For instance, the use of a certain hallucinogenic herb, which grows all over Europe, North and Central America… more powerful (and dangerous)than any you’ve mentioned (at least in my experience).

We also use marijuana, but I like it for other than ritualistic purposes also(what can I say… me likes being stoned).

That other herb I will only use ritually, even though it is still legal.

I think we are on the same page in a lot of ways, and I appreciate you being candid about this. It infuriates me, and sometimes I just need to face the facts head on. For me, the fact is that the government doesn’t truly respect religious freedom. The first Amendment, the entire bill of rights. The whole concept of our republic and our constitution is rubbish unless it is practiced as it is written.

But for all intensive purposes, under our bill of rights, and under this Religious Freedom Restoration Act, all of the people in all of the major religions have the right to use cannabis.
We can start amending, and screwing with the constitution, and we can impose a non-constitutional policy. But that is just as dangerous if not more so than cannabis prohibition in sight of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

NJWeedMan, is a nice dude, means well, is a little eccentric. But he has been through HELL! Seriously. This guy lost rights to his kids, and when through prison sentences, and all of the BS that comes after getting out, which includes trying to find a job as a felon.

I don’t think you are racist. But to a person that has been roughed up in our racist BS court/prison system I can empathize with him. I’ve been through the court/correction system in our country too. What a disgusting, racist, lowly and painful environment.

We all know how much you two have in common. If you and NJWeedman sat down together for a peaceful ganja session, any conflict would melt away. Thats just how it is with stoners, ya know.

As for Roger Christie. I think the whole “religious kit in a box” thing for $250 is a little extreme, and the claims are pretty eccentric too. However, I have witnessed a lot of conversation on his blog, and on youtube about people who have benefited from his spiritual guidance.

I give my guidance, info, assistance, away for the most part, because I can afford to do some community service pro-bono. However, I have been in a place in life, and I know others who are trying to be as effective as possible as civil rights activists don’t have the ability to dedicate much time to volunteer, or donate time to a cause they are passionate about. So they ask for donations, and in return as a thank you, they give books, certificates, prayers, sacramental items, etc.

I consider it very similar to what Rick Steves does on PBS, when he does pledge drives.
Someone donates a tax deductible sum of cash to an organization, and said organization (in this case PBS) gives them a Rick Steves hemp backpack or something.

They mean well, they both have good hearts, IMHO. As do you Russ. You have our blessing and we wish what you are doing the best! Thanks Russ, for all you do!

But allowing every Tom, Dick, and Harry who joins the less-than-a-generation-old Church of We Like Weed, a religion indistinguishable from garden-variety Christianity except for the recognition of “kaneh bosm”, to consume cannabis anytime anywhere anyhow, substantially burdens the government’s task of keeping cannabis out of the hands of the general public.

With the Native Americans and Brazilians, the religion is substantially different and with rare exceptions the adherents are easily identifiable by their race and ethnicity. So the chances of Billy Average insincerely following the religion in order to get some peyote and ayahuasca are slim, and even if he does, the ceremony and ritual act as controls against him getting it too often.

But with the Church of I Like Pot, Billy Average and all his friends can join, head down to the “temple” in the strip mall, make a “donation” or “tithe” and puff weed to their hearts’ content. That’s the government’s issue with that form of sacrament.

Again, I completely support any adult’s right to use cannabis for whatever purpose, spiritual or otherwise. But the religious use strategy is just not going to fly unless our courts become far more liberal and begin to take a more expansive view of religion. I think you’re absolutely spot on with the religious history of cannabis in all the major world religions, but that has been so whitewashed over time that it means nothing to the courts. Billions of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Hindi are following a cannabis-free version of their ancient practices and have been for the last millennium. A few dozen people forming brand-new religions claiming to be the true interpretation of these ancient practices don’t hold much sway over the courts.

It ain’t right, it ain’t fair, but that’s the way courts rule on religion and drugs. The truly cannabis-religion devout (as I believe you and many of these people are) dedicating resources to carving out an exception for themselves with religion would be better served by explaining the Judeo-Christian history and uses of cannabis to the general public as a means of building support for ending cannabis prohibition for all people (even us non-believers).

By the way, I’ve gone a few rounds in cyberspace with NJ Weedman. He considers me to be racist and doesn’t like me very much. Roger Christie, if I’m not mistaken, is the gentleman in Hawaii who will sell you a $250 Get Out Of Jail Free card to prove you’re a religious user of pot, a card that the police and courts will get a good chuckle over and you can use as a bookmark for your Bible while you read it in your cell.

The first amendment now only applies to Christians.

heh.

You know I could post at length about this one. But I’ve already done that, and made videos about it upon videos..

First. Take a look at the movement NJWeedMan has spearheaded in New Jersey. He uses the RFR Act to smoke herb at federal court in New Jersey all the time. (not now, that he lives in LA though)

http://tr.im/yeGx

As for marijuana being a spiritual practice? This is most definitely a spiritual practice dating back to the old testament.

Here is a video that I made about cannabis and Christian history:

http://tr.im/yeHc

Here is another video with some of the religious history of cannabis, including Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xvf42scU2U

Roger Christie of the THC Ministry, and Chris Bennett who is a theologian and a cannabis advocate are good resources for this information too.

However. It only takes reading Genesis 1:29 to see that Cannabis is not just meant for religious ceremonies. It is “used for good” of man. Period.