Authorities: Pot users face arrest at Church of Cannabis
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis authorities issued a stern warning that anyone caught smoking, possessing, or in the presence of marijuana at the newly-formed First Church of Cannabis could be arrested.
The church, created by marijuana advocate Bill Levin in wake of Indiana’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act, will host its first service at 12:01 p.m. on July 1.
Levin has said that he believes Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act protects his religion and the right to use marijuana.
“We get closer to ourselves. We get closer to love. We get closer with cannabis. We don’t pray to it. we pray with it,” founder Bill Levin told 24 Hour News 8 during a sit-down interview Friday.
The church, located on South Rural Street in Indianapolis, includes a mural in the main sanctuary of two hands passing a joint.
Levin also keeps a marijuana plant on the pulpit he referred to as “my herb.”
During an interview Friday, Levin confirmed that he planned to use marijuana during the service.
“I plan to fall on the sword,” Levin said, referring that he understood that authorities have announced that they plan to devote resources to the ceremony and were willing to issue court summons or make arrests if any laws were broken.
When asked if any other congregates would use, he indicated that he would warn others that authorities would be looking to make arrests, but would leave those decisions up to individuals.
When asked if he was worried that arrests might mar the first service of his newly-formed religion, he said:
“I don’t worry. We are going to celebrate life’s big adventure,” he said. “I will say one toke, one smile, one love, and I will light up. Is that what you want to hear? Ok, you got it.”
Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said that had two recent conversations with Levin and hoped that they had an understanding of what would occur. Curry told reporters that if someone were to use marijuana, he hoped it would be “one or two” as to avoid a huge swath of people being charged.
Curry said that Indiana’s RFRA law does not “create an immunity because it’s under the guise of an alleged religious practice.” But Curry did acknowledge that it might take an arrest and a subsequent criminal prosecution to settle the debate over whether RFRA would extend protections to those committing illegal acts – or in this case drug use.
“From our perspective we will need to know as well is this a legitimate defense? We don’t believe it is. But we can’t unilaterally make that decision,” Curry told reporters.
The Marion County prosecutor also took time to personally ridicule the RFRA law, saying that it is a waste of police resources in a time when the city has been dealing with 52 homicides.
“I am beyond frustrated,” Curry said, calling RFRA an “ill-advised” law that he hoped would be repealed by the Indiana legislature.
IMPD Chief Hite also said that the church was wasting police resources but also made references to controversial religious figure Jim Jones.
“As Jim Jones once did in our state, he led a group of people to a place of no return. We don’t want to happen ever again in our history. We want to send a message — this is not the way to challenge a law,” Hite said.
Levin, apparently made aware of the reference made at the news conference, said he was appalled by the statement.
“He compared me to Jim Jones for crying out loud. What a vulgar, vulgar thing to do,” Levin said.
Bill Jenkins, pastor of the Church of Acts, which is less than a half mile from The First Church of Cannabis, said he was opposed to new church and denied that it was an faith organization.
“Absolutely not. They are not a religious organization,” Jenkins said. “They don’t allow children.”
Levin said Jenkins should not judge. A sign outside Levin’s church cites the New Testament, reading “cast the first stone?”