cannabisnews.com: Rules Call for Documenting Religious Aspect of Pot Rules Call for Documenting Religious Aspect of Pot Posted by FoM on November 28, 2001 at 20:18:20 PT By Chris Loos, Tribune-Herald Source: Hawaii Tribune-Herald Proposed Police Department rules have been expanded to cover investigations of religious use of marijuana - but the provisions aren't what marijuana advocates wanted. The proposed rules say it will be up to the courts - and not the police - to decide whether a suspect's "claimed religion" qualifies him to use marijuana legally. Under the rules, police would still arrest the person claiming a religious exemption but the arresting officer would be required to document the defendant's religious claims and include them in a police report. "Marijuana is against the law," said Capt. James Day. "We have to enforce the law. If the Legislature changes the law then we do what the law says."Kona resident Dennis Shields and Puna resident Jonathan Adler have used religious defenses in court against marijuana charges, contending that it is a sacrament in the Religion of Jesus Church. Shields lost his case and Adler's, which ended in a mistrial, is scheduled to be heard again in January.Both men say they're unhappy with the language in the Police Department's new proposed rules. "We really do not find the rules acceptable unless they recognize registered religious use," said Adler, who has announced plans to seek the Green Party's nomination for governor. "Our activities remain legal whether the police recognize them or not."Shields says the state can't take away his religious freedom without passing a constitutional amendment. "The fact that there is no amendment prohibiting the religious use of cannabis means that any rule or regulation is unconstitutional on its face," Shields said. The Hawaii County Council in March voted to accept a federal grant that pays for marijuana eradication. The council imposed several conditions, however, including that the Police Department make provisions for marijuana use that may be protected by law or the Constitution.Earlier this year, police presented a draft of rules requiring that before they arrest someone for marijuana or seize their plants, they check with the Department of Public Safety to determine whether the person is licensed to use marijuana for medical reasons.At a public hearing in June, as many as 80 percent of the speakers asked that police also include religious marijuana in the rules, said Lt. Henry Tavares, head of the Police Department's vice section in Hilo. "It seems as if they want us to recognize their rights but it is a decision for the courts to do," Tavares said. "In essence, what they're asking us to be is judge and jury."The public may obtain copies of the latest draft of the rules and regulations from the Police Department's vice sections in Hilo and Kona or from County Councilman Gary Safarik. Tavares said police will mail a copy to anyone who request it.The public will be able to comment on the rules at a hearing at 10 a.m. Jan. 3 at the Kona police station, 74 - 5221 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy. The public also may comment on the Police Department's proposed rules governing marijuana eradication. The draft reports, set to be released today, also include definitions of terms, as requested by at least one speaker at the last hearing.Roger Christie, who claims a religious exemption for marijuana, said he is encouraged by the religious section in the proposed police rules. "Even though this isn't the end - all decision, this is a positive increment," Christie said. "We're going to have a glorious victory here, I'm sure." Complete Title: Rules Call for Documenting Religious Aspect of Pot Use Source: Hawaii Tribune-Herald (HI)Author: Chris Loos, Tribune-HeraldPublished: November 28, 2001Copyright: 2001 Hawaii Tribune HeraldContact: dave hilohawaiitribune.comWebsite: http://www.hilohawaiitribune.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institutehttp://www.medijuana.com/Drug Policy Forum of Hawaiihttp://www.drugsense.org/dpfhi/Dennis Shield's Home Pagehttp://hialoha.com/konagold/church/index.htmlMarijuana Advocate Totes Drug To Jail http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11084.shtmlPot Advocates: Police Omitted Users' Rights http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10542.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by The GCW on November 29, 2001 at 18:12:07 PT Duke Stone explains the Holy Spirit of Truth To cage your brother or neighbor for using cannabis is not obeying the words of God, starting with the 1st page. That will cost a person a relationship with the Holy Spirit of Truth. You can't have it both ways you either serve Gods laws or mans words. The cannabis laws of God compete with mans laws to cage. Mans laws come some distance after Gods supreme laws.Does a police officer then by way of oath to uphold mans laws over Gods laws, then never is able to receive a relationship with the Holy Spirit of TRUTH? The Holy Spirit of TRUTH is awesome and once obtained you will never want to put anything in between you and that promise from God. To try to attain the illusion of a cannabis free Earth, is unobtainable. The promised Holy Spirit of Truth is very attainable by cannabis users. Duke Stone's, The "Advantage" of the Holy Spirit, puts it right. http://www.hickoryvalley.org/sermons/John%2014.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by The GCW on November 29, 2001 at 17:57:50 PT oosmash and Rev. oosmash, that all by the way is on the very 1st page of the Bible. Christ God, did not put it off. It is like we know the Bible is not the very beginning, but the beginning of something, and for this new beginning, it was that important to not put off.Also, notice what 1 Timothy 4:1-5 says, for a description of who it is that will cage a human for using cannabis: But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some willfall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by oosmash on November 29, 2001 at 11:28:49 PT: Religion & Marijuana The Bible says it clearly in Genesis Chapter one, verses 11,12,& 30. God put every Plant,Herb, & Seed Yielding Tree on Earth for Man's dominion. To me, it could not be clearer. We are being denied our GOD GIVEN RIGHTS !!!!!!! No matter what our reason for using any of the above. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by freedom fighter on November 29, 2001 at 07:39:27 PT Good Luck Rev.I do hope you win..\/ ff [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Rev Jonathan Adler on November 29, 2001 at 00:07:49 PT: Freedom for Religion means Police Must Respect Us! Aloha, And yes we have done it. The Police in our town now recognized our religion and agreed to respect our court victory in writing! I, too, am pleasantly shocked and happy to be announced as a gubernatorial candidate by my hometown paper! It will be an exciting year culminating in a legal pot-smoking Governor in Hawaii! A true Green Party candidate, if there ever was one! Green to the bone! They say Jon Adler even "bleeds green!" More excitement to come in High Times and on the statewide TV stations. See the new book "Psyshe Delicasies" by Chris Kilham just published, which includes photos and a section descibing our ministry and advocacy here in Paradise! Peace on Earth! Good Pot for all mankind! Rev. Jonathan Adler Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by QcStrt on November 28, 2001 at 21:59:59 PT LEGALIZING MARIJUANA CAN HELP STATE COFFERS LEGALIZING MARIJUANA CAN HELP STATE COFFERS URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1988/a04.html Newshawk: chip Pubdate: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 Source: Indianapolis Star (IN) Copyright: 2001 Indianapolis Newspapers Inc. Contact: stareditor starnews.com Website: http://www.starnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/210 Author: Dana York Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) [ Post Comment ] Post Comment