Reverend of Temple 420 Gets Busted for Pot Smoking

In Los Angeles, the Associate Press is reporting the curious story of a minister who was arrested on charges of marijuana possession. It seems the reverend is suing Los Angeles police for $30 million, contending his civil and religious rights were violated because he heads a church that uses pot during worship. For obvious reasons, the exact address and location of the church is being with held. However, if you live in the Hollywood area, you might want to follow your nose on Sunday morning.

The Rev. Craig X Rubin, 41, is the founder of Temple 420, which holds that pot is a religious herb. No doubt the bong also has special religious significance, as does the roach clip and rolling papers.

In the lawsuit filed Wednesday in state court, Temple 420's religious dogma mandates that members of its congregation study the Bible, have faith in God and regularly burn the herb cannabis as a sacrament. Followers of Temple 420 believe the herb is The Tree of Life mentioned in the Bible.

Rev. Rubin, his son and another man were charged last fall with two felony counts each of selling or transporting marijuana and possessing marijuana for sale.

Rubin's lawsuit contends that last November, an undercover officer joined the Hollywood temple and bought 3 1/2 grams of marijuana "to be used for religious purposes." Five days later, the strip-mall sanctuary was raided by officers, who seized money and marijuana. No word on whether or not they took the sacred bong, roach clip and "parchment" papers.

Rev. Rubin has made several appearances on the Showtime series "Weeds" as the owner of a medical marijuana club. Rubin was ordained in 1990 by the Universal Life Church, which will ordain everyone (human or not) who asks. You don't even have to mail in a match book cover anymore. They've gone high tech and can ordain you or your dog, via the web.

The temple has an estimated 400 members who pay a $100 initiation fee and $100 annual dues, enabling them to purchase marijuana for requested donations. Marijuana also is burned during some services. No doubt in the same vein as the incense my priest burns during Mass.

Surely some Hollywood activists will come to Rubin's rescue and offer emotional if not financial support? Woody Harrelson? Matthew McConaughey? Justin Timberlake? Harrison Ford? McCaulay Culkin? Andy Dick? Queen Latifah? Snoop Dogg? The ghost of Jerry Garcia? All of whom are or were self proclaimed pot smokers or were busted for pot.

For those who may not know this, in drug culture, "420" is slang for marijuana.