CHURCH GOES TO POT

(CNS) - Two men who operated a church where marijuana was sold as a
sacrament have been sentenced to prison. 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 Friday, the judge called the operation "a
marijuana convenience store that operates for profit like a
prohibition-era speakeasy, but disguised as a church." In 2004,
police officers purchased marijuana from the church in an undercover sting.

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," said police officer
Bob MacDonald.