Religious Freedom Or Pot Heads With Something to Prove?
The Church of the Universe is suing the Government of Canada for $25 million alleging that the government is breaching the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They claim that since the government has been providing marijuana to patients for the medicinal marijuana program but did not alter the laws sufficiently that since 2003 there has been no marijuana prohibition laws that can be enforced.
The Church preaches that marijuana is the Tree of Life mentioned in the Bible, and that followers are obligated to use marijuana anytime they want to get closer to god. Critics claim this is silly and just a blatant attempt to circumvent the pot laws. The Church of the Universe claims that, since Churches are allowed to give wine as a sacrament then, the Church of the Universe should be able to give marijuana as their sacrament. The natural counter argument is that wine is a legal substance whereas marijuana is a banned substance. This is the opinion Taz had on his Tazmania section on FM96 this morning. I would like to point out though that in the U.S. during alcohol prohibition clergy were allowed to give wine as a sacrament despite it being banned. Taz also claimed that this was a slippery slope, what would stop other churches from claiming that Heroine or Crystal Meth as sacrament, well nothing really, except there really is a Biblical argument for the sacrament of marijuana, if someone can come up with one for Heroine or Crystal Meth, well that would be a whole new can of worms.
I personally am not a fan of organized religion, I think that every organized religion is questionable at best. However I am all for freedom of religion, and I also think that churches should have the right to do pretty much whatever they want within their churches so long as they aren’t harming anyone, or infringing on the rights of others. I say give the Church of the Universe the right to give marijuana sacraments, heck I might even go back to church once and a while, just to see what that is like.
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I heard that the other morning. It was super-exciting, and you are my hero simply for bringing marijuana into my morning radio. How awesome is that?
ReplyDeleteHowever, in reply to your reply to the slippery slope argument: Wouldn't you win more support by pointing out how marijuana is not chemically addictive, and is not nearly as harmful as the other drugs mentioned?
LOL thanks... I don't know that I am anyone's hero, but I will accept it I guess.
ReplyDeleteYes I could point out that pot is considerably less addictive then the other drugs mentioned. However I don't think it necessarily applies to this, because the whole slippery slope point would only be valid if the Church were just using marijuana because they wanted to get high and not for a belief they had. It is a stretch, I agree, but so is many things Christians do in their services.