Pubdate: Fri, 14 Aug 2015
Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Peace Arch News
Contact:  http://www.peacearchnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333
Author: Barney Feenstra
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n446/a05.html

SACRAMENTAL REHASH

Editor:

Re: Pro-pot pastor shifts services to porch, Aug. 7.

The so-called "Pastor" Robin Douglas of the "Holy Smoke Church" is 
making the front page again.

He is doing the same thing as Walter Tucker did in Ontario around 1970-1980.

Tucker called his church "The Church of the Universe," and he and his 
followers used marijuana as a sacrament and used the argument that he 
could do so because of freedom of religion.

Tucker clogged up the courts for years, costing the justice system 
tens of thousands of dollars.

It appears that Douglas is doing the same thing. The City of White 
Rock is incurring legal fees, the RCMP has to attend, as well as city 
bylaw officers.

Everyone knows it is not a church, but here we go again; the pot 
pastor gets all the attention for all the wrong reasons.

He states they have a right to exist and the right to religious freedom.

Well, yes, you have the right to exist and, yes, you are entitled to 
freedom of religion.

In Canada, cannabis is legal to possess, consume or grow for medical 
purposes under certain conditions within the Marijuana for Medical 
Purposes Regulations, not for a religious ceremony.

So, Mr. Douglas, you are encouraging people to break the law. Now, 
the local police may elect not to enforce the law, but it's still the 
law of the country.

I hope that the landlord will be successful in having him evicted, as 
I don't think the City of White Rock will have much success in 
shutting him down.

Barney Feenstra, Surrey
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom