Around the country, supporters of marijuana have begun to establish ministries and churches that don’t praise a God — rather, they worship the holiness of the cannabis plant. Joining The United Cannabis Ministry of California and The Healing Church of Rhode Island, The First Church of Cannabis in Indianapolis is officially opening it’s doors to all on July 1st.
For members of The First Church of Cannabis, the plant is their ultimate access to love and health. The church preaches what they call they call the “Deity Dozen," which are ten tenets that impart crucial lifestyle guidelines, such as smiling each morning or sitting in silence for 10 minutes everyday. These directives are advised to be used while, as the description for the 12th Pathway states, “we embrace [cannabis] with our whole heart and spirit, individually and as a group.”
Services at The First Church of Cannabis plan to follow a common format, though it is stressed to prospective members that there will be no Psalms or ancient texts. William Levin, the church’s founder and “Minister of Love,” will, in addition to his sermon, lead the congregation in four songs and an “interactive celebration of life.” At the end of the service, all members rise to read the “Deity Dozen” and “at the end of the 12th Pathway, we light up.”
The church is fittingly due to open the same day that Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) becomes effective, which means to the delight of all members, lighting up on church grounds is permissible. The church has received an abundance of online support and has inspired people with their message of love and compassion — so much so that it wouldn’t be surprising to see similar ministries or branches of The First Church of Cannabis established and accepted across the country.
