CannabisClergy.com
Guide for medical cannabis ministers
and medical marijuana ministers

    This is a Guide for medical cannabis ministers and medical marijuana ministers.

    This Guide outlines some of the topics you may need to prepare for in order to have a successful legal defense in both federal (U.S.) and state (California) court for working as a medical marijuana minister or medical cannabis minister in a California medical cannabis collective, dispensary, or cooperative.

    Exact material will vary greatly by religion. I provide examples from my own religion, although many of the examples may not apply to your religion. You will want to prepare your own defense, probably with the help of a lawyer skilled in first amendment and criminal law.

what is religion?

    In the case U.S. v. David Meyers, No. 95-8079, United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth District, September 6, 1996, the judges ruled that Meyer’s Church of Marijuana was not legally a religion and used a set of highly biased tests that were specifically designed to establish Chrisianity as the only legal religion in the U.S. and specifically prohibit the free exercise of all other religions.

    The judges stated in their decision:

    “There is no dispute that Meyers’ beliefs are sincerely held and that they are substantially burdened by 21 U.S.C. 841 and 846 and 18 U.S.C. 2. The issue is whether his sincerely held beliefs are “religious beliefs,” rather than a philosophy or way of life.”

    There is substantial agreement throughout the archaeological, historical, and religious communities that Am Khent Kemeticism and other forms of ancient Egyptian belief are in fact religion, possibly the oldest religion still being practiced.

    From The Handy Religion Answer Book, by John Renard (a Roman Catholic), 2002, Visible Ink Press:

    “Religion was the very core of ancient Egyptian culture (3500 BCE—950 BCE). It permeated every aspect of life, including art, medicine, and science. Egyptians believed that the gods [sic] had created Egypt as an oasis of order and inherent good amidst the forces of chaos that constantly threatened to overwhelm them. Justice, morality, and beauty — called Ma’at by the Egyptians — consisted of behavior in accordance with that tradition.”

    “The Egyptian religion featured many deities, some strange but with human features, others clearly non-human, but all responsible for every aspect of life, from birth to death.”

    The judges continued in their decision to outline a list of tests:

    “Keeping in mind that the threshold for establishing the religious nature of his beliefs is low, the court considered the following factors:”

  1. Ultimate Ideas
  2. Metaphysical Beliefs
  3. Moral or Ethical System
  4. Comprehensiveness of Beliefs
  5. Accoutrements of Religion
    1. Founder, Propher, or Teacher
    2. Important Writings
    3. Gathering Places
    4. Keepers of Knowledge
    5. Ceremonies and Rituals
    6. Structure or Organization
    7. Holidays
    8. Diet or Fasting
    9. Appearance and Clothing
    10. Propogation

next chapter
Cannabis Witch Hunt

return to Guide for medical cannabis ministers
return to CannabisClergy

    

 

    Free weekly instruction for medical marijuana ministers and medical cannabis ministers every Monday night in Orange County, California. Write to: Milo, PO Bx 1361, Tustin, CA, 92781. Post office box checked once per month.

    The courts have already ruled in multiple cases that a person who starts preparing a religious defense (including gathering certificates and other paperwork) after arrest loses all chance to use the late religious defense. It is essential that you prepare your defense before you are arrested. Adequate preparation may even prevent arrest. With that in mind, doesn’t it make sense for at least one collective owner somewhere to pay me minimum wage to work on preparing these materials on a full time basis? Even the most callous cooperative owner should realize that low paid workers facing prison sentences are likely to change sides and testify for the police? On the other hand, if the workers have a religious defense ready then they need not fear going to prison and have no incentive to testify against the owner. I don’t care how jaded and selfish a dispensary owner is, it just makes good sense to have a strong religious defense ready for your workers.

    These web pages are not professional legal advice. Nothing on this website should be considered as a substitute or replacement for professional legal advice. Persons should seek the advice of qualified legal providers.

    Get a Pr Ntr Kmt certificate as proof that your cannabis religion is real.

    If you spot an error in fact, grammar, syntax, or spelling, or a broken link, or have additional information, commentary, or constructive criticism, please e-mail Milo.

Copyright © 2007 Milo.

Last Updated: May 10, 2007

previous page next page
previous page next page

Cannabis Witch Hunt
return to guide