Opinion ID: 1127178
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Heading: The Use of Cannabis as a Religious Practice.

Text: The first amendment precludes the enactment of laws which prohibit the free exercise of religion. Laws may never restrict religious belief; however, religious practices may be subject to governmental regulation in limited instances. E.g., Sherbert v. Verner, 374 U.S. 398, 83 S.Ct. 1790, 10 L.Ed.2d 965 (1963). To justify the regulation of a particular religious practice, the state must demonstrate a compelling interest. Id.; McDaniel v. Paty, 435 U.S. 618, 98 S.Ct. 1322, 55 L.Ed.2d 593 (1978); Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205, 92 S.Ct. 1526, 32 L.Ed.2d 15 (1972). The record substantiated the trial court's findings that the church was a religion within the first amendment, that petitioner sincerely subscribed to the beliefs of the church, and that the use of cannabis was an integral part of the religion. The issue before this Court is whether the State of Florida has a compelling interest in restricting the use of cannabis as a religious practice. It is well established that the state may restrict religious practices which pose a serious threat to the health of the citizenry. Thus, the Supreme Court of the United States long ago held that one might be compelled to be vaccinated against a disease despite religious objection. Jacobson v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S. 11, 25 S.Ct. 358, 49 L.Ed. 643 (1905). Other courts have upheld the state's right to protect children by requiring emergency medical treatment over a parent's religious objection. E.g., In re Sampson, 29 N.Y.2d 900, 328 N.Y.S.2d 686, 278 N.E.2d 918 (1972); Jehovah's Witnesses v. King County Hospital, 390 U.S. 598, 88 S.Ct. 1260, 20 L.Ed.2d 158 (1968). Restriction on the handling of poisonous snakes and drinking poison as a religious practice has also been upheld. State ex rel. Swann v. Pack, 527 S.W.2d 99 (Tenn. 1975), cert. denied, 424 U.S. 954, 96 S.Ct. 1429, 47 L.Ed.2d 360 (1976). In Hamilton v. State, 366 So.2d 8 (Fla. 1978), this Court reexamined the classification of cannabis as a controlled substance and upheld the statutory scheme regulating its use, reasoning: There continues to be authority supporting the position that the health hazards of cannabis justify its proscription and its present classification. Although there is substantial expert opinion to the contrary, the fact that there continues to be expert opinion supporting the reasons which prompted the Legislature to enact this statute is sufficient to constitute a continuing rational basis for the act. Id. at 10. Petitioner contends that the legislative enactment of section 402.36, Florida Statutes (1978 Supp.), which allows cannabis to be used in medical research as the effect of making the classification of cannabis as a Schedule I drug under section 893.03, Florida Statutes (1978 Supp.), irrational and in effect requires this Court to recede from its Hamilton decision. We disagree. In classifying cannabis as a Schedule I drug, the legislature expressly stated that cannabis has a high potential for abuse and has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and in its use under medical supervision does not meet accepted safety standards.  § 893.03(1), Fla. Stat. (1978 Supp.) (emphasis added). By enacting section 402.36, the legislature was permitting the drug to be used for research only under strictly controlled circumstances in order to determine how, if at all, it could properly be used in medical treatment. This act in no way makes the legislative classification of cannabis arbitrary or unreasonable. We reaffirm our decision in Hamilton. Although Hamilton is not dispositive of the instant case, it does establish for the State of Florida that cannabis remains a dangerous drug. This fact was also established independently in the instant case through the testimony of expert witnesses. This evidence, coupled with the indiscriminate use of the drug by Ms. Town and the followers of the church, convinces us that the state has sustained its burden. The testimony of an eleven-year-old boy exemplifies our concern. This boy testified that he went to petitioner's residence three times within two months after hearing that cannabis was smoked there. The boy, who had previously smoked cannabis, was admitted with a friend after telling a guard that they had come to pray. Each time he visited he was given a spliff, a combination of cannabis and tobacco. He did not have to pray during his visits though members sometimes talked to him about god. This easy access to cannabis for a child who had absolutely no interest in learning the religion, coupled with the indiscriminate use of the drug by members of the church, clearly warrants intervention by the state. Petitioner cites People v. Woody, 61 Cal.2d 716, 40 Cal. Rptr. 69, 394 P.2d 813 (1964), in which the California Supreme Court held that the state could not constitutionally proscribe the use of peyote by Navajo Indians as a part of their religion. This case is not controlling and is distinguishable. The California court found the use of peyote by an ancient Indian religious group in the desert outweighed the state's interest in proscribing use of the drug. Accord State v. Whittingham, 19 Ariz. App. 27, 504 P.2d 950 (Ct.App. 1973), cert. denied, 417 U.S. 946, 94 S.Ct. 3071, 41 L.Ed.2d 667 (1974); Whitehorn v. State, 561 P.2d 539 (Okl.Ct.Crim.App. 1977). In Woody the use of peyote was restricted to adults, and it was used only during a particular ceremony. In the instant case the use of cannabis by members and nonmembers of the church continues throughout the day and is wholly unrestricted. The record further reflects that children and nonmembers are not only permitted to use cannabis but also are encouraged to do so by adult members. Woody is also distinguishable in that the court expressly found that the peyote users posed no threat to the general public while under that drug's influence. Peyote was used during a ceremony, conducted in the desert, which continued from sundown Saturday to sunrise Sunday. At sunrise breakfast was served, and then the members departed. By morning the effects of the peyote had disappeared with no aftereffects. In the instant case the record contains testimony of neighbors stating that participants under the influence of cannabis were constantly coming and going. An officer who often observed the activities at petitioner's residence testified that he would usually see fifteen to twenty cars parked on the premises. This evidence coupled with evidence of the use of cannabis at all times of the day leads to the inescapable conclusion that participants traveling from petitioner's residence in fact posed a threat to public safety and welfare. Although we find the Woody decision distinguishable from the instant case, we recognize, as the California court did, that: [T]he right to free religious expression embodies a precious heritage of our history. In a mass society, which presses at every point toward conformity, the protection of a self expression, however unique, of the individual and the group becomes ever more important. 61 Cal.2d at 727, 40 Cal. Rptr. at 77, 394 P.2d at 821. In the instant case, however, we find that the state's compelling interest outweighs the free exercise interests of the petitioner. To hold otherwise would, for all practical purposes, legalize the use of cannabis for anyone, member or nonmember of the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church, who came to petitioner's residence to use the prohibited drug.