The Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church is a new religious movement based on the teachings of Marcus Garvey, which claims that marijuana is the Christian sacrament. [1] (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/potbible.htm) A new religious movement or NRM appears as a religious, ethical or spiritual grouping that has not (yet) become recognised as a standard denomination, church, or body, especially when it has a novel belief system and when it is not a sect. ... Marcus Garvey (far right) in parade Marcus Mosiah Garvey (August 17, 1887 – June 10, 1940) was a publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, crusader for black nationalism and founder of the UNIA-ACL. Although he was born in Jamaica, Garvey is best remembered as a champion of the so-called back-to-Africa... Cannabis leaves Some cannabis bud, which is well-cured, i. ... The term Christian means belonging to Christ and is derived from the Greek noun Χριστός Khristós which means anointed one, which is itself a translation of the Hebrew word Moshiach (Hebrew: משיח, also written Messiah), (and in Arabic it is pronounced Maseeh مسيح). ... A sacrament is a Christian rite that mediates divine grace. ...

They were suspected of smuggling massive amounts of potent cannabis from Jamaica to Miami, and featured on 60 Minutes on October 28, 1979. The group's leader was Thomas Reilly, also known as Brother Louv. In 1986, the organization participated in the Drug Enforcement Administration's hearings on cannabis rescheduling in the United States. On August 8, 1994, Jim Tranmer, a former Coptic, wrote a letter to Carl E. Olsen, meditating on his 35-year prison sentence and his departure from the Coptics and their "malicious hierarchy". Species Cannabis sativa Cannabis indica Cannabis ruderalis Cannabis is a plant genus which includes the species Cannabis sativa and is also known as hemp, marijuana, marihuana, ganja, dope, pot, weed, grass or Mary Jane. ... This article is about the city in Florida. ... 1979 is a common year starting on Monday. ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Since 1973, the DEA has enforced the drug laws in the United States. ... Schedules of Controlled Substances Schedule I The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ...

Reference

• History of the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church (http://mojo.calyx.net/~olsen/RASTAFARI/wells2.html), by Walter Wells.
• The Law and Brother Louv (http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_spirit_media1.shtml), The Miami Herald, August 2, 1981
• Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church (http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_spirit3.shtml), CBS News - 60 Minutes, Volume XII, Number 7, Oct. 28, 1979.
• Coptic Gets 35 Years (http://nepenthes.lycaeum.org/Drugs/THC/copticlt.html), Jim Tranmer, Aug. 8, 1994.