A Superior Court judge dismissed a Toronto church's request to exempt the country's marijuana laws for religious reasons on Monday.
It's believed to be the first time a Canadian court had been asked to define whether a religion's illegal practices are protected by the Charter of Rights.
Church of the Universe lawyers Paul Lewin and George Filipovic, who represent two minister members of the church, argued the church views cannabis as sacred substance which brings them closer to God.
By outlawing marijuana, the state is infringing on the Universe church-goers' Charter right of Freedom of Religion, their lawyers argued.
The two lawyers represent Peter Styrsky and Shahrooz Kharaghani, both minister-members of the Beaches Mission of God -- Assembly of The Church of the Universe (COU) location in east Toronto.
Styrsky, 53, and Kharaghani, 31, were charged with trafficking marijuana after they allegedly sold pot to two undercover cops who infiltrated their church as members in 2006.
Madam Justice Thea Herman denied the exemption, which would have struck down the laws prohibiting the possession, cultivation and distribution of marijuana.
Church's push to legalize marijuana dismissed | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun
It's believed to be the first time a Canadian court had been asked to define whether a religion's illegal practices are protected by the Charter of Rights.
Church of the Universe lawyers Paul Lewin and George Filipovic, who represent two minister members of the church, argued the church views cannabis as sacred substance which brings them closer to God.
By outlawing marijuana, the state is infringing on the Universe church-goers' Charter right of Freedom of Religion, their lawyers argued.
The two lawyers represent Peter Styrsky and Shahrooz Kharaghani, both minister-members of the Beaches Mission of God -- Assembly of The Church of the Universe (COU) location in east Toronto.
Styrsky, 53, and Kharaghani, 31, were charged with trafficking marijuana after they allegedly sold pot to two undercover cops who infiltrated their church as members in 2006.
Madam Justice Thea Herman denied the exemption, which would have struck down the laws prohibiting the possession, cultivation and distribution of marijuana.
Church's push to legalize marijuana dismissed | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun