cannabisnews.com: Drug War Is a War of Religious Persecution Drug War Is a War of Religious Persecution Posted by FoM on September 14, 1999 at 07:56:29 PT Says Mayoral Candidate Ken Larsen Source: The Salt Lake Tribune Besides protesting police crackdowns on Liberty Park drum circlers and State Street cruisers, Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Ken Larsen founded the Church of the Hemp Goddess. Larsen says he formed the religion five years ago to "dramatize . . . that the drug war is a war of religious persecution, where the majority is enforcing their religious views on the minority." Although Larsen says he has "never touched, much less inhaled" marijuana, he insists pot is no more harmful than wine, peyote or kava juice, all stimulants that are used in religious ceremonies. Larsen says marijuana should not be treated as an illegal drug. Larsen has performed several marriages, two recorded, in his role as "mouth" of the Church of the Hemp Goddess. He also is an ordained minister with the Church of Universal Life. Born and reared in Provo, Larsen graduated from Brigham Young University in 1974 with a degree in herpetology, the study of reptiles. Now he works as a researcher at the University of Utah, studying the effect of jet lag on rats. Tuesday, September 14, 1999 Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: