So who are these pot worshippers? What do they stand for or believe in? And will police respect their appeal to religion to defend their marijuana use?
In the beginning…
Levin, a 59-year-old carpenter, started the church on March 26, 2015, to push the limits of Indiana’s new Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which prohibits the government from “substantially burdening” anyone’s right to exercise his or her religion. Earlier this year, the controversial bill sparked protests from gay rights groups claiming it would allow for businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians citing religious beliefs.
Levin also protested the bill, but said that in signing it, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence provided the “fertilizer” that allowed his new religion to bloom.
“After Pence made the announcement that he would sign it in a private ceremony, I became born again,” Levin said.
Doctrine
More than 700 people have already paid for membership to the church: $50.40 for one year, $100.80 for two years. (The group also sells “Holy Rollers” rolling paper — the proceeds of which go to the church.)
Members of the congregation, called “Cannabiterians,” say they smoke marijuana to connect more closely with themselves and others.
They believe in the “Deity Dozen,” a list of 12 tenets for living a good life, which is the cannabis congregation’s equivalent of the Ten Commandments:
View galleryFirst Church of Cannabis - logo
The First Church of Cannabis’ kickoff service is scheduled for July 1, 2015.
1) Don’t be an a--hole. Treat everyone with love, as an equal.
2) The day starts with your smile every morning. When you get up, wear it first.
3) Help others when you can. Not for money, but because it’s needed.
4) Treat your body as a temple. Do not poison it with poor quality foods and sodas.
5) Do not take advantage of people. Do not intentionally hurt anything.
6) Never start a fight, only finish them.
7) Grow food, raise animals, get nature into your daily routine.
8) Do not be a “troll” on the Internet; respect others without name-calling and being vulgarly aggressive.
9) Spend at least 10 minutes a day just contemplating life in a quiet space.
10) When you see a bully, stop them by any means possible. Protect those who cannot protect themselves.
11) Laugh often, share humor. Have fun in life, be positive.
12) Cannabis, “the Healing Plant,” is our sacrament. It brings us closer to ourselves and others. It is our fountain of health, our love, curing us from illness and depression. We embrace it with our whole heart and spirit, individually and as a group.
Services
The Church of Cannabis’ first service is scheduled for July 1 (the day the state’s religious freedom law goes into effect) at 12:01 p.m. The location has not yet been announced.
Levin, who has crafted titles for himself like Grand Pooh-bah and Minister of Love, described the upcoming service as a beautiful and moving “celebration of life’s great adventure.”
“We’re going to do all the good things that churches do. Celebrate life, love, compassion and good health,” Levin said. “Everyone is going to leave in a happy, spiritual, healthy way.”
The opening ceremony will kick off with a young harmonica prodigy playing “Amazing Grace.” Then the church’s music minister will lead the house band through three more songs with a bit of chatter in between each.
Next, Levin will speak for five minutes about each of the seven themes that the church holds dear: live, love, laugh, learn, create, grow and teach.
“I will bring people up to testify on the podium of life about what they’ve learned about those subjects this week,” he said. “It’s a completely interactive service.”
The congregation will rise in unison and recite the Deity Dozen before smoking cannabis together.
“After the 12th pathway, we will light up and celebrate life and the birth of a great new religion with a party,” he said.
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Originally Posted by dannno
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