seen as a man human right to consume, hopefully in moderation however when used recreationally we run into problems but it is a social abd political hypocracy when at least a million americans who use marijuana and more across the world. if people feel they need to put god in the center of such an argument. than one would think it's high time for congress to take another look

[dvssk8er3]

after smoking pot i can't believe any person would conform to one set of written doctrine

[SputnikMedia]

What about the Christian Church? It's been around for 2 thousand years and the book of Genesis has been around for about 4 thousand years. In Genesis 1:29 it specifically says "Behold I god almighty give unto you ever herb bearing see that is all upon the face of the earth to be for your use as substance"

Now if that does not clearly state that God himself gave us cannabis then nothing does.  How can the government tell me I cannot enjoy a gift from god?

[Saiha123]

Thanks for posting, Keith is great :)

[krissi2977]

Is he wearing a Life Alert?

PS. First!