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The Pennsylvania state Capitol building dome in Harrisburg. Dan Gleiter, The Patriot-News

(DAN GLEITER, THE PATRIOT-NEWS)

The leader of a Rhode Island church says she has a permit to use a marijuana-derived oil during a prayer and healing ceremony in the state Capitol Rotunda on Monday.



Anne Armstrong of The Healing Church says the oil is a "sacrament" used for religious anointing purposes and is protected by the Constitutional right to religious freedom.



Based on her description of how she makes it, it seems similar to oils and products sought by Pennsylvania residents and legislators pushing to legalize medical marijuana, also known as medical cannabis.



Armstrong provided a copy of the email she said she used to request a permit for the Rotunda event from the state Department of General Services, and which states the church will use "cannabis."



Asked on Wednesday if there are any limits on the church's use of cannabis during Monday's event, department spokesman Troy Thompson said he would have to check on that.



Armstrong says the purpose of the ceremony is to support the effort to legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. She described the event as "an emergency measure to stand up for the kids in the gap as the legislature messes around."





The effort to legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania includes many parents of children with severe seizures which can't be well-controlled with available drugs, and others who say they or loved ones needs new treatments for conditions including cancer, chronic pain and PTSD.



One of the parents, Latricia Bentch of Swatara Township, said on Wednesday, "I want to make it crystal clear we do not work with this group and we do not believe in their messaging."



Christy Billet, the leader of another Pennsylvania group involved in the push for medical marijuana, said "I think they're pretty much trying to get arrested and make it into a media spectacle."



Billet added, "I can't disrespect what anyone is trying to do to help us ... Do I worry this is going to hurt the cause? Yes."



Supporters have endured a long and frustrating push for medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. Polls show strong public support, the state Senate overwhelmingly approved a legalization bill, and Gov. Tom Wolf has promised to sign a bill.



But the bill has run into a roadblock in the state House, where many members say it has enough votes to pass, but where a small group of influential members have succeeded in halting progress.





Armstrong said the Rhode Island group's effort is timed to "grease the skids" and provide prayer support in advance of a rally to be held the next day, on Tuesday, by Pennsylvania-based medical marijuana supporters.



Bentch said the Tuesday rally by Pennsylvania supporters is intended to tell state House members "to quit their stall tactics ... We've been working for eight months now while they've just had a complete lack of compassion for this cause. We're sick of all the excuses."



Pennsylvania medical marijuana supporters have contended with legislators who fear medical marijuana will be diverted for recreational use, or serve as a "gateway" to other drugs." They stress that their effort is about obtaining a new medical option for the sick, and has nothing to do with recreational use of marijuana.



Bentch she is angered by what she considers an insinuation by the Rhode Island group that Pennsylvania supporters are failing in their push to legalize medical marijuana.



"They don't have anything to lose. I have everything to lose," said Bentch, whose daughter has severe seizures.





Armstrong says she is a deaconess in The Healing Church. She argues the Bible includes many references to cannabis -- she regards marijuana as a sacrilegious word and won't say it -- and that God gave cannabis to humans as a gift to be used for things including healing.



Medical cannabis is legal in Rhode Island.



A few years ago, Armstrong, 55, ran as a write-in candidate for governor of Rhode Island. She received national attention after posting a campaign video that shows her smoking cannabis and stating "Yes, I do smoke cannabis, and yes, I do inhale."



Last year, Armstrong obtained a permit to hold a "cannabis-related" religious ceremony at a park in Rhode Island. But the park later stated the permit didn't allow activity that would violate laws including the Controlled Substances Act, according to The Providence Journal.



After Armstrong and another church member, Alan Gordon, were arrested for using cannabis in the park, they filed a complaint that was dismissed by a federal judge.



Armstrong said the Pennsylvania event will include an opportunity for people in need of healing to be anointed with the cannabis-derived oil.



"We're not going to be smoking cannabis in the state House. Certainly, I don't think it's a good idea to smoke around children and we're anticipating that some children will come ... This is not a demonstration about fighting for your right to party," she said.



She added, "Our purpose is to be educational. We hope not to be confrontational."