The definition of religion, as found in the Merriam Webster's Dictionary, is as such:

 - The service and worship of God or the supernatural,
 - Commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
 - A personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices.

I remember an old joke that goes, "You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose."

Well, how about this, "You can pick your friends, and you can pick your religion, but you can't pick your friend's religion." I like the sound of that.

If you think it is possible in the U.S. to pick your own religion, you would be wrong. My friends, we are not as free in our religious choices as you would think.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love this country. I always have. But I'm having an increasingly difficult time accepting that the religion that I choose is not recognized as a true religion. And some of the practices of my chosen religion are considered to be against the law in this country. I still haven't figured out why. It doesn't make sense to me.

The religion I am speaking of is the THC Ministry.

Now, before you go getting all "self-righteous" on me, let's look at what the BIBLE says:

God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. (Genesis 1:29) That's THE Genesis, you know, the first book in the bible!

Note that it says "every herb." It clearly doesn't say "every herb except cannabis." Cannabis is an herb. Period.

The THC Ministry, founded by Roger Christie from the Religion of Jesus Church, is a religion which considers cannabis to be a sacrament. Members base their practices on what they see as an eclectic mixture of ancient wisdom, modern science, and the enlightening and healing properties of cannabis sacrament. Its mission includes "liberating the cannabis hemp plant and the minds of those who do and of those who do not revere it," and is actively involved in the legal and social discussions surrounding cannabis use in society.

THC Ministry, which is the abbreviated and popularized name for the original Hawai'i Ministry of Cannabis Sacrament and all of its chapters, was founded in June of the year 2000 by Roger Christie in Hawaii. It is present in Canada, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and many North American states (USA) including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, and Texas, with at least one other chapter forming in New York. It is an officially registered religion in many countries on different continents.

THC Ministry believes that "cultivation and enjoyment of cannabis sacrament is a fundamental human right provided by God and protected by the Constitution." Cannabis is the original sacrament of Hebrew, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Shinto, Buddhist, Rasta and more, and fulfills the prophesies to 'feed all our hungers'. Cannabis is also one of the main ingredients in the original Annointing Oil, as described in the Bible.

Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, and of cassia five hundred shekels after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil of olive an hin: and thous shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. (Exodus 30:23-25)

Note the word "calamus." According to Smith's Bible Dictionary, the Hebrew words "Kaneh" and "Bosem" meaning aromatic reed, are found in Exodus 30:23, and refer to the recipe for the Holy Anointing Oil of Israel.  Kaneh Bosem is the Semitic root origin of the word "Kannabus" ( Greek ) and "Cannabis" ( Latin ).  The rewriting of history was done in 300 BC when Cannabis was mistranslated from the Hebrew Kaneh Bosem to the Greek meaning calamus.

According to the THC Ministry, the references to cannabis as an ingredient of the holy anointing oil is actually from the Torah (Five Books of Moses), Exodus 30:23. The plant is called in Hebrew "kaneh bosem" (literally "fragrant cane") and, according to the translation of the Septuagint, is identified as the cannabis plant. The Hebrew "kaneh bosem" is the etymological precursor for the word "cannabis". In Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's contemporary English translation of the Five Books, "The Living Torah", he includes a picture of the hemp plant as an illustration (p. 442). It is also interesting to note Exodus 3:2 (also found in the Torah). The passage mentions a pivotal moment for Moses' life when he goes up on a mountain and speaks with a burning "bush".

The THC Ministry meets all the criteria for a religion. Let's look at those criteria again...

 - The service and worship of God or the supernatural - check

 - Commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance - check

 - A personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices - check

Why does my country not recognize my religion or the practices of my religion? I thought the First Amendment was supposed to guarantee my right to choose and practice the religion of my choice! (Whether anyone else agrees or not!)

I guess my plea is this...Please don't judge me because I don't fit into some "social norm." I am an American. I am also an educated professional. I am also an adult. Let me make my own informed decisions!

Oh, before I forget, wash your hands before and after picking your nose!

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