They were smoking marijuana in observance of the cult of the god Shiva. For this reason, the Bologna Court of Appeal yesterday acquitted two citizens, one from Forlì, members of the Hare Krishna movement, who had been convicted in the first instance in January 2023 on charges of cultivation and possession of cannabis.
The second section of the Bologna Court accepted the defense’s arguments, according to which the two had taken the narcotic substance for religious reasons, overturning the Court’s ruling, because the fact did not exist.
The two, Il Resto del Carlino reports , lived in a 19th-century hermitage in the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines, between Premilcuore and Rocca San Casciano, in the province of Forlì-Cesena. The hermitage was only partially accessible by off-road vehicles and the rest on foot. It had no gas connection and was heated by wood. The Carabinieri responded after a hiker reported smelling marijuana.
At the scene, the two had spontaneously handed over 32 cannabis plants, approximately 48 grams of the same substance, and just over 4 grams of hashish, grown outdoors without any concealment measures. In the first instance, they were sentenced to five months and ten days in prison and a fine of €800 each.
The defense appealed the sentence, arguing that cannabis use was linked to the worship of the god Shiva —there was a votive altar in the hermitage—and citing religious freedom. They also highlighted the rudimentary cultivation methods, the absence of any evidence suggesting drug dealing, and the profile of the two defendants: no criminal record, financially self-sufficient, and with no ties to illegal networks. The reasons for the sentence will be filed within 60 days.
Theghistorian on
So one can break laws if it invokes some religious practice?
[deleted] on
[deleted]
TailleventCH on
It really looks like a slippery slope if we allow to break the law for religious reasons. Funnily, I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be accepted if someone does it based on another (non religious) opinion.
(To clarify, I don’t care about marijuana. My point is strictly about the legal reasoning.)
halffullofthoughts on
The excuse seems sufficient, because deep down everyone knows that penalising cannabis possession is a silly law to follow
BlueDotty on
Yeah, wasn’t a gunga religion when I was there.
Intoxication was one of the forbidden things
Eelroots on
So, growing large quantities is for the faithful, and can be exchanged after a donation to the church? Neat.
andr386 on
The Hare Krishna devotees do not worship Shiva and they specifically never get intoxicated. Alcohol, drugs, coffee, Coca, cigarettes, sex… are all forbidden.
So it seem here that those clever people invoked freedom of Religion and were convincing enough in their lies to get a free pass. Not that I think anybody should be condemned for smoking cannabis but that doesn’t make sense for Krishna devotees.
TheJewPear on
Religion or no religion, I will never get this obsession of the state to tell consenting adults what to do in the privacy of their home, when it carries zero impact on involuntary participants.
zaplinaki on
Hare Rama Hare Krishna (ISKCON) is a cult with shady af practices.
shladvic on
Stupid fucking law anyway.
dattokyo on
Hot take: your religion should have zero influence on whether what you’re doing is legal or illegal. Everyone should follow the same laws. I’m pro-legalization, but giving special rights to religious groups is something I’m very much against.
12 commenti
They were smoking marijuana in observance of the cult of the god Shiva. For this reason, the Bologna Court of Appeal yesterday acquitted two citizens, one from Forlì, members of the Hare Krishna movement, who had been convicted in the first instance in January 2023 on charges of cultivation and possession of cannabis.
The second section of the Bologna Court accepted the defense’s arguments, according to which the two had taken the narcotic substance for religious reasons, overturning the Court’s ruling, because the fact did not exist.
The two, Il Resto del Carlino reports , lived in a 19th-century hermitage in the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines, between Premilcuore and Rocca San Casciano, in the province of Forlì-Cesena. The hermitage was only partially accessible by off-road vehicles and the rest on foot. It had no gas connection and was heated by wood. The Carabinieri responded after a hiker reported smelling marijuana.
At the scene, the two had spontaneously handed over 32 cannabis plants, approximately 48 grams of the same substance, and just over 4 grams of hashish, grown outdoors without any concealment measures. In the first instance, they were sentenced to five months and ten days in prison and a fine of €800 each.
The defense appealed the sentence, arguing that cannabis use was linked to the worship of the god Shiva —there was a votive altar in the hermitage—and citing religious freedom. They also highlighted the rudimentary cultivation methods, the absence of any evidence suggesting drug dealing, and the profile of the two defendants: no criminal record, financially self-sufficient, and with no ties to illegal networks. The reasons for the sentence will be filed within 60 days.
So one can break laws if it invokes some religious practice?
[deleted]
It really looks like a slippery slope if we allow to break the law for religious reasons. Funnily, I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be accepted if someone does it based on another (non religious) opinion.
(To clarify, I don’t care about marijuana. My point is strictly about the legal reasoning.)
The excuse seems sufficient, because deep down everyone knows that penalising cannabis possession is a silly law to follow
Yeah, wasn’t a gunga religion when I was there.
Intoxication was one of the forbidden things
So, growing large quantities is for the faithful, and can be exchanged after a donation to the church? Neat.
The Hare Krishna devotees do not worship Shiva and they specifically never get intoxicated. Alcohol, drugs, coffee, Coca, cigarettes, sex… are all forbidden.
So it seem here that those clever people invoked freedom of Religion and were convincing enough in their lies to get a free pass. Not that I think anybody should be condemned for smoking cannabis but that doesn’t make sense for Krishna devotees.
Religion or no religion, I will never get this obsession of the state to tell consenting adults what to do in the privacy of their home, when it carries zero impact on involuntary participants.
Hare Rama Hare Krishna (ISKCON) is a cult with shady af practices.
Stupid fucking law anyway.
Hot take: your religion should have zero influence on whether what you’re doing is legal or illegal. Everyone should follow the same laws. I’m pro-legalization, but giving special rights to religious groups is something I’m very much against.