Holy Crap: Federal Judge Denies Man Legal Right to Religious Cannabis Use

[rug]

By Jeremiah Vandermeer, Cannabis Culture - Friday, November 18 2011

CANNABIS CULTURE - The latest battle in the Canadian courts over the right to use marijuana for religious purposes – the seemingly immaculate Charter Challenge case of cannabis historian Chris Bennett – was struck down by a Federal Judge this week.

Bennett, a reverend of the Church of the Universe, believes the cannabis plant is the Tree of Life as described in the Bible and doctrines of many other religions, and uses marijuana to invoke his own revelatory experience. He's written three books focusing on the use of cannabis and other drugs as entheogens: psychoactive substances used for religious, spiritual, or shamanic practice.

Bennett applied to the Minister of Health for an exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act so he could practice his religion without the fear of arrest, property seizure, or the loss of the custody of his son. His request was denied with only the explanation that it "would not be in the public interest."

After applying for a judicial review, he was granted a court hearing and attended the proceedings on November 8 and 9.

http://cannabisculture.com/v2/content/2011/11/18/Holy-Crap-Federal-Judge-Denies-Man-Legal-Right-Religious-Cannabis-Use

Fascists.

[struggle4progress]

1. 8 November Opus Live had some coverage

http://cannabisculture.com/v2/content/2011/11/07/Opus-LIVE-Mik-Mann-November-8-2011

[struggle4progress]

2. Vancouver man says smoking 'Tree of Life' is God-given right

Federal lawyer argues that Chris Bennett has failed to make case weed is in fact sacred to him
By Ian Mulgrew, Vancouver Sun November 7, 2011

... In its submission, Department of Justice lawyer Robert Danay said Bennett's beliefs were "secular in nature ... lifestyle choices" not protected under the charter ...

"Whether the cannabis related practices of, for example, Rastafarians or Ethiopian Coptic Christians have any nexus with religion is irrelevant," Danay said.

"What matters here is whether the applicant has demonstrated that his practice of smoking marijuana has the requisite nexus with religion ... he has not."

Bennett doesn't have any rites or sacraments involving pot, the federal lawyer emphasized - he simply smokes it constantly!

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Vancouver+says+smoking+Tree+Life+given+right/5667797/story.html

[rug]

3. What's interesting is the objective tests the government is applying to determine if it's a religion

[Silent3]

4. Marijuana: The Other Other Way of Knowing

I'm going to have to remember that word, "entheogens".

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5. Lol, you may be onto something.