St. Jo B's INFO Art- Hemp & Goddess
Rev. James Marks
I met Rev James Marks last year at THE MOSES BUILDING
where Rev. Roger Christie of The Hawai'i Cannabis ( THC ) Ministry
serves the sacramental needs of his followers.
James had returned from the two years mainland visit to LA
where he opened and closed a Cannabis Church.
Years earlier, before Roger had moved into THE MOSES BUILDING
James Marks had the center suite #4.
Where, being a gypsy, he did palm reading.
And that was how the two met, when Roger rented a suite .
So, when Rev. James Mark had his encounter with the a local Catholic Bishop
and heard his confession,
James called Rev Roger Christie to tell him about IT,
Roger relied the good news to me -
5 QUESTIONS for The Rev. James Marks, THC Ministr
The Rev. James Marks refers to marijuana as the "botanical Messiah." Since he moved from Hawaii to Boulder in August, the 36-year-old has gathered about 100 followers, and ordained 15 of them as ministers in Colorado's first THC Ministry.
Marks offers cannabis sacrament -- in edible, smokable and tincture form -- to legally registered medicinal marijuana patients.
1. The banner on your Web site, thcministryboulder.org, reads: "We use cannabis religiously and you can, too!" What exactly does religious cannabis use entail?
The THC Ministry believes that the cultivation and enjoyment of cannabis sacrament is a fundamental human right provided by God. (When) you consume the sacrament, it takes you to a higher level. It just puts you in a different realm, spiritually. That's when I do a lot of my prayers and meditations.
2. How does one become a practitioner in the THC Ministry of Boulder?
People call or come in to make an appointment. We sit down and talk about the ministry. They need to be sincere enough to walk in here. Then, I would interview them because it's not for everyone. It's only for the ones who really have a calling.
3. In the THC Ministry, what is the difference between a practitioner and a minister?
A practitioner is someone who practices our religion. We're all teachers in some way, in some form. But actually to be a minister of cannabis sacrament is teaching someone as a follower. That's what my objective is, to make as many ministers as I possibly can.
4. Your Web site also claims that being a practitioner or minister is a legitimate religious "defense to prosecution," as long as you are over 21, sincere, polite and practice in private. Has anyone in Colorado successfully used this defense in court?
We haven't had any issues that I know of here in Colorado yet. The Ministry in the past 20 years has not had any convictions.
5. What role does Christianity play in the THC Ministry?
I do have a Hebrew follower, a few Buddhists and plenty of Rastas. But most of my followers are Christians. As far as Christianity, it's been there since day one. Burning the incense in the tabernacles. Once you realize that and you look through the Bible, anywhere that they say anointment or oil or smoking or rolling tiny scrolls, that means to me that it was used back in the Biblical days. As for services, most of my members of the ministry are real private and discreet and they don't want to be out in the open.
Catholic Confession
Soon, after this was posted
a local Catholic Bishop
came to visit James
and made this confession, saying,
" You are right, what you claim,
because the Catholic Church
has kept it
(marijuana is a sacrament)
a secret for two thousand years.
I am pleased, to know you and
