VAIL VALLEY, Colorado — An Vail Valley man is furious over a misdemeanor charge for possession of marijuana because he says it violates his religious rights.

Trevor Douglas, 25, of Avon, was recently pulled over in Georgetown by a Colorado State Trooper for having expired license plate tags. When the trooper smelled marijuana in Douglas’ car, Douglas showed him the pipe and less than one ounce of marijuana he had in the car.

Douglas said the court is trying him for his religious beliefs and thinks that laws banning marijuana are off base.

Douglas, who lived in Hawaii before moving to Colorado, said he’s a member of the THC Ministry, also known as the Hawaii Cannabis Ministry. The Web site for the ministry shows its motto as “we use cannabis religiously and you can, too.”

“The original sacrament of Christianity is cannabis. The court is basically trying me for my religious beliefs.”
— Trevor Douglas

“If it’s part of your religion, you should get security from this prosecution of possession,” Douglas. “That’s how it is in Hawaii.” Continue reading