No, this is actually real. In Indianapolis, there is a church where people come to worship that is entirely dedicated to marijuana.
This place is called the First Church of Cannabis and was started in 2015 as a response to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act
In March 2015, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) was signed into law. The governor at the time was Mike Pence, who went on to become the running mate for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
Also known as Indiana Senate Bill 101, the law gives greater protections for religious people to use their exercise of religion as a defense in legal proceedings.
Marijuana in Indiana
At the time the law passed and currently still, the recreational consumption of Marijuana is banned in the state of Indiana.
As a way to advance advocacy for the legalization of marijuana, Indiana resident Bill Levin founded the First Church of Cannabis. This move cheekily suggested that his right to smoke marijuana should now be religiously protected by the new law.
Opposition to Legislation
The First Church of Cannabis was started as a direct response to the legislation.
“When Mike Pence passed Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act which allowed businesses to reject gays. Bill took this as an opportunity to establish The First Church of Cannabis on the basis of “Cannatarian” religion where love is the most important and including the sacrament, cannabis,” says the church’s website.
Humor and Religion
While the First Church of Cannabis is real and holds very real services for worshipers, Levin makes it known that humor is a major component of the church.
“We are the only religion in recorded history to have humor in our written doctrine,” said self-described “Grand Poobah” Levin.
Sincerity
Despite the church’s founding circumstances and humorous undertones, there is sincere belief expressed by Levin.
“Levin’s oldest daughter believes her father is sincere in his push to create a new religion that includes pot. “People think, ‘Oh, it’s (just) drugs’ … and it really isn’t,” she said. “It really isn’t to him.,” the church website says.
Recognized by the IRS
Shortly after applying for tax-exempt status from the IRS, the First Church of Cannabis was approved. According to the church website, it only took 27 days to get approval.
“All I have to say is, God works in mysterious ways, brother,” Levin said of the approval.
Far Out Dues
Levin charges monthly dues to his congregation totaling $4.20. The first service at the church was planned to utilize real marijuana to spark off its first real sacraments.
However, police threatened to arrest any participants using marijuana, and the service was met with protestors. Ultimately the church canceled its plans to smoke up its holy rites.
Levin’s Defense
In defense of pot smoking for his congregation, Levin pointed out that the new law signed by Pence prohibited any government actions that would “substantially burden” a person when trying to follow their religious beliefs.
“If we weren’t intimidated this would be the sacrament box, folks — this is the box we keep our sacrament in,” Levin said. “Unfortunately, there’s no sacrament in it today, so just pretend, folks.”
Lawsuit
Levin was adamant in his efforts to push this line of argument, even advancing a lawsuit in court to protect the rights of his congregation to practice marijuana religious rights.
Unfortunately, the lawsuit was dismissed by a judge in 2018, where the church argued that pot-smoking should qualify as a religiously protected holy sacrament. The case had been in the courts for three years prior. The Church would appeal, but would ultimately lose its final appeal in 2019.
Ruling Reasoning
The judge in the case, Sheryl Lynch, notably did not dismiss the lawsuit on grounds of religious insincerity. Instead, her ruling came down to a line in the RFRA law which allows the state to interfere as long as it has a “compelling interest.”
“The undisputed evidence demonstrates that permitting a religious exemption to laws that prohibit the use and possession of marijuana would hinder drug enforcement efforts statewide and negatively impact public health and safety,” Lynch wrote.
Levin’s Activities
In addition to starting the church, Levin has also advanced other efforts in his continuing marijuana advocacy.
He previously ran for positions in the Libertarian party with a pro-weed focus and started his own marijuana advocacy organization called ReLegalize Indiana.
