Pubdate: Thu, 12 Sep 2013
Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI)
Copyright: 2013 Star Advertiser
Contact: 
http://www.staradvertiser.com/info/Star-Advertiser_Letter_to_the_Editor.html
Website: http://www.staradvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5154
Author: Ken Kobayashi

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DEFENSE QUASHED IN MARIJUANA CASE

A federal judge Wednesday rejected the religious freedom defense 
raised by Hawaii island cannabis advocate Roger Christie to his 
marijuana-trafficking charges.

U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi ruled that the prosecution had 
established that the practices of The Hawaii Cannabis Ministry, led 
by Christie, posed a substantial risk that marijuana would be 
distributed to people who were not members of the ministry and those 
people would use marijuana for nonreligious purposes.

The judge held that the prosecution showed that the marijuana laws 
are the "least restrictive means" to halt the distribution of "mass 
quantities of marijuana to non-adherents" of Christie's ministry.

Christie and his wife, Sherryanne, raised the defense under the 
federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act that seeks to prevent 
government interference in a person's free exercise of religion.

A ruling in favor of the Christies would have led to the dismissal of 
the charges against them.

Kobayashi's decision clears the way for the Christies' federal trial 
scheduled for Oct. 8.

Christie, 63, who has become an icon among marijuana advocates, 
maintained that cannabis is a sacrament and an integral part of the ministry.

He was arrested in July 2010 and has been held without bail for more 
than three years awaiting his trial.

Christie, his wife and 12 others were charged with marijuana 
trafficking related to Christie's Hilo ministry.

His wife has been free on bond.

Most of the other defendants have pleaded guilty or will be pleading 
guilty to marijuana charges in the case.
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