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Black Bear Busts Secret Pot Farm
By Debbie Williams Reporter
Published: Thu, April 24, 2008 - 5:43 pm
Debbie Williams
Bruce and Brenda Shoop claim marijuana is part of their religion. For some, that excuse maybe worse than the crime.
"Not a criminal." Brenda Shoop proclaims from a video on their website at greenearthministries.org. But she and her husband Bruce Shoop are in the Baldwin County jail charged with drug trafficking.
The Baldwin County Sheriff's office found a 28 pound marijuana bush growing in their back yard. The Shoops called it "the tree of life".
"We're asked to help to spread the truth and we're going to do that through the Holy oil," says Bruce Shoop.
The Shoops don't deny using marijuana on their website and in court they justify the use because they say it's part of their religion. "What we're saying is that hemp allows you to connect with your inner soul, your inner being becoming one and actually talk to God yourself," says Shoop.
"I don't know what to say, I don't think that's good religion." Ashley Merchant was among folks in Robertsdale who aren't sure what to think about religious marijuana.
"It sounds like a farce. We know that the Indian's used peyote in the last few centuries. I never heard of any religious sect that used marijuana," says Jay Patrow.
" I could understand a little bit and I agree with a little bit but that's too much," says Gary Falske.
"There's some crazy people out there that's what I say marijuana I don't think it's something people should be playing around with and invoking God in it I can't believe they did that and they even have a website on it," says Marie Laplace.
"It's rock solid.There are religions all over the world that have been recognizing it and we covered it up the U.S. Government pretty much stamped it out," says Shoop from his website.
Their next battle to win their freedom, religious or otherwise, comes next month. Their next court date could be as soon as May 6th.
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and I have a nice little piece of the Bayway to sell to you. Hahahaha