Southern Arizona couple defend religious use of pot

[mick mouse]

A husband and wife from SE AZ. who say their church uses pot for religious enlightenment argued their case in a New Mexico court this week.

After being arrested with 172 pounds of pot in their car, they claim religious freedom allows them to use illegal drugs. The attorny Generals office say they are using religion as a cover for a drug organization.

They are charged with conspiracy and possession with intent to sell over 50 kilos. The driver of their car, a fellow member of the Church of Cognizance, has turned States evidence.

The Church of Cognizance is based on research and interpretation of religious texts and is a form of "Neo-Zoroastrianism", which holds sacred a drink made from a mountian plant called haoma. In Zoroastrianism, the plant, the drink, and the God are the same, and the couple believe that cannabis is haoma.

source: Arizona Daily Star- www.azstarnet.com