Happy Equinox/ Full Moon! All is fragrant here, my friends. Bruce is tending garden right now. "Here" is Sacrament-o California. We trekked across to Hempfest, and are now staying outside my aunt's house in our covered wagon.

camping on an old logger road in washington

The trip across the country was awe inspiring. We saw giant windmills all across Wisconsin.

Reported by: Jai Cunningham
July 16, 2010

The self-proclaimed "Marijuana Minister" will remain in federal custody until he stands trial on three counts of drug trafficking.

Roger Christie was hoping to post bond.

Roger Christie headed The Hawaii Cannabis Ministry in Hilo until earlier this month when he was arrested by federal authorities.

The 61-year-old claims to use the drug for religious purposes.

In court testimony, his attorney argued Christie was not a threat to society and should be given the chance to post bond while awaiting trial.

Federal authorities feel differently.

U.S. Attorney Michael Kawahara told Judge Alan Kay, "Mr. Christie listens to no one but himself, that's why he is a danger to the community."

July 10, 2010

Those who are familiar with marijuana will also be familiar with the abbreviation THC, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, an active ingredient in marijuana. It is therefore not surprising that the same abbreviation is carried by a religious group that advocates marijuana use.

A report on KITV.com shared the grand jury indictments against 14 people involving marijuana. Among the charges included in the indictment is conspiring to manufacture, distribute and possess marijuana. Federal prosecutors say that the defendants were part of a marijuana-growing and selling organization that uses being a religious group as a front.

The Hawaii Cannabis Ministry – THC – is led by 61-year-old Roger Christie, who says that he has a religious right to grow and distribute marijuana. His offices in Hilo and his home were raided in March, and at that time, Christie spoke with Big Island Video News and said: “I was very compliant with the search warrant, happy to be cooperative. Because I feel like I have nothing to hide… We provide cannabis sacraments and we’re happy to do so. And it’s a sacred thing to us. We’re standing for religious freedom, using cannabis in private, at home or church. And it’s a blessed, beautiful thing.”

**Note the condemning language, and the harping that the government hasn't given us any right to use this as a sacrament, never mind our rights in this regard come from God, not the government... So sayeth the constitution.

Reported by: Marisa Yamane
July 9, 2010

New details in the major marijuana bust on the Big Island.

Federal officials say nearly five million dollars' worth of marijuana plants were seized.

Federal officials believe this bust will have a huge impact on the state's marijuana supply.

Fourteen Big Island residents, ages 28 to 61, made their first appearance in federal court Friday morning, in connection with the state's largest marijuana bust since 2007.

"During this investigation, there was approximately 3,000 marijuana plants seized, nine weapons, 33 pounds of processed marijuana, approximately $30,000 in cash and as we stated before four real properties," said Robin Dinlocker with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

click through to original article for video

July 10, 2010 – Hilo, Hawaii

14 Big Island residents, including the founder of the THC Ministry located on the Hilo Bayfront, were arrested Thursday on federal conspiracy and marijuana manufacturing, possession and distribution charges. All 14 pleaded not guilty in federal court on Friday.

Roger Christie, who sees his organization’s use of marijuana as a sacrament and fundamental human right provided by God, was among those arrested after a grand jury returned a secret indictment last month. Christie and 7 others have been ordered by U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright to remain in custody until next week when the federal court will decide if they may be released on bail.

Also in custody: Sherryanne L. St. Cyr, Richard Bruce Turpen, Wesley Mark Sudbury, Donald James Gibson, John DeBaptist Bouey III, Michael Shapiro, and Aaron George Zeeman.

Susanne Lenore Friend, Timothy M. Mann, Roland Gregory Ignacio, Perry Emilio Policicchio, Victoria C. Fiore, and Jessica R. Walsh, were released on $25,000 unsecured signature bond.

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July 10, 2010

Marijuana advocate Roger Christie ran a major drug trafficking organization on Hawaii island under the guise of religious freedom through the Hawaii Cannabis Ministry in downtown Hilo, said U.S. Attorney Florence Nakakuni.

"This was a large-scale business. Marijuana is big, and this group was heavily involved in it," Nakakuni said.

