The First Church of Cannabis held their inaugural service on Wednesday. The church was founded earlier this year by members seeking to legalize marijuana in the state of Indianapolis as a religious liberty, according to TIME.
The church, which claims opposition to their pot worship is religious persecution, is referring to the state's controversial Religious Freedom and Restoration Act, which came into effect on Wednesday. The law allows companies - as well as individuals - to defend themselves in legal proceedings by citing religious beliefs. The law has faced criticism from opponents who argue that those who want to discriminate against the LGBT community could misuse it.
More than 100 people got together for the church's inaugural service without their illegal sacrament after authorities warned that arrests would be made if the congregation smoked pot during the service. Church founder Bill Levin said he decided to keep marijuana out of the inaugural service so that he could test the law in civil court and not on criminal grounds, according to CBS News.
"If we weren't intimidated, this would be the sacrament box, folks - this is the box we keep our sacrament in," Levin said, carrying a small wooden box. "Unfortunately, there's no sacrament in it today, so just pretend, folks," ABC News reported.
Most of the church members followed suit, pretending to pass joints around and smoke them.
More than 20 IMPD (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department) police officers were in attendance at the church but no arrests were made during the two-hour music-filled service.
"IMPD's presence at today's event was to ensure that the laws set forth by the State of Indiana and the City of Indianapolis were adhered to, and to carry out the department's duty to ensure the safety of all individuals and community members," Chief Rick Hite said in a statement Wednesday evening. "Overall, today's event was very civil and peaceful and culminated with zero arrests or any other law enforcement action by IMPD," reported Fox 59.
Levin said the church, which now has more than 1,000 members, is built "on the cornerstone of love, compassion and good health" and is not a place where members come to get high.
@tommychong The first church of the cannibis held its first service today pic.twitter.com/ORV6r34UOl
— bobby arms (@ArmsBobby) July 1, 2015
@tommychong more photos from First church of cannibis pic.twitter.com/X0Y6WkWyMm — bobby arms (@ArmsBobby) July 1, 2015
