It ran in Saturday’s (July 20) Beliefs column, titled As a Religion, Marijuana-Infused Faith Pushes Commonly Held Limits. Excerpt:

On July 29, Mr. (Roger) Christie’s lawyer will argue in Hawaii federal court that his client should be allowed to present a religious-freedom defense at the eventual criminal trial. He will base his argument on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed by Congress in 1993, which requires the government to show a “compelling interest” whenever it “substantially burdens” a religious practice. In 2006, the Supreme Court relied on the act to permit a New Mexico church to use the hallucinogen hoasca, or ayahuasca, for sacramental purposes.

But so far such exceptions have been granted to small religious communities and relatively obscure drugs: for American Indians’ use of peyote, for example, or the New Mexico church with its ayahuasca. But marijuana? That would be problematic. …

Meanwhile, here at home supporters of Christie, who has been held at the Federal Detention Center at the Honolulu Airport for over three years on drug dealing allegations, say they’ll be at the Monday court hearing (10:30 a.m.) before U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi at the Federal Building in Honolulu

Read Civil Beat’s related coverage:

No Christmas in Hilo for Roger Christie

Hawaii Pot Minister’s Bail Denial Called ‘Rare’

Hawaii Pot Minister to Stay in the Slammer

Federal Justice Officials Ignore Questions About Hawaii Pot Minister

Courtesy Hawaii Cannabis Ministry.

—Chad Blair