A marijuana indulging church filed a lawsuit against the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana this past Wednesday, stating laws against possession and use of cannabis infringe on its religious beliefs.
The First Church of Cannabis, developed as a test of Indiana’s new religious objections law, filed its lawsuit in Marion Circuit Court in Indianapolis, naming multiple defendants involving Gov. Mike Pence and state and local police officers.
The lawsuit states that a member of the church believe that cannabis is a sacrament that “brings us closer to ourselves and others. It is our fountain of health, our love, curing us of illness and depression. We embrace it with our whole heart and spirit, individually and as a group.”
The lawsuit states Indiana’s laws that make possession of cannabis or visiting a place where it was once a punishable crime place a burden on the exercise of religion, violating the state and US constitution.
“We are taking legal action today to ensure love has no barriers in our land,” church founder Bill Levin, stated. “Today we invite the state of Indiana and all its leaders to joyfully meet us in a court of law for clarifications on our core religious values. We look forward to engaging them on the high plane of dignity and discipline, with love and compassion in our hearts, to find a swift and sensible answer for our questions of religious equality.”
There was no cannabis which the first service took place July 1, which was attended by more than 100 individuals and looked upon by more than 20 law officials. Local officials had threatened arrests if cannabis was present. A second service was set for Wednesday evening, and it was not clear whether cannabis would be in the building.
The Indiana Attorney General’s Office sent a statement stating it would file its clients response to the lawsuit “at the appropriate time”
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