07-14-2015, 11:40 PM
A bid to legally use pot is underway in the name of religious freedom.
On Wednesday, as possession for recreational use becomes legal in Oregon and
Minnesota opens its first medical pot
dispensary, a new marijuana-centric religion will host its inaugural worship service in Indiana.
The First Church of Cannabis in Indianapolis
hopes to blaze a new route to de facto
legalization without the reform legislation or
ballot measures seen in more progressive
states.
It's seeking an exemption to anti-pot laws under Indiana's controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Church of Cannabis leaders believe the state’s religious-freedom law, which takes effect Wednesday, grants them legal protection to enjoy the drug in Indiana, where neither medical or recreational use of marijuana is allowed.
All appeared to be going according to plan until the three-month-old congregation bought a church building around the corner from the
Church of Acts, whose founder and pastor Bill
Jenkins has made it his mission to shut down
the enterprise.
“I don’t believe it’s a religion, I believe it’s a drug house,†Jenkins tells U.S News. He says his church members and even local drug dealers have joined him to rally opposition. He suspects the illicit businessmen fear competition.
The conflict between evangelical Christians and pot evangelists -- religious persecution,
according to Church of Cannabis founder Bill
Levin -- culminated Friday with a press
conference where Indianapolis Police Chief Rick Hite said anyone smoking pot in or near the service would be arrested.
Jenkins says their professed religion is nothing more than “a bogus excuse to get high.†Levin counters his church is all about love and members have begun to craft practices and teachings that resemble a religion.
Still, he's now discouraging his flock from bringing marijuana to smoke Wednesday, as was the original plan.
[READ: Gourmet Pot-Laced Coffee Delights D.C. Party Guests]
Even if a disobedient member lights up, Levin
says he will avoid being arrested himself for
maintaining a common nuisance (“a legal chess move,†he says). Levin agreed to allow an officer to attend the service, and others will be posted outside to direct traffic and corral protesters
![[Image: 150512-editorial.jpg]](http://www.usnews.com/cmsmedia/56/73/cb12accd4c5d86fdd55d8a7e8d5b/150512-editorial.jpg)
Indiana's religious freedom law, signed by Gov.
Mike Pence, R-Ind., right, has legalized pot use
for members of the First Church of Cannabis,
says Bill Levin, left.
Church leaders intend to file a civil lawsuit soon to establish their right to use pot
at worship services.
In the meantime, a sometimes ugly struggle has been brewing. Jenkins and Levin recently argued about a sign that appeared in front of the new church that says “cast the first stone,†referring to a biblical story in which Jesus defended an adultress from a crowd intent on stoning her to death.
The church leaders disagreed about whether it’s appropriate to quote Jesus without believing he’s the son of God. Levin says on Monday someone toppled the sign and covered it with stones.
Jenkins, who is leading a protest outside the
first service, denies he or his congregation had anything to do with the vandalism or other issues Levin has reported, such as a church member’s car doors being maliciously opened during a rain storm and an M-80 firecracker being used to damage his own car’s muffler.
[DATA: Fewer Pot Packages Found in Mail As Legalization Takes Hold]
“I ain’t always been a pastor," says Jenkins.
"Unfortunately I do know the difference."
It’s unclear whether the Church of Cannabis can win in court. UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh told U.S. News earlier this year people elsewhere have failed to convince courts
religious freedom laws protect their use of
marijuana.
On Wednesday, as possession for recreational use becomes legal in Oregon and
Minnesota opens its first medical pot
dispensary, a new marijuana-centric religion will host its inaugural worship service in Indiana.
The First Church of Cannabis in Indianapolis
hopes to blaze a new route to de facto
legalization without the reform legislation or
ballot measures seen in more progressive
states.
It's seeking an exemption to anti-pot laws under Indiana's controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Church of Cannabis leaders believe the state’s religious-freedom law, which takes effect Wednesday, grants them legal protection to enjoy the drug in Indiana, where neither medical or recreational use of marijuana is allowed.
All appeared to be going according to plan until the three-month-old congregation bought a church building around the corner from the
Church of Acts, whose founder and pastor Bill
Jenkins has made it his mission to shut down
the enterprise.
“I don’t believe it’s a religion, I believe it’s a drug house,†Jenkins tells U.S News. He says his church members and even local drug dealers have joined him to rally opposition. He suspects the illicit businessmen fear competition.
The conflict between evangelical Christians and pot evangelists -- religious persecution,
according to Church of Cannabis founder Bill
Levin -- culminated Friday with a press
conference where Indianapolis Police Chief Rick Hite said anyone smoking pot in or near the service would be arrested.
Jenkins says their professed religion is nothing more than “a bogus excuse to get high.†Levin counters his church is all about love and members have begun to craft practices and teachings that resemble a religion.
Still, he's now discouraging his flock from bringing marijuana to smoke Wednesday, as was the original plan.
[READ: Gourmet Pot-Laced Coffee Delights D.C. Party Guests]
Even if a disobedient member lights up, Levin
says he will avoid being arrested himself for
maintaining a common nuisance (“a legal chess move,†he says). Levin agreed to allow an officer to attend the service, and others will be posted outside to direct traffic and corral protesters
Indiana's religious freedom law, signed by Gov.
Mike Pence, R-Ind., right, has legalized pot use
for members of the First Church of Cannabis,
says Bill Levin, left.
Church leaders intend to file a civil lawsuit soon to establish their right to use pot
at worship services.
In the meantime, a sometimes ugly struggle has been brewing. Jenkins and Levin recently argued about a sign that appeared in front of the new church that says “cast the first stone,†referring to a biblical story in which Jesus defended an adultress from a crowd intent on stoning her to death.
The church leaders disagreed about whether it’s appropriate to quote Jesus without believing he’s the son of God. Levin says on Monday someone toppled the sign and covered it with stones.
Jenkins, who is leading a protest outside the
first service, denies he or his congregation had anything to do with the vandalism or other issues Levin has reported, such as a church member’s car doors being maliciously opened during a rain storm and an M-80 firecracker being used to damage his own car’s muffler.
[DATA: Fewer Pot Packages Found in Mail As Legalization Takes Hold]
“I ain’t always been a pastor," says Jenkins.
"Unfortunately I do know the difference."
It’s unclear whether the Church of Cannabis can win in court. UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh told U.S. News earlier this year people elsewhere have failed to convince courts
religious freedom laws protect their use of
marijuana.