LETTER OF THE WEEK

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM & CANNABIS

By Trevor Douglas

Freedom of religion is a topic that was once fought for and helped to
establish the USA. Today, I am being tried for something that has
been a part of my family's religion for generations. Religious
cannabis is nothing new, actually it has been around since before
written history.

The use of the plant in rituals, ceremonies, communion and prayer is
mandated by my God, as with many other religions around the world
(Rastafarians for example). Who should be able to control the growth
and possession of a plant that is so healing (As the U.S. Patent for
Medical Marijuana states) and spiritually enlightening, not to
mention a plant that George Washington said " . sow it everywhere."

A doctor is able to prescribe medicinal marijuana to hundreds of
patients a day; who is to tell me I cannot use marijuana/ cannabis as
a religious sacrament in the privacy of my own home? If anything, why
don't we try citing the millions of people addicted to much more
dangerous over-the-counter drugs sold every day?

This is a plant that's use dates back to 8000 BC in ancient China,
where shamans were using it the same way I do today. Please help
support my case on March 9 at 2 p.m. in the Georgetown Courthouse.

Trevor Douglas, Vail

Pubdate: Sat, 30 Jan 2010

Source: Summit Daily News (CO)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10.n074.a03.html