Community | March 19, 2010 | 51 comments

Pastor prosecuted for preaching gospel of pot

source: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=7137520

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copperdragon
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A local pastor is preaching the benefits of pot to his followers. But now this marijuana ministry is facing the wrath of county prosecutors.

While Los Angeles city leaders struggle to figure out how to deal with the hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries that have sprung up all over town, law enforcement is targeting alleged law-breakers. A pastor who built his ministry around marijuana is now out of business. One look at the storefront on one West Los Angeles street and you know you're looking at a marijuana dispensary. Beverly Hills Green Cross is different.

Craig Rubin conducts bible study there. The ordained minister is pastor of Temple 420, a marijuana ministry.

"What we've always tried to do, my wife and I, is present god to people who use medical marijuana," said Rubin. "[The Bible] says 'we are healed by his stripes' in Isaiah 53, and a as a Jewish person, I believe the Old Testament, and I think Christians should believe the Old Testament is valid. I teach a course in college called 'The Jewish History of the New Testament.'

"Marijuana is specifically mentioned in the Book of Exodus in a holy anointing oil. It's called 'cannabossum,'" said Rubin.

You could say he practices what he preaches. When asked if he smoked cannabis, Rubin said, "Yes, I do smoke." The last time he lit up? "Ten minutes ago."

L.A. County District Attorney Steve Cooley says he's cracking down on hundreds of marijuana dispensaries he says are operating illegally in Los Angeles. Cooley says religion is just another way dope dealers try to get around the law to make a profit.

"I want to reach out to people who do smoke pot and let them know that god still loves them, and they're welcome to come to church, and that it isn't a sin to smoke pot," said Rubin.

"I think they're frauds and they're corrupt," said Cooley. "And they should be pursued by people in positions of law enforcement authority."

That's what happened at Rubin's dispensary. After an undercover investigation, L.A. police raided the place on October 22 at 4:20 in the afternoon.

Rubin is in big trouble. He was already on probation after being convicted previously of marijuana possession for sale. Now he's facing those same charges again, plus a possible probation violation that could send him to prison for years.

"Hey, I'm facing jail time," said Rubin. "And really I feel I haven't done anything wrong but try and preach the word."

Rubin said he's being singled out because he's an outspoken advocate for medical marijuana who once ran for mayor of Los Angeles. He says his dispensary was licensed and that he'd consulted with the city attorney's office to make sure they were OK with it.

Rubin was arraigned on Monday. He's acting as his own attorney.

He says god and the law are both on his side, that the law under which he's being prosecuted makes an exception for ordained ministers.

One of his supporters could be seen Monday smoking a marijuana cigarette right outside the courthouse.

"The state makes an exception for duly ordained ministers to run psychological clinics, and we do provide psychological counseling and services, biblical services," said Rubin.

Rubin is due back in court in January, representing himself and his beliefs, with his freedom on the line.

Rubin says he has the documentation to prove his innocence and he's ready to go to trial. He's undeterred by the fact that the last time he acted as his own attorney, he was convicted.

video >>> http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=7137520
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51 comments // Pastor prosecuted for preaching gospel of pot

  • amosrkman
  • Omnomynous
    • 0
      Omnomynous  

    • What no ignorant Christian bigot rhetoric going on on this thread? Really he's not just a hate monger trying trying to force God on everyone? And here I thought their was a virtual consensus here on Current that if you believed in God or practiced any form of religion you were just a hateful idiot, I stand corrected.

      Oh and they might not want everyone to know but I could think of a few respectable "Christians" that smoke pot... and advocate it's legalization.

    • 1 year ago
  • Alex_French
  • Mudboy16
  • Inventor
    • 0
      Inventor  

    • This pastor is Christian in a few primitive, Biblical senses.

      He's defending himself without a lawyer in court. Jesus defended himself and taught noncooperation with a bad legal system. "If someone should sue you for your coat, give him your undergarment also." Paul defended himself, appealing to the Emperor, and in so doing, got himself killed when he might have gotten off. Whenever the courts are rotten to the core, shaming them by making them make punitive decisions is the true Christian path. Would your preacher do jail time just to try to clean up a corrupt justice system?

      He's in the healing profession. That's where Jesus and all of His trainees stood.

      Finally, there's evidence that cannabis oil was a religious sacrament at the time.

      If you don't like what the Bible actually says, change it all you want. And good luck with that.

    • 1 year ago
  • Darevalo
  • RalphWaldoEmerson
  • Darevalo
  • phatima1
  • pleasexplain
  • RalphWaldoEmerson
  • serenden68
  • fun_size
  • panichead
    • 0
      panichead  

    • This dude was profiled in the Kevin Booth documentary "How Weed Won The West" and I have to say he came off as a cartoon character, goofy as hell. I agree with what he is trying to do but acting like a fool is not gonna help the cause.

