APOSTATE CHURCH WATCH:LA Minister Cites Religious Protection in Marijuana Defense

Hollywood church that burned marijuana during services and distributed it to members is protected under federal law because the drug is a religious sacrament, the leader of the congregation argued in a hearing before his drug possession trial Tuesday.The Rev. Craig X Rubin, 41, the leader of the 420 Temple who has appeared in episodes of the Showtime comedy "Weeds,"faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of possessing marijuana for sale. Jury selection was set to begin Tuesday afternoon.Though ordained in 1990 by the Universal Life Church, police and prosecutors describe Rubin as a drug dealer.The Beverly Hills-born minister was arrested last fall and freed after posting
$20,000 bail.Rubin,who is representing himself,has asserted his protection under a 1993 federal law designed to prevent government from imposing laws that restrict religious freedoms."We feel pot is the tree of life mentioned in the Bible,so it is incorporated into the ceremony,"Rubin said before the hearing began.Deputy District Attorney Bob Chen told Superior Court Judge Mary H. Strobel there have been no cases in California where marijuana use was acceptable for religious reasons."It seems to me he is conceding that at this temple, they were selling
marijuana,"he said.Rubin,wearing a red tie and neat pinstriped black suit,nodded and smiled.
Strobel said she would review their arguments and court papers before ruling whether Rubin could use the religious defense.Rubin alleges federal agents joined police on the November raid and that authorities used excessive force when arresting members. The federal law mandates that police, when there is a compelling government interest, may intervene using "the least restrictive" means. Rubin said he will testify that an officer held a shotgun to his head during the bust.Rubin,a University of California,Los Angeles,graduate with no legal experience,cited prior cases and appeared to answer the judge's questions to her satisfaction.On Monday, however, Rubin was unaware he would be selecting a jury the following day.He said he spent the weekend praying and smoking with Indians in a sweat lodge at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
http://www.thecronline.com/news_article.php?nid=2821&ndate=26/07/2007
PS:"We {FEEL} pot is the tree of life mentioned in the Bible,so it is incorporated into the ceremony"says Mr.Rubin...well...that's the problem nowadays with a lot of people that call themselves"christian"...They "FEEL" this and they "FEEL" that...Christianism and interpreting the Bible is NOT about FEELINGS but is about FAITH and OBEDIENCE to the written Word of GOD.
Most of these people-like Rubin-have never had a personal encounter with the Saviour,JesusChrist,therefore they have the FORM of godliness BUT they DENY the Word of God with their actions...A tree is known BY ITS FRUIT,as the Lord said...Mr.Rubin ain't giving good fruit,and POT ain't the Tree of Life mentioned in Genesis either....This last one doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out,does it?
As in the days of Noah...