Judge rejects man's religious pot claim

HARRISBURG, Pa. (RNS) — Robert George Henry told a Pennsylvania judge April 16 that smoking marijuana is vital to his efforts to connect with God.

His argument quickly went up in smoke.

Ten seconds after Henry, 48, finished testifying, President Judge Edgar B. Bayley dismissed a motion Henry filed seeking to avoid prosecution on drunken driving and drug possession charges on religious grounds. A full trial is now scheduled for this month.

In that motion by defense attorney George Marros, Henry claimed his drug use is protected by the religious freedom guarantee of the U.S. Constitution.

Henry said that, four months after his October arrest, he joined the Hawaii Cannabis Ministry, which promotes marijuana use for religious enlightenment, and was ordained as a minister of the Universal Life Church.