POT ADVOCATE'S HOME, MINISTRY OFFICE RAIDED

Marijuana advocate Roger Christie said Hawaii island police and
federal agents raided his home and downtown Hilo offices Wednesday,
seizing records, cash and marijuana he uses as a sacrament in his ministry.

Officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue
Service were at his home at dawn, he said. After three to four hours
there, Christie said, they escorted him to his ministry in downtown
Hilo for another three to four hours.

He said he did not mind the experience "if this is what it takes to be
declared legitimate."

Christie said he filed papers with the IRS declaring himself the
minister of The Hawaii Cannabis (THC) Ministry and is confident the
government will give him a clean bill of health. He said he is also
confident he will get back the seized items.

On the ministry's Web site, he declares that the cultivation and
enjoyment of cannabis is a fundamental human right provided by God and
protected by the First Amendment.

Because of the seizure, he said, he has had to take a break from
providing sacrament, but will keep the ministry open to provide
services and counseling. He said he is also licensed by the state to
conduct marriages.

The DEA said it does not comment on current investigations.

County police referred questions to the U.S. attorney. Assistant U.S.
Attorney Thomas Muehleck said he could not comment other than to say
no one was arrested.

Christie said he has been operating his ministry since
2000.

On Tuesday a judge in Colorado found Trever Douglas, who said he is a
member of Christie's THC Ministry, guilty of misdemeanor drug charges.
The judge said Douglas' beliefs do not rise to the level of a religion.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the active ingredient in
marijuana.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.