ANACORTES, Wa- An Anacortes church leader told KIRO 7 on Wednesday he shouldn't face charges for growing marijuana next to a school, even though he was growing more than what his medical license to grow allowed.
Students at Erie Elementary were firing off small rockets to celebrate their graduation on Monday. When a couple fifth-graders went into the woods nearby to retrieve the rockets, they stumbled upon the grow.
The man growing the marijuana, Peter Jackson, wasn't shy about showing off the 30 plants he's growing, and didn't hide the fact that he was smoking marijuana when we talked to him.
"This is Cheese, AK-47, lemon drop, blueberry, indica, sweet tooth, elephant and crystal," he said, motioning to several plants on his property.
Police said they seized 60 plants from Jackson's property.
Jackson has medical marijuana papers that allow him to keep 30 more for himself and another patient but he admitted he was growing more -- enough to share with 100 members of his church.
"We use marijuana as a sacrament," Jackson said. "We don't believe we need paperwork for how many plants we grow or how much weed we're allowed to smoke."
Jackson said his church is a branch of the Universal Life Church of Modesto, California.
But some parents nearby worry that the garden is too open and too close to the elementary school.
"They got in there once; they can do it again," said Gordon Smith, referencing the fifth-graders who got into Jackson's yard.
Smith also worried about Jackson and his congregation.
"If they're smoking, they're probably out driving," Smith said.
The Sheriff's Office said prosecutors are looking at possible charges. Jackson said he isn't worried.
"I am a sovereign individual and I live with the power of love in my heart every day," he said, laughing.
Students at Erie Elementary were firing off small rockets to celebrate their graduation on Monday. When a couple fifth-graders went into the woods nearby to retrieve the rockets, they stumbled upon the grow.
The man growing the marijuana, Peter Jackson, wasn't shy about showing off the 30 plants he's growing, and didn't hide the fact that he was smoking marijuana when we talked to him.
"This is Cheese, AK-47, lemon drop, blueberry, indica, sweet tooth, elephant and crystal," he said, motioning to several plants on his property.
Police said they seized 60 plants from Jackson's property.
Jackson has medical marijuana papers that allow him to keep 30 more for himself and another patient but he admitted he was growing more -- enough to share with 100 members of his church.
"We use marijuana as a sacrament," Jackson said. "We don't believe we need paperwork for how many plants we grow or how much weed we're allowed to smoke."
Jackson said his church is a branch of the Universal Life Church of Modesto, California.
But some parents nearby worry that the garden is too open and too close to the elementary school.
"They got in there once; they can do it again," said Gordon Smith, referencing the fifth-graders who got into Jackson's yard.
Smith also worried about Jackson and his congregation.
"If they're smoking, they're probably out driving," Smith said.
The Sheriff's Office said prosecutors are looking at possible charges. Jackson said he isn't worried.
"I am a sovereign individual and I live with the power of love in my heart every day," he said, laughing.