Higher Power: The First Church of Cannabis set to open in state where pot is illegal

WATCH ABOVE: The First Church of Cannabis in Indianapolis plans to hold its inaugural service Wednesday, but cannabis will not be part of the ceremony since it remains illegal in Indiana. David MacAnally reports.

TORONTO – You can call him the Grand Poobah and Minister of Love and he wants to introduce you to a higher power. There’s just one catch, the cops aren’t letting him.

Bill Levin, a rock star-styled 59-year-old Jewish man and self-proclaimed lobbyist for medical marijuana and hemp, established The First Church of Cannabis in March that has since planted roots at 3400 S. Rural St. in Indianapolis. Some of the funding for the project was acquired through a GoFundMe page that has raised over $16,000 at the time of this writing.

The Church’s first service is scheduled for July 1 and was supposed to include a host of blazing joints. But the expected plume of smoke rising to the heavens won’t be a THC-filled vapour. In fact, the only burning might come from Levin’s cigar.

“This is not the way to challenge a law,” Indianapolis Police Chief Rick Hite told WTHR. His officers have been instructed to arrest anyone caught smoking the illegal substance.

The threat of police action forced the so-called “Pied Piper of Pot” to reconsider the Church’s plans.

“Due to the threat of police action against our religion I feel it is important to celebrate life’s great adventure in our first service without the use of Cannabis,” Levin communicated via a Church Facebook post.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Due to the threat of police action against our religion I feel it is important to celebrate life's great adventure in our first service without the use of Cannabis," Levin communicated via a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cannabiterian/posts/854283931312407" target="_blank">C</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cannabiterian/posts/854283931312407" target="_blank">hurch Facebook post</a>.

The Church, and its ‘Cannabiterian’ followers, is challenging state law that strictly prohibits the use of marijuana in the wake of other states like Colorado and Washington that made the plant legal and accessible to the public.

Backed by Indiana’s secretary of state and a tax exemption from the IRS, Levin intends to go to civil court to win the right to spark up during service by citing Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

“We will not be dragged into criminal court for their advantage,” a Facebook post explained. “We will meet them in a civil court where the laws are clear about religious persecution.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We will not be dragged into criminal court for their advantage," a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cannabiterian/posts/854283931312407" target="_blank">Facebook post</a> explained. "We will meet them in a civil court where the laws<span class="text_exposed_show"> are clear about religious persecution."</span>

A similar scene played out four years ago in Toronto. At that time, members of The Church of the Universe failed in their bid to convince a Canadian judge that their sacrament – enjoying a little indica or sativa to get closer to God – be exempt from Canada’s pot laws.

READ MORE: Toronto group fails to convince judge pot smoking a religious right

As for Indianapolis, law enforcement isn’t the only hurdle Levin’s disciples face – some of their neighbours aren’t entirely impressed either.

“Our concern is when you bring in marijuana, even though his main issue is marijuana, usually other drugs follow,” neighbour Wendy Ottinger, a drug counsellor, claimed.

The Church, meanwhile, continues to promote a life filled with “one love”, health and happiness. Its altar has even been dubbed “the podium of life” and Levin published his own take on the Ten Commandments – renaming it The Deity Dozen.

The Deity Dozen

1. Don’t be an a******. Treat everyone with Love as an equal.
2. The day starts with your smile every morning. When you get up, wear it first.
3. Help others when you can. Not for money, but because it’s needed.
4. Treat your body as a temple. Do not poison it with poor quality foods and sodas.
5. Do not take advantage of people. Do not intentionally hurt anything.
6. Never start a fight… only finish them.
7. Grow food, raise animals, get nature into your daily routine.
8. Do not be a “troll” on the Internet, respect others without name-calling and being vulgarly aggressive.
9. Spend at least 10 mins. a day just contemplating life in a quiet space.
10. When you see a bully… stop them by any means possible. Protect those who can not protect themselves.
11. Laugh often, share humour. Have fun in life, be positive.
12. Cannabis, “the Healing Plant” is our sacrament. It brings us closer to ourselves and others. It is our fountain of health, our love, curing us from illness and depression. We embrace it with our whole heart and spirit, individually and as a group.

Time will tell whether or not the Church ends up a success and helps change any state or local pot-related laws. In the meantime, membership fees are being accepted for a cool $50 per year.