OVO

Virginia Bridges: Judge dismisses woman's religious drug-use argument [LINK-ZUM]

For years Brenda Williams Shoop struggled in a journey to get closer to God, she told a judge Thursday. And then she found a textbook that discussed a marijuana side effect, and later discovered a church that classifies the illegal drug as a key ingredient to a sacrament essential to becoming a Christian, she said. "It opens up someone's mind and helps apply (Christian) missions," Shoop said of marijuana's effects. [...] The Shoops were charged with drug trafficking in December 2006 after authorities found about 28 marijuana plants growing in their backyard, according to Baldwin County Sheriff's Office Lt. Neil Holcombe. [...]

Brenda Shoop said Thursday that she grew up in a Southern Baptist church. In recent years, she has struggled to find the spiritual fulfillment she has been looking for while exploring other denominations. Her religious belief and understanding, however, hit a turning point in nursing school when she read about marijuana's disassociation side effect, she said. That side effect, she said, helped her get closer to God as it quieted all the voices in her head and helped her "rise above the mundane and see that you are part of a bigger picture."

The Shoops argued that since their arrest they have started a ministry in their Robertsdale home and serve as missionaries for Universal Orthodox Church, which is based in Atlanta. The Christian denomination believes marijuana has biblical origins and was a key ingredient in holy anointing oil of Moses and the christening oil of Jesus Christ, according to testimony and court documents.

[Article continues at link. My preference would be for the government to get out of both the religion business and the drug business. Let competent adults believe whatever they want, providing they do not harm others who may not share that belief. Sometimes what they will believe will be in error, but the freedom to be in error cannot be divorced from the freedom to innovate (which sometimes results in error). Let competent adults entertain themselves as they want, providing they do not harm others who may not wish to be so entertained. Sometimes the way they will entertain themselves will be counterproductive, but the freedom to be counterproductive cannot be divorced from the freedom to own (which sometimes results in wasted resources). My preference would be for an end to theocracy and prohibition. - Trevor Blake]

Labels: christianity, prohibition, theocracy

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