Indiana’s Anti-Gay Law Inadvertently Clears Way for The First Church of Cannabis

Unless you’ve been willfully keeping yourself away from the news for the last few weeks, you’ve no doubt heard about Indiana’s “Religious Freedom” law that made it legal for businesses to deny service to the LGBTQIA community based on the proprietor’s religious views.

For some reference, I was raised as a Catholic and I’m not honestly certain just what I truly believe about God and the afterlife. This is not the forum to perambulate over such things. However, I do take offense to anyone who uses religion to justify their bigotry. Can anyone, seriously, imagine Jesus holding his hand up at the proverbial gates and saying, “Whoah, not you, queer.”

One Indiana resident, Bill Levin, has exploited this moronic law in the most fantastic way. He filed legal papers to create the First Church of Cannabis, Inc. The cool part? The Indiana secretary of state actually approved Levin’s request. I mean, he/she really kind of had to because of this new “Religious Freedom” law.

To be a member of Levin’s church, all that’s required is an affinity for ganja. He does say that members are encouraged to donate $4.20 each month in tithes. Here’s a screenshot of the church’s commandments (referred to as “The New Deity Dozen”):

The funny thing is, the tenets of faith of the weed gospel are far more closely aligned with the love and compassion that supposedly personifies Jesus. Generally speaking, the above commandments are a pretty good set of rules to follow for leading a good life.

Indiana has not been high on my list of places to visit, they are one of the few remaining states that have no legal medical or recreational cannabis. This new bigoted, discriminatory and outrageous law isn’t helping the matter.

I think the governor of Indiana, and anyone who legitimately supports this law, should take heed of the cannabis chapel’s first command: Don’t be an asshole.