Pubdate: Fri, 06 Aug 2010 Source: Chatham Daily News, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2010 OSPREY Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx Website: http://www.chathamdailynews.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1627 CROWN ARGUES AGAINST RELIGIOUS USE OF POT Thousands of pot users will flock to the Toronto branch of The Church of the Universe to join if a court recognizes its unlimited marijuana use as religious freedom, a federal prosecutor warned Thursday. Lawyer Nicholas Devlin of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada also told Justice Thea Herman if she grants charter rights to two minister-members of the G-13 Mission of God "the very next day anyone could light up a marijuana cigarette on the courthouse steps and say it's for religious use." Devlin also warned that accepting their unbridled pot use arguments could prompt others to found similar so-called churches. One extreme he suggested could include religious freedom claimants who watch The Simpsons on TV while puffing weed in a room filled with the cartoon characters' paraphernalia. The core of defense lawyer's arguments on behalf of "Brother" Peter Styrsky, 53, and "Brother" Shahrooz Kharaghani, 31, is that marijuana is a sacrament similar to Roman Catholics granted an exemption by the federal government during the Prohition era prior to the Second World War to drink wine in church during ceremonies. Defence lawyer Paul Lewin said his clients believe pot use brings them closer to God and have a legitimate church with associated practices and community service. He told Herman that "Canada believes all religions are valuable." Styrsky and Kharaghani were charged with trafficking marijuana after they allegedly sold pot to two undercover police officers who infiltrated their church in 2006. The pair claims their sale and distribution of marijuana, which they refer to as "the Tree of Life," should be exempted from federal laws. A decision in their case is not expected until this autumn. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D