Shortly after its inauguration earlier this month, First Church of Cannabis has filed a lawsuit against the state of Indiana as well as the city of Indianapolis, contesting existing laws that apparently violate its religious tenets by opposing the possession and use of marijuana.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Marion County Circuit Court on July 8, argues that cannabis is a sacrament of the church and the church’s members believe that marijuana brings people closer to themselves as well as others.
“We are taking legal action today to ensure love has no barriers in our land,” said Bill Levin, founder of Church of Cannabis. “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.”
Under Indiana’s newly implemented Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the state government must prove that it is enforcing a compelling interest in the least restrictive manner possible if an individual claims an unnecessary burden on his or her religious liberty.
As Church of Cannabis organized its first service on July 1, shortly after RFRA came into effect, it promised that its members would not use marijuana after local law enforcement threatened to arrest anyone that is caught smoking pot.
The other defendants in the lawsuit include Indiana Governor Mike Pence, Superintendent of Indiana State Police Douglas Carter, Attorney General Greg Zoeller, Indianapolis Police Chief Rick Hite, Marion County Sheriff John Layton and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard.
Photo Credits: Gannett
