MAN SAYS HIS RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ALLOW MARIJUANA

MOUNDSVILLE -- A Marshall County man maintains he should be allowed to
smoke marijuana because of his religion.

Steven Schrumpf is charged with misdemeanor offenses of possessing
marijuana and driving under the influence of it.

According to a motion filed by his attorney, J.K. Chase, Schrumpf
should be allowed to smoke marijuana because he is "an active member
and practitioner of a religious order known as The Hawai'i Cannabis
(THC) Ministry." Schrumpf is also an ordained minister in the
Universal Life Church.

According to the motion, the two organizations "mandate the
cultivation and use of marijuana as a religious sacrament and as a
fundamental part of the practice of said religion." The motion further
states if Schrumpf is prosecuted, it will interfere with his right to
practice his religion.

The motion also states the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
and Article 3 Section 15 of the Constitution of the State of West
Virginia guarantee the defendant's right to religious freedom.

According to the THC Ministry Web site, the organization helps to
protect its members from "arrest, prosecution and/or conviction of
`marijuana' charges -- wherever you live -- starting as soon as you
sign-up, become ordained and receive your ministry documents. We
provide a legitimate religious 'defense to prosecution' for sincere
people over 21 years old."

The site also includes directions on how to build a legal defense
based on religion.

The Universal Life Church Web site offers "instant ordination" and
includes instructions on how to make a living as a minister.

According to the site, more than 400,000 ministers have been ordained
through the site since 1995.

While Chase could not comment on the case, he said Magistrate Mark
Kerwood will set an evidentiary hearing on the motion at a later date.