PREACHER SAYS HIS POT IS FOR RELIGION

EUGENE, Ore. - Daniel Ernst has a novel reason for smoking pot -- he
says it's part of his religion.

Police in Eugene busted the pot preacher last week on charges of
selling marijuana out of his home. Ernst says he founded his church,
called the The Popular Society of the I Am That I Am Assembly, three
years ago.

He claims it's mandatory for members to smoke marijuana. But
prosecutors aren't buying the pot-as-sacrament argument. Police say a
search of Ernst's home turned up several pounds of pot, growing
plants and about $8,000 in cash.