Marijuana Church Founders Plead Guilty; Will Pursue Free Exercise Defense

Arizona's East Valley Tribune yesterday reported that Dan and Mary Quaintance, founders of the Church of Cognizance, last month pleaded guilty in an Arizona federal district court to two marijuana-related charges. They will now pursue an appeal of the court's refusal to dismiss charges against them on free exercise grounds. The Arizona-based church which has "monasteries" in members' homes around the country, has as its motto: "With good thoughts, good words and good deeds, we honor marijuana: as the teacher, the provider, the protector." (See prior related posting.)