A 25- year-old Colorado man has been convicted of drug charges after the court rejected his defense that the “happy weed” was a sacrament in his religion and therefore protected under the 1st Amendment protections of freedom of religion. The man claimed he was part of the Hilo, Hawaii headquartered THC Ministry and marijuana plays the same part as communion wine does in Christianity.

THC Ministry’s webpage says, “Cultivation and enjoyment of Cannabis sacrament is a fundamental human right provided by God and protected by the first Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It is our opinion that Cannabis is the original sacrament of Hebrew, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Shinto, Buddhist, Rasta and more, and fulfills the prophesies to ‘raise up for them a plant of renown…’ and “ (W)e provide legitimate religious defense to prosecution for sincere people over 21 years of age.”

The sect claims “churches” in: Bozeman, Montana: Los Angeles, California, and Boulder, Colorado as well as Hilo, Hawaii and touts the Colorado case as persecution.

The sect is named for the primary psychoactive component of marijuana known as THC citing articles in High Times as a cancer cure.

Apparently the man is following the "10 Rules for Dealing with Police" a $30 DVD sold by advocates at stopthedrugwar.com and claims he will appeal.

As far as is known the THC Ministry defense has not been accepted by any court. The man was fined several hundred dollars and sentences to 30-hours community service.