Congregants, protesters gather at Indiana Church of Cannabis

cannabis-church-service-from-indy-channel-dot-com

(photo form indychannel.com)

More than 100 people packed a pot-smoking Indianapolis church for a music-filled first service without their illegal sacrament, days after authorities threatened arrests if the congregation lit up during the rites.

Participants in the First Church of Cannabis’ inaugural service had planned to celebrate Wednesday by smoking marijuana.

But church founder Bill Levin (luh-VIN’) decided to keep pot out of the service to avoid arrests and ensure he can test the state’s new religious objections law in civil court and not on criminal grounds.

Indianapolis police made no arrests before, during or after the church service.

But about 40 people unhappy with the new pot-smoking church stood across the street from the small chapel during the service, holding protest signs. One read, “Marijuana is illegal in Indiana.”