Pubdate: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 Source: Trentonian, The (NJ) Column: NJ Weedman's Passing the Joint Copyright: 2015 The Trentonian Contact: http://www.trentonian.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1006 Author: Ed Forchion, NJWeedman.com For The Trentonian CANNABIS CHURCH IN TRENTON? I'm going to cause a rip in Trenton. No not a bong rip, I take those all the time I'm talking about a rip (Religious Interruption in Procedures). We live in America and despite the claim that we have religious freedom in America we don't. The very prohibition issued by the founding fathers in the Bill of Rights was: "the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion" We commonly call this our Right to Religious Freedom, the first amendment. But in reality what we have is religious freedom as long as the "Christian majority" endorses it. Practices and beliefs of others faiths have been routinely banned and outlawed here with very little outcry. The practices of non-Christian religions are simply called criminal acts, like the use of marijuana. Example: In some religions multiple wives are acceptable but here in America the good Christians of Congress have outlawed that religious practice because it doesn't conform to their religious practice of one-man one woman. Ironically same sex marriage is now becoming a national trend while polygamy is still outlawed. As I puff this JOINT I wonder what if a same sex couple decided to expand their marriage to one more, would a same sex threesome marriage be prosecuted as polygamy? OMG - just pass me THE JOINT. I don't talk about my personal religious agnostics feelings, because it irritates me to be proselytize too. BUT for the public the record: I've been an agnostic for years but I lean towards a particular religion - Rastafari. I have professed in court to be a Rastafarian but I'm not in any way a spokesman for the faith of Rastafari. In fact I'm a bad example of one. Like a follower of any faith I have questions about the faiths teachings. I am not perfect at anything. Yet, I see Bob Marley the faiths most well known follower as a Prophet and spiritual guide, a true representative of this faith - Rastafari. His songs have always been my sermons. I've been "getting up, standing up fighting for our rights" as he taught us! In my case now before the NJ Appeals Court NJ vs. Forchion, 4052-4477; I fight for the religious right to consume the sacrament of the Rastafarian faith - "Ganja". Like those good Christians have now allowed for medical users. Keep in mind I understand the Third Circuit Court of Appeals which covers New Jersey has ruled in Police v. City of Newark, 170 F.3d 359 (3d Cir. 1999) - ruled - "Govt had to provide a substantial justification for refusing to make accommodation for religious belief". My fight is: if the state of New Jersey allows medical use of marijuana, it must also allow religious use. The Liberty Bell Temple III? I'm in the process of opening a Cannabis Temple here in Trenton, no one will force anyone to go I wish only free thinkers to join my congregation, those that don't share my spirituality stay away, I don't go to your church and complain about what you do. I only ask that the larger "endorsed religious leaders" don't endorse any more persecution my way I'm practicing. In looking thru my Facebook a couple nights ago I spotted a letter written by one of my Facebook friends Justin Escher Alpert, addressed to members of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. I liked it so much I asked him if I could use in this week's column. He said yes, but when I began to copy and paste pieces from it I was hit by a epiphany. Or the word of GOD - "Use it all" Then I walked into my JOINT, and there sat Reed Gusoria eating a chicken wrap and his two staffers chowing down on Salmon burgers. Come to my JOINT, Pass the Joint and read this JOINT by Justin: Dear Assemblywoman Angelini and Assemblyman Gusciora: Here is some interesting insight on the Spiritual nature of the Cannabis Plant: "And that is the main problem of the spiritual use of drugs in general. Over the years of banning, people have lost a lot of knowledge of how to approach a substance, what safety precautions to take and what can be expected. Drugs have always been put to good spiritual use, and they have the power to alter human consciousness. But they need a positive handling to bring good changes, and that cannot be provided in criminal surroundings. In previous times, there were initiated people in charge of everything concerning them, and they made it a point to teach younger generations. CANNABIS AND THE SPIRIT- Cannabis truth Cannabis has been used for over a thousand years by most of the world's great cultures as a medicine. Most people in the west are unaware ... Jeb Bush had this to say recently about People of Faith: "It's not just that People of Faith can have their views... It's that they need the space to act on their conscience. That is what Faith is about. The best of our Faith... anybody of Faith... Christian, Jewish, all faiths... is when People act on their core beliefs in a way to help others... or to protect the vulnerable... or to do whatever they think is right based on their Faith." http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/Video-Embeds/2015/May/Jeb-Bush-On-Religious-Freedom/ Assemblywoman Angelini and Assemblyman Gusciora, for many people, the Cannabis Plant becomes a source of Faith. It doesn't displace Religion, but in fact, it sits on top of it and compliments it. Man walks down a sometimes lonely road, carrying only the weight that He chooses to carry. Along the way, He tears the order form page out of the back of the good book that he is reading, rolls up some ditchweed, and lights it to gain some insight from a Source that is not trying to Profit from His existence. In the process, Man gains context and continues to step with Faith that the road before Him leads to a more fulfilling place. The Cannabis Community wishes to free itself from the prejudicial judgment of others who may not have a frame of reference that comfortably leads to Understanding. This is the outreach. There are many in the Cannabis Community who continue to act on their core beliefs to help others... to protect the vulnerable... to do what they think is right based on their Faith. They are not asking for permission. They are asking for recognition as an equal part of the broader fabric of society. Thank you, Assemblywoman Angelini and Assemblyman Gusciora, for respectfully leading the conversation. - - Justin Escher Alpert, Livingston - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom