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.”