Church Leader Gets Probation On Sacramental Marijuana Charges

Wednesday's Maui News reports that in Wailuku, Hawaii, 72-year old James Kimmel was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and placed on five years probation after pleading no contest to charges of second-degree commercial promotion of marijuana and possessing drug paraphernalia. Kimmel, founder of the Religion of Jesus Church, argued that he was smoking marijuana and furnishing it to others as part of his religious beliefs that marijuana was a required sacrament. The court however rejected a Free Exercise defense. The court also ordered Kimmel to not to sell, possess or use alcohol or illegal drugs while on probation.