CannabisClergy.com
Guide for medical cannabis ministers
and medical marijuana ministers
This is a Guide for medical cannabis ministers and medical marijuana ministers.
This Guide outlines some of the topics you may need to prepare for in order to have a successful legal defense in both federal (U.S.) and state (California) court for working as a medical marijuana minister or medical cannabis minister in a California medical cannabis collective, dispensary, or cooperative.
Exact material will vary greatly by religion. I provide examples from my own religion, although many of the examples may not apply to your religion. You will want to prepare your own defense, probably with the help of a lawyer skilled in first amendment and criminal law.
moral or ethical system
The courts often consider the existence of a moral or ethical system in determining if a religion is legally valid.
legal standards
“(3) a system of moral practice directly resulting from an adherence to the belief;” —Fellowship of Humanity v. County of Alameda
“3. Moral or Ethical System: Religious beliefs often prescribe a particular manner of acting, or way of life, that is “moral” or “ethical.” In other words, these beliefs often describe certain acts in normative terms, such as “right and wrong,” “good and evil,” or “just and unjust.” The beliefs then proscribe those acts that are “wrong,” “evil,” or “unjust.” A moral or ethical belief structure also may create duties--duties often imposed by some higher power, force, or spirit--that require the believer to abnegate elemental self-interest.” —United States of America v David Meyers
“a formal code of doctrine and discipline,” —IRS definition of a church
Rasta
Rastafari completely rejects the standards and structure of Western society and colonialism as being a corrupt and downpressive “Babylonian” system.
Marcus Garvey was later viewed as an important Rasta prophet for speaking out against the system of Babylon.
Kemetic or ancient Egyptian religion
An example from the Shabaka stela:
There comes into being in the heart; there comes into being by the tongue as the image of Atum! Ptah is the very great, who gives life to all the neteru and their kas. It is all in this heart and by this tongue.
His [Ptah’s] Puat [Ennead] is before him as heart, authoritative utterance, teeth, semen, lips, and hands of Atum. This Puat [Ennead] of Atum came into being through his semen and through his fingers. Surely, this Puat [Ennead of Ptah] is the teeth and the lips in the mouth, proclaiming the name of all things, from which Shu and Tefwt came forth as him, and which gave birth to the Puat [Ennead of Ptah]. The sight of the eyes, the hearing of the ears, and the breathing of air through the nose, they transmit to the heart, which brings forth every decision. Indeed, the tongue thence repeats what is in front of the heart. Thus was given birth to all the neteru. His [Ptah’s] Puat [Ennead] was completed. Lo, every word of the Ntr came into being through the thoughts in the heart and the command by the tongue. Thus all the faculties were made and all the qualities determined, they that make all foods and all provisions, through this word. [Life] to him who does what is loved, [death] to him who does what is hated. Thus life is given to the peaceful and death is given to the criminal. Thus all labor, all crafts, the action of the arms, the motion of the legs, the movements of all the limbs, acording to this command which is devised by the heart and comes forth by the tongue and creates the performance of everything.
reciprocity
The earliest known affirmation of the principle of reciprocity is found in the story of the Eloquent Peasant, from the Middle Kingdom: “Now this is the command: Do to the doer to make him do.” This is a reference to the use of the Law of Ma’at.
A Late Period papyrus states: “That which you hate to be done to you, do not do to another.”
The courts have already ruled in multiple cases that a person who starts preparing a religious defense (including gathering certificates and other paperwork) after arrest loses all chance to use the late religious defense. It is essential that you prepare your defense before you are arrested. Adequate preparation may even prevent arrest.
This website is concerned with religious matters and only obliquely discusses the law. I strongly recommend that medical marijuana ministers rely on a high quality lawyer.
I (Milo) use my own religion as an example, because this is the religion I know well. I strongly urge people to get together with their lawyer and prepare a similar discussion for their own religion. Again, my religion is only an example.
Good news: Many people over the years have successfully used Pr Ntr Kmt religious cannabis certificates. The author of this website has personally several times over more than a decade shown various police Pr Ntr Kmt documentation and the police have politely returned the religious cannabis. There are at least two Pr Ntr Kmt cannabis ministers who have been released after the police discovered several pounds of religious cannabis (although the police kept the cannabis). There are numerous real world successes.
Reality: If the government decides it wants to “get you”, then your only chance is if you can afford a really, really good lawyer.
The law is whatever the government decides the law is.
The rights you heard about in grade school only apply if you can afford a great lawyer. Public defenders are under-budgeted and only want to process paperwork for plea bargains. They simply don’t have the time or money for trials.
We don’t want to discourage anyone from worshiping with cannabis, but we do want to strongly warn everyone that you have a significant risk of long term imprisonment or worse, especially outside of major industrialized nations.
Please act responsibly. Please hire a lawyer if you can possibly afford to do so.
The courts have already ruled in multiple cases that a person who starts preparing a religious defense (including gathering certificates and other paperwork) after arrest loses all chance to use the late religious defense. It is essential that you prepare your defense before you are arrested. Adequate preparation may even prevent arrest.
Get a Pr Ntr Kmt certificate as proof that your cannabis religion is real.
These web pages contain religious advice. These web pages are not professional legal or medical advice. Nothing on this website should be considered as a substitute or replacement for professional medical, health, or legal advice. All persons should seek the advice of qualified medical, health, or legal providers.
If you spot an error in fact, grammar, syntax, or spelling, or a broken link, or have additional information, commentary, or constructive criticism, please contact Milo at PO Box 1361, Tustin, Calif, 92781, USA.
