Editing THC Ministry (section)

==History==
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:THC_Ministry_Court_stipulation.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Court stipulation recognizing the Religion of Jesus Church as a ''bona fide'' religion and acknowledging a member's sincere belief in the sacramental use of cannabis.]] -->

THC Ministry, the abbreviated, popularized name for the original Hawai'i Ministry of Cannabis Sacrament and all of its chapters, was founded in June 2000 by [[Roger Christie]] in [[Hawaii]]. It is present in [[Australia]], [[Canada]], the [[Netherlands]], the [[United Kingdom]] and many [[U.S. state|states of the]] United States, including [[Alabama]], [[Arizona]], [[California]], [[Colorado]], [[Florida]], [[Illinois]], [[Indiana]], [[Iowa]], [[Michigan]], [[Missouri]], [[Montana]], [[Nebraska]], [[Ohio]], [[Oregon]], [[Wyoming]], [[Texas]], and [[Tennessee]] with at least one other chapter forming in [[New York (state)|New York]]. It is an officially registered religion in many countries on different continents.

According to the THC Ministry, identification of cannabis specifically as an ingredient of the holy anointing oil can be found in the [[Torah]] (Five Books of Moses), Exodus 30:23; contrary to the translation of the Septuagint and supported by both Aramaic translations (the [[Targum]] and the [[Peshitta]]).

The Hebrew Bible possibly mentions cannabis in [[:s:Bible (American Standard)/Exodus#30:23|Exodus 30:23]] where God commands [[Moses]] to make a [[holy anointing oil|holy oil]] of [[myrrh]], [[cinnamon]], ''qěnēh bośem'' and [[Cinnamomum aromaticum|cassia]] to anoint the [[Ark of the Covenant]] and the Tabernacle (and thus God's Temple in Jerusalem).<ref name=kaneh1>Rabbi Kaplan. 1981. ''The Living Torah'', pg. 40-41.</ref> The Biblical Hebrew term ''qěnēh bośem'' ('''קְנֵה בֹּשֶׂם'''), possibly derived from [[Sumerian language|Sumerian]] ''kanubi''{{Citation needed|date=May 2007}},  literally "reed of balm", probably<ref name="labarre1980">[[Weston La Barre]]. 1980. ''Culture in Context; Selected Writings of Weston Labarre''. Duke University Press.</ref> refers to cannabis according to some etymologists,<ref name="bookofgrass">Benetowa, Sara = ([[Sula Benet]]). 1936. Tracing one word through different languages. Institute of Anthropological Sciences, Warsaw. Reprinted 1967 In: ''The Book of Grass''. George Andrews and Simon Vinkenoog (eds.) Grove Press, New York, "pp. 15-18.</ref> but is more commonly thought to be lemon grass, calamus, or even sweet cane, due to widespread translation issues.<ref name="low1924">Immanuel Löw. 1924-1934. ''Flora der Juden'', vol. I-IV. Reprinted 1967. Hildeshein: Georg Olms (source not confirmed)</ref>

Notably, the specific anointing oil in question is a special herbal formula that functions as a kind of polish and fragrance for the Ark and Tabernacle, and the Bible forbids its manufacture and use to anoint people ([[:s:Bible (American Standard)/Exodus#30:31|Exodus 30:31-33]]) 
with the exception of the Aaronic priesthood ([[:s:Bible (American Standard)/Exodus#30:30|Exodus 30:30]]).

In [[Aryeh Kaplan]]'s contemporary English translation of the Five Books, "The Living Torah", he includes a picture of the hemp plant as an illustration (p.&nbsp;442).

A judge in Colorado ruled that a man's belief that marijuana was a sacrament did not rise to the level of religion and ordered him to pay $450 in fines and costs and serve 15 hours of community service as a sentence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.9news.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=134209&catid=346|title=Colo. man who claims pot as sacrament is convicted}}</ref>