POT CHURCH BUSTED

HAMILTON (CNS) - Two men who operated a church where marijuana was
sold as a sacrament here, were sentenced to prison Friday. Michael
Baldasaro was sentenced to two years in jail while Walter Tucker will
spend one year behind bars in connection with selling marijuana at
the Church of the Universe.

In handing down his ruling, the judge called the operation "a
marijuana convenience store that operates for profit like a
prohibition-era speakeasy, but disguised as a church."

Baldasaro and Tucker maintain that God tells them to smoke marijuana
and pass joints to their Church of the Universe parishioners.

The case of the two men, who also lived in the church, made history
in Hamilton because it's the first time a residence has been seized
under the drug law.

"This will send the message that if you're going to carry on
trafficking in drugs, growing drugs, on your premise or residence, it
can be forfeited as offence-related property," added Hamilton Police
officer Bob MacDonald.