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Cannabis cleric arrested

A reverend with the Assembly of the Church of the Universe, which views marijuana as a sacramental herb, has been arrested by the Ontario Provincial Police.
A reverend with the Assembly of the Church of the Universe, which views marijuana as a sacramental herb, has been arrested by the Ontario Provincial Police.

Michel Ethier, of Sturgeon Falls, was arrested Sunday by a member of the Noelville OPP Detachment who conducted a vehicle stop on Highway 64 in the West Nipissing area.

The officer detected the smell of marijuana while speaking to the driver, and search of the vehicle was subsequently conducted.

Ethier has been charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of proceeds obtained by crime and obstructing a peace officer.
He was held in custody pending a bail hearing.

Ethier, shown above in an October photo, had run for the mayorship of West Nipissing in the last municipal election.