County and federal law enforcement officers arrested Christie, 61, and 13 other Big Island residents Thursday on federal conspiracy and marijuana manufacturing, possession and distribution charges. All 14 pleaded not guilty in federal court yesterday.

U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright ordered Christie; Sherryanne L. St. Cyr, 58; Richard Bruce Turpen, 59; Wesley Mark Sudbury, 32; Donald James Gibson, 40; John DeBaptist Bouey III, 51; Michael Shapiro, 61; and Aaron George Zeeman, 42, to remain in custody until next week when a federal magistrate determines whether to release them on bail pending trial.

Not sure how long this video will stay up. The embed feature is absent from YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZwz3E-elfg&feature=player_embedded

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it KITV4 News
July 9, 2010

HONOLULU --

The Hawaii U.S. Attorney on Friday outlined grand jury indictments against 14 people in connection with a marijuana case on the Big Island.

The defendants face charges of conspiring to manufacture, distribute and possess marijuana.

The federal grand jury returned the indictment on June 24, but it remained sealed until Friday.

The Hawaii U.S. Attorney on Friday outlined grand jury indictments against 14 people in connection with a marijuana case on the Big Island.The defendants face charges of conspiring to manufacture, distribute and possess marijuana.The federal grand jury returned the indictment on June 24, but it remained sealed until Friday.The feds said this was a huge pot-growing and selling organization masquerading as a religious group. Agents seized about 3 thousand plants with a street value of nearly $5 million.

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July 9, 2010

Big Island marijuana advocate Roger Christie, his partner, two employees of the Hawaii Cannabis Ministry and 10 people who allegedly supplied marijuana for the ministry are facing federal marijuana manufacturing, possession and distribution charges.

A federal grand jury returned a secret indictment last month against Christie, Sherryanne L. St. Cyr, Susanne Lenore Friend, Timothy M. Mann, Richard Bruce Turpen, Wesley Mark Sudbury, Donald James Gibson, Roland Gregory Ignacio, Perry Emilio Policicchio, John DeBaptist Bouey III, Michael B. Shapiro, Aaron George Zeeman, Victoria C. Fiore and Jessica R. Walsh.

A federal judge unsealed the indictment yesterday. The U.S. attorney scheduled a news conference for this afternoon.

The indictment charges the defendants with possessing as few as two marijuana plants to as many as 1,108 plants. It also seeks the forfeiture of $21,494 that county and federal law enforcement officials seized in a raid of the ministry's downtown Hilo offices, and from Christie's Hilo apartment and Big Island property owned by Turpen, Ignacio and Policicchio.

Last week a series of raids in Hawaii netted 14 arrests on marijuana charges, including the leader of The THC Ministry, Roger Christie. Now more details are emerging as to what went down on Hawaii’s Big Island.

Thursday he (Chrisite) got arrested, along with more than a dozen others, picked up in various locations from Hilo to Honokaa. Drug enforcement agents, sheriffs, county police, immigrations and customs and even postal agents were part of the bust. Sources say 14 people in all were taken into custody.

“They were only after people that they had federal indictments for,” said Nathan Clark, who lives in the THC Ministry building called The Moses Building. “They left all my things alone. They told me I was free to go.”

Clark said he is from Iowa and has been out of jail himself since May 11^th.

“The DEA, it’s one of their last hurrahs in their failed drug war, the war against cannabis,” Clark said.

The suspects were put on a Coast guard c-130 plane bound for Oahu. Authorities declined to comment.

(AP) – Jul 9, 2010

HONOLULU — The founder and director of The Hawaii Cannabis Ministry and 13 associates are facing federal marijuana charges.

Federal authorities told a news conference Friday that Roger Christie led a major marijuana growing, processing and distribution ring.

Christie says he uses marijuana as a sacrament. But authorities say neither his ministry nor state medical marijuana laws protect him from federal prosecution.

Federal officials seized 3,000 plants, with a retail value of $4.8 million. Four Big island residences are facing forfeiture.

The defendants were arrested Thursday and flown to Honolulu. Authorities say six were released on bond. Christie and seven others remain in custody pending detention hearings next week.

Original Article Here