LA Trial of Temple 420 Leader On Marijuana Charges Starts Friday

The Daily News of Los Angeles earlier this week reported on Friday's upcoming trial for possessing and transporting marijuana of Rev. Craig X Rubin who runs Temple 420. (See prior posting.) The Temple considers marijuana a sacrament, and Rubin distributes it six days each week to more than 400 Temple members, each of whom has paid a $100 initiation fee. Members are asked to donate $60 for each one-eighth ounce of marijuana they receive. Rubin claims that their activities are protected by the Free Exercise clause. The Daily News says: "Temple 420's tenets stem from Rubin's Jewish childhood, conversion to Christianity and experience taking peyote in American-Indian sweat lodges. A pro-pot Republican partial to dark suits and red ties, Rubin hangs the American flag behind his podium and gushes about Ronald Reagan."