Citing Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), the Church of Cannabis is suing the state for preventing it from using its religious sacrament of choice. Church of Cannabis founder Bill Levin claims that its members (Cannaterians) have sincere, deep religious belief about the spiritual power of cannabis.
The lawsuit states that cannabis brings its members “closer to ourselves and others. It is our fountain of health, our love, curing us from illness and depression.”
RFRA has created religious exemptions for drug use before: The federal RFRA originated from a case of Native Americans wanting to use peyote for religious ceremonies. Another federal RFRA case allowed a small religious group from Brazil to use a sacramental tea that contained an illegal hallucinogenic substance.
But marijuana, Conkle said, is a different situation because of the potential for recreational users to try to exploit the religious angle.
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