Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 Source: Intelligencer & Wheeling News-Register (WV) Copyright: 2002 The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register Contact: http://www.intellnews.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1633 Author: John Wickline PREACHER PLEADS FOR TREATMENT While a Monroe County preacher was asking for a drug treatment program instead of a conviction on a variety of drug-related charges in Monroe County Court on Wednesday, a small group of protesters stood outside of the courthouse saying what the pastor did should not have been illegal in the first place. William Worcester III, pastor at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Lewisville, asked to be placed in a drug intervention program in lieu of being convicted. His defense attorney, Kathryn Sherry, filed the motion just prior to the beginning of his preliminary hearing. Arguments regarding the motion will be heard before Judge James Peters on Aug. 14. The outcome of that hearing will determine whether Worcester receives an evaluation needed to enter a treatment program. Worcester, who lives at a parsonage owned by the church, is charged with growing marijuana on the church grounds. He faces felony charges of marijuana cultivation and use or possession of drug paraphernalia, along with misdemeanor drug possession charges. Court records stated that the Monroe County Sheriff's Department confiscated about 48 marijuana plants from the church grounds During the hearing, a three-person contingent from the Ohio Cannibus Society, an organization pushing for the legalization of marijuana, was protesting in support of Worcester and the perception of the drug in society. "This pastor's case is an excellent example,'' said John Hartman, director of the Ohio Cannibus Society. "That he's in good standing in the community and of high moral fabric and can use marijuana and still be a nice person in the community and the church is a perfect example.'' Hartman, his wife Molly and fellow organization member Robert Almstead distributed pamphlets in support of the cause. He said the portrayal of the substance was magnified by William Randolph Hearst in the 1920s and 1930s because of a desire to sell newspapers. Hearst's actions, Hartman said, led Congress to make cannibus an illegal substance in 1938. "It's sad the way the system is set up,'' Hartman said. "The pastor, in reality, probably doesn't need any drug treatment. The use of cannibus is not causing any problems in the schools, the church or the community.'' Hartman said he did not contact Worcester prior to staging the demonstration outside the Monroe County Courthouse in Woodsfield because he said Worcester has enough to worry about. "This would probably make him nervous,'' Hartman said. "He is trying to get through his legal problems and still maintain his position in the church. "We don't want to see him go to jail,'' he added. "The agenda must go forward, and we can't let this happen and stand silent. If it causes him more harm, then I'm sorry.'' - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom