California Church Claims Marijuana Use Is Protected

California Newswire yesterday reported on the arrest last month of Reverend Craig X Rubin, leader of Temple 420 that believes its members receive communion by burning marijuana as a sacramental herb. After an undercover agent purchased 3.5 grams of sacrament, "PurpleErkle", at the church Rubin was arrested, the supply of the sacrament was seized, and the church's financial assets were frozen. Rubin claims that under the U.S. Supreme Court's 2005 ruling in the O'Centro case, their use of marijuana is a protected practice of religion.