Newsbrief: US 9th Circuit Rules Religious Marijuana Use on Federal Lands Okay
31 May 2002
In a case involving a Hispanic Rastaman bringing marijuana to Guam, the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has ruled that the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act precluded the US government from prosecuting people who possess marijuana on federal lands for religious reasons. The court reasoned that under the RFRA, Congress had the power to create religious exemptions to laws it had originally passed, in this case the Controlled Substances Act.
Unfortunately for defendant Bennie Toves Guerrero, also known as Ras Iyah Ben Makahna, who had been arrested at the Guam airport and charged with importing five ounces of marijuana and 10 ounces of seeds, the court ruled that he could be prosecuted for importing marijuana. “Rastafarianism does not require importation of a controlled substance, which increases (its) availability,” the court said.
But the ruling’s ramifications could be wide. The court’s reference to the “federal realm,” specifically the territory of Guam in this case, could apply to federal prosecutions on other federal property, such as national parks, San Francisco federal public defender Barry Portman told the San Francisco Chronicle.
The ruling, which is in line with rulings by two other appeals court, applies to the entire purview of the 9th Circuit, including Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, California, and eight other Western states. If extended nationwide, the ruling could apply to federal territories across the country, including Washington, DC.
reprinted with permission from StopTheDrugWar.org
Stop corporate Blood Libel!!!
Take action for Witches Rights!!!
The state of California claims that Witches don’t have the same equal protection under the law as Jews and Blacks!
The Blood Libel is the false claim made by the Inquisitions, Witch Hunts, and Witch Trials that supposedly Witches (the Inquisitions, Witch Hunts, and Witch Trials) and Jews (the Inquisitions), who supposedly were extremely ugly with large noses, supposedly kidnapped Christian babies and children (supposedly Witches lured them with offers of herbal candies), supposedly raped Christian babies and children (including oral and anal sodomy), supposedly tortured Christian babies and children, supposedly murdered Christian babies and children by baking or cooking them, and then supposedly committed canabilism by eating the cooked bodies of Christian babies and children.
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing claims that Ralphs grocery Company (part of Kroger) has the right to engage in the Blood Libel. The DFEH said it would take action against the Blood Libel aimeed at Jews, but not when aimed at Witches.
If you are against the Blood Libel, please contact California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Call 916-445-2841 now. Or e-mail the Governor (choose “Fair Employment and Housing” from the subject menu). Those outside of the U.S. can write a letter to: the Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, State Capitol Building, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA. Please be very polite.
Read the Blood Libel web page for more information on the history of the Blood Libel in the Inquisition, Witch Hunts, Witch trials, and Burning Times.
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