No smoking at Wednesday’s Church of Cannabis Service

marijuana-plants


The founder of a pot-smoking Indianapolis church that was formed to test the state’s new religious objections law says his congregants won’t use marijuana at their first church service after authorities threatened arrests.

Church founder Bill Levin announced Monday that marijuana would be prohibited at Wednesday’s inaugural service of the First Church of Cannabis. He vowed to fight authorities in civil court instead of criminal court.

The church plans to use marijuana in its blessings. The drug is illegal in Indiana.

Levin says he founded the church to test the religious objections law that gives people the right to follow their religious practices without government interference.

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry says he doesn’t view the law as a legitimate defense to committing a crime.