Before being sentenced to prison Wednesday on a felony drug conviction, Robert Henry told a Franklin County judge that he is being persecuted for his religious beliefs. Before being sentenced to prison Wednesday on a felony drug conviction, Robert Henry told a Franklin County judge that he is being persecuted for his religious beliefs.

The 51-year-old minister of a cannabis-based church, Henry was sentenced to between 6 1/2 and 13 years in state prison for operating a marijuana growing operation from his jail cell in early 2010.

Judge John Walker also ordered him to pay $50,500 in fines, undergo a drug treatment program and avoid contact with his co-defendants in the case.

"I liken what the government is doing to me to the way the Nazis treated the Jews during World War II," Henry said.

He called the matter on which he was convicted "a political issue" and pointed out that a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana last year in California nearly passed, and said he believes legalization will happen soon.

"Unfortunately, you're not in California," Walker said. "Unfortunately, It's against the law."

A jury convicted Henry on two counts of unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance, conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He reportedly wore a T-shirt emblazoned with a pot leaf and the words, "I am not a criminal" and "legalize marijuana" to the April 14 trial.

He appeared at the hearing Wednesday in an orange jumpsuit and shackles. It was the second sentencing hearing scheduled in his case, since he didn't show up for the first one on May 18. Henry has been in Franklin