    • 1 year ago
  • UtopianSky
    • +2
      UtopianSky  

    • Will the police go after the Catholic Church for giving wine to minors during Communion?

      If not, why not, and why this?

      If this guy has a religion where he wants to consider pot special, why can't he?

    • 1 year ago
  • serenden68
  • peterlenzac
  • serenden68
  • theultimateend
    • +4
      theultimateend  

    • Now. I'll start off by saying that pot has one of the worst smells outside of rotting flesh I have ever had the unfortunate luck of walking past (College apparently requires that everyone smoke pot or smell pot).

      THAT SAID...I don't see what is wrong with it. The only complaint I have about the stuff is the same as Cigarettes. Smells like crap to me.

      But I'm not about to stop a single person, regardless of age, from trying it. If you like it, know yourself out, smoke it till your nose twitches. I don't care, if it makes you happy and it isn't hurting me (or fucking up the environment) I think it is a pretty sweet gig.

      Morality is a cold heartless whore who only shows compassion on the most limited of moments. In the end, the far simpler philosophy of enjoying your life to the fullest while not limited the enjoyment of the lives of others gets far more positive work done.

      Some people love to write, some people love to play games, some people love to beat their genitals off till their stuff turns purple, and some people love drugs. That's the beauty of our world, we have nearly limitless options out there to try and find that pleasure that most completes us.

      Hindering anyone from finding that pleasure merely because it makes you feel grumpy is just asinine.

    • 1 year ago
  • serenden68
    • 0
      serenden68  
    • theultimateend:

      HAHAHA, that part was funny... you know what im talking bout. and i do agree.

      well the smell depends on what your smoking, some strains smell like fruit, others smell like lavender, and then stress and chronic smells like... well you already know. lol.

      and also, this is not a negative remark, please dont call cannabis a drug, its a plant from beginning to end.

    • 1 year ago
  • bking74
    • -1
      bking74  

    • The priorities of at least the users of current is extremely clear, posts about genocide, natural disasters, political scandals or basic human rights receive just a few glances a minimal number of comments....but, anything and I mean anything about the legalization marijuana and current gets flooded with insightful and passionate posts.....................what the fcuk America!

    • 1 year ago
  • Darevalo
    • +2
      Darevalo  
    • bking74:

      because this is a big, and easy to point out, injustice... things like genocide and natural disasters suck and are a pain for anyone to really say much aside from "condolences" but pot is harmless.
      been proven harmless
      and the government wastes money trying to arrest us for being harmless.
      its stupid is why were so up in peoples face about it.

      speaking of. gonna smoke out now, got off of work, my back hurts and im about to feel good and continue with my day. may even go to the beach.

    • 1 year ago
  • serenden68
  • JuiceBug
    • -4
      JuiceBug  

    • If you read the article, it's clear that this guy is not Christian. Also, since when is God not capitalized? The word is clearly being used as a proper noun in this article - it's not just 'a god', but God, capital G, with all that the concept entails.

    • 1 year ago
  • UtopianSky
  • serenden68
    • 0
      serenden68  
    • JuiceBug:

      ok i get your point in the comment... but if you already know what the word means then whats the big deal, your getting distracted from the main point of the article.

      yes God should be capitalized, but thats not the point. the pastor being prosecuted is the point.

    • 1 year ago
  • veeroods
  • serenden68
  • MistressOfJade
    • 0
      MistressOfJade  

    • I think I would go for this more if he wasn't JUST teaching about how much Jesus supposedly loved weed lol. I mean, if you have religion, good for you, but you should be teaching EVERYTHING, not just about one topic - in this case, the weed. =]

    • 1 year ago
  • serenden68
    • 0
      serenden68  
    • MistressOfJade:

      HAHA, true.

      but he doesn't just teach about god and cannabis. he teaches the religion as a whole but his church is geared towards cannabis users because most churches dont agree with the use of cannabis.

    • 1 year ago
  • artemis6
  • unimatrix0
  • CarolineS
  • serenden68
    • +3
      serenden68  
    • unimatrix0:

      now i wouldn't go so far as to call Christianity an abomination, but i do get your point...

      However, theres nothing wrong with Christianity, its the people that call themselves pastors and fathers that take advantage of a religion for self gain... that an abomination, thats blasphemy.

      just because you believe nothing is going to happen when you die, doesn't mean everyone else has to. if giving people a false sense of hope allows them to live their lives happily then let them be, but dont destroy that simply because you dont believe the same thing.

      plus Christianity promotes good qualities in humans like do un to others as you would have them do un to you, or thou shalt not kill nor steal or commit adultery.... taking care of those less fortunate, taking responsibility for ones own actions, not judging others when you yourself have much to fix in your life.... all these things are good, its just that "MAN" tainted the word and well the rest is history..

      but dont blame the actions of man on religion, man should be held accountable for its own actions. a man decides to blow up a building in the name of allah, or a person decides to spend their life helping others for Jesus, a person decides on what they are going to do... not religion...

      now if you want to talk about influences thats not a basis to blame actions on religion either, because deaths of millions of country "men" and occupation for over a hundred years would influence a lot of people to retaliate.

