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.''
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