Marijuana advocate Roger Christie said Hawaii island police and federal agents raided his home and downtown Hilo offices Wednesday, seizing records, cash and marijuana he uses as a sacrament in his ministry.

Officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service were at his home at dawn, he said. After three to four hours there, Christie said, they escorted him to his ministry in downtown Hilo for another three to four hours.

He said he did not mind the experience “;if this is what it takes to be declared legitimate.”;

Christie said he filed papers with the IRS declaring himself the minister of The Hawaii Cannabis (THC) Ministry and is confident the government will give him a clean bill of health. He said he is also confident he will get back the seized items.

On the ministry's Web site, he declares that the cultivation and enjoyment of cannabis is a fundamental human right provided by God and protected by the First Amendment.

Because of the seizure, he said, he has had to take a break from providing sacrament, but will keep the ministry open to provide services and counseling. He said he is also licensed by the state to conduct marriages.

The DEA said it does not comment on current investigations.

County police referred questions to the U.S. attorney. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Muehleck said he could not comment other than to say no one was arrested.

Christie said he has been operating his ministry since 2000.

On Tuesday a judge in Colorado found Trever Douglas, who said he is a member of Christie's THC Ministry, guilty of misdemeanor drug charges. The judge said Douglas' beliefs do not rise to the level of a religion.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the active ingredient in marijuana.