    • 1 year ago
  • theultimateend
    • +4
      theultimateend  
    • serenden68:

      To be fair the brain is an incredibly sensitive organ. If you confuse it it will fuck you sideways.

      Unfortunately a strong faith can override most proper functioning of the brain and leave people in a pretty uncontrollable state.

      I like to think of it as a overpowering psychosis that doesn't require a physical outside stimulus (merely a metaphysical one).

      Religion in theory isn't bad, but when almost all of the worlds largest economic collapses come from choosing it over education there are obvious problems with it :).

      It's much easier, I think, to just decide to be kind and find what makes you most happy. No need for any massive text, a single sentence gets the entire jist down :).

    • 1 year ago
  • artemis6
  • sk0j0
    • +1
      sk0j0  
    • serenden68:

      Thank you from sk0j0 the smot poking Christian :D I've said that multiple times here and it's good to see someone else say it. The problem with organized religion is the people and their translation of the doctrine for their own benefit. Using the familiar words and verses so the simple-minded will see/hear and then bring in more votes and $$.

    • 1 year ago
  • Darevalo
  • serenden68
    • +6
      serenden68  

    • Please people right off the bat, do not reply to "GODSnLIBERALS" until he/she brings a coherent argument to the table...

      all he/she wants to do is piss people off and create arguments... until he/she brings documented facts and intelligent statements to the table i myself will not reply because i am tired of his/her "ignorant stupidity".... both of which just happen to be my pet peeve.

    • 1 year ago
  • Conniepae
    • +3
      Conniepae  
    • serenden68:

      He/she is just an asshole trying to disrupt the conversation. How many people stop commenting, because they don't want to deal with an asshole? I think that's his/her goal. Stifle the conversation.

    • 1 year ago
  • serenden68
  • Conniepae
    • +2
      Conniepae  
    • serenden68:

      I'm not coming to current to 'agrue' with the 'anti' people. I'm coming to current to 'talk' to those who also think cannabis hemp should be reclassified and the war ended.

      People like GodsnLiberals aren't trying to participate in the discussion. They come to throw stones and stop the conversation. I often wonder if it's a young person, who is just having fun. What makes them tick (type)? What makes a person want to be so insulting and disrupting? What is the goal?

      Many of the people who leave, leave because the conversation get's high jacked, by people who's only goal is to be crude, rude and offensive. I don't want to argue with people. I want to talk. I enjoy when people share posts and comments of interest.

      IMHO cannabis facts do not support the classification, which makes it punishable by jail, or prison. We are accountable for our own actions, whether it be cannabis, or alcohol, or prescription drugs. Personal responsibility.

    • 1 year ago
  • sk0j0
  • serenden68
    • 0
      serenden68  
    • Conniepae:

      i often wonder the same thing about him/her, cuz as you said, all they want to do is start arguments and find out what makes us mad...

      now i also love to have discussions about subject, not arguments.. you can have a intelligent discussion and get your point across without getting into an argument. thats why i like talkin to individuals who, dont have to necessarily agree with me, but bring coherent arguments and facts to the table.

      and THANK YOU!!!! for that last statement...

      PEOPLE NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEY OWN ACTIONS AND STOP USING SUBSTANCE ABUSE AS AN EXCUSE!!!!!

      nothing makes you do anything; an abusive father already had the intentions of beating his wife and kids before he got drunk, a crackhead was already working out how to steal food or money before they took their first hit... its the same with every type of substance. they already have the intentions and ideas in their head before they took anything, they they just drank alcohol so you can blame it partially on the alcohol instead of the persons own maliciousness or stupidity and ignorance.

    • 1 year ago
  • medHead
  • GodsnLiberals
    • -21
      GodsnLiberals  

    • AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH so those anti-religion DOPE smoking crowd are in a bind here...

      how would hey approach this?????????? (maybe the reason why the lack of pepple condeming this "relgion" themed post)

      SMOKING POT is a sign of a weak mind..those who promote drug use are preditory animals that prey on weak minded people LIKE DRUG DEALERs...

      and if jesus or whomever this scamster is trying to use..would come down from wherever..I am sure whomever would shove that blessed DOPE up his holy hole..AHAHHAHAHA

    • 1 year ago
  • dwb2585
  • iamfree
  • iloveflynn
  • cerealforeal
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