Police fine church member who brought marijuana to park
By The Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ Three members of a church that uses marijuana in its ceremonies have been ticketed for possessing a controlled substance at Roger Williams National Memorial.
Police moved in Tuesday and issued $100 citations after members of the West Greenwich-based Healing Church lit a glass pipe they referred to as a chalice.
Anne Armstrong, deaconess of church, says they believe the police action was akin to “storm troopers bursting into a Catholic church while they were distributing Holy Communion.”
Church members have been praying at the memorial this week and have received a permit to hold a service there on Saturday.
Jennifer Smith, the site manager for the memorial, says the permit allows members of the church to assemble, but not to violate any laws.
(C) WLNE/TV 2015
