Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 20 Mar 2013 – Roger Christie is accused of running a marijuana distribution business through his church in Hilo. His THC Ministry has long claimed marijuana as a religious sacrament and the use of it protected under the right to freedom of religion. The federal prosecution argues that the THC Ministry is a front for illegal marijuana distribution. In its motion to deny bail, it presented evidence it says supports this allegation. However, this should not be relevant to a bail hearing. Whether the defendant has committed a crime or not is a decision to be made by a jury in a public trial, not by a judge in a bail hearing. Since July 2010, Christie has been denied bail and remains behind bars awaiting trial.
posted on March 21, 2013 by
