Opinion ID: 874776
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Did the Prosecution of Defendant for Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Deliver Violate His Constitutional Right to the Free Exercise of His Religion?

Text: Prior to pleading guilty, Defendant also filed a motion to dismiss on the ground that this prosecution infringed upon his right to practice his religion. The district court denied that motion. He raises that same argument on appeal. The only aspects of the religion mentioned in the record are smoking and ingesting marijuana. We assume for the purposes of this appeal that such activity can involve the free exercise of a religion under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment prohibits Congress from making a law prohibiting the free exercise of religion. The United States Supreme Court has held that the First Amendment applies to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment. Cantwell v. Connecticut, 310 U.S. 296, 303, 60 S.Ct. 900, 903, 84 L.Ed. 1213, 1217-18 (1940). In Employment Division, Department of Human Resources of Oregon v. Smith, 494 U.S. 872, 110 S.Ct. 1595, 108 L.Ed.2d 876 (1990), the Court considered whether a state statute prohibiting the religiously inspired use of peyote violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. In addressing the issue, the Court distinguished between religious beliefs, which a state may not regulate, id. at 877, 110 S.Ct. at 1599, 108 L.Ed.2d at 884-85 and religiously motivated conduct, which a state can regulate under an otherwise valid statute of general application, id. at 878-79, 110 S.Ct. at 1599-1600, 108 L.Ed.2d at 885-86. [T]he right of free exercise does not relieve an individual of the obligation to comply with a `valid and neutral law of general applicability on the ground that the law proscribes (or prescribes) conduct that his religion prescribes (or proscribes).' Id. at 879, 110 S.Ct. at 1600, 108 L.Ed.2d at 886 (quoting United States v. Lee, 455 U.S. 252, 263 n. 3, 102 S.Ct. 1051, 1054 n. 3, 71 L.Ed.2d 127, 136 n. 3 (1982) (Stevens, J., concurring in judgment)). Defendant does not contend that Idaho Code § 37-2732(a)(1)(B) is not a valid and neutral law of general applicability. That it may proscribe conduct that Defendant's religion prescribes does not violate the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. Defendant also contends that the statute violates Article I, § 4, of the Idaho Constitution, which provides: The exercise and enjoyment of religious faith and worship shall forever be guaranteed; and no person shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege, or capacity on account of his religious opinions; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be construed to dispense with oaths or affirmations, or excuse acts of licentiousness or justify polygamous or other pernicious practices, inconsistent with morality or the peace or safety of the state; nor to permit any person, organization, or association to directly or indirectly aid or abet, counsel or advise any person to commit the crime of bigamy or polygamy, or any other crime. No person shall be required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship, religious sect or denomination, or pay tithes against his consent; nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship. Bigamy and polygamy are forever prohibited in the state, and the legislature shall provide by law for the punishment of such crimes. This provision in the Constitution does not protect against prosecution for conduct that violates a neutral criminal statute of general applicability simply because such conduct may be engaged in for religious reasons. It was intended, in part, to permit the criminalization of bigamy and polygamy even if it was engaged in as a religious practice. Toncray v. Budge, 14 Idaho 621, 647-48, 95 P. 26, 35 (1908). This section expressly provides that the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be construed . . . to permit any person . . . to directly or indirectly aid or abet, counsel or advise any person to commit. . . any other crime. As this Court stated in Toncray, `Laws are made for the government of actions; and, while they cannot interfere with mere religious belief and opinions, they may with practices.' Id. at 653, 95 P. at 37 (quoting from Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145, 166, 25 L.Ed. 244 (1879)). Defendant relies upon the phrase, nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship. He contends that a preference has been granted to another religion by Idaho Code § 37-2732A. That statute exempts from the criminal sanctions in the Uniform Controlled Substances Act the transporting, delivery, or possession of peyote by persons of native American descent who are members or eligible for membership in a federally recognized Indian tribe when such peyote is to be used as the sacrament in religious rites of a bona fide native American religious ceremony conducted by a bona fide religious organization. [1] Defendant argues that [t]he government may not allow the use of peyote as `the sacrament in religious rites of a bona fide native American religious ceremony' while at the same time punishing [Defendant] for his sacramental use of marijuana in the privacy of his home. Assuming that Idaho Code § 37-2732A grants a preference to certain native Americans in the practice of their religion, that would be a basis for invalidating that statute. It is not a basis for invalidating Idaho Code § 37-2732(a)(1)(B) under which Defendant was convicted. The statute under which he was convicted is of general application and it does not proscribe any conduct because it is engaged in for religious reasons or because of the religious belief it portrays. It is entirely neutral with respect to religion. It does not directly or indirectly give a preference to any religious denomination or mode of worship. The district court did not err in denying Defendant's motion to dismiss.