Marijuana Church in Indiana Sues State For Religious Infringement
Following the enactment of the Indiana Religious Freedom Bill, titled Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or RFRA, the First Church of Cannabis in Indiana is suing the state because it claims the state is infringing on its right to exercise the sacraments of its religion.
According to The Huffington Post, the church has already filed the lawsuit against the state in regards to laws that prohibit the use of marijuana.
Before RFRA was enacted, there might not have been any basis for the lawsuit. But now that the law is in effect, the church is using it to exercise its right to practice its religion, which uses marijuana as its holy sacrament.
The lawsuit filed by the church reads, "Cannabis sativa also known as marijuana or Cannabis, 'the Healing Plant,' is the sacrament of the First Church of Cannabis. [M]embers of the Church believe cannabis '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.'"
The burden the church faces is the state laws make the possession of marijuana illegal and punitive actions make the crime a felony. Even visiting an establishment that has a known history of marijuana use could get a person charged with a misdemeanor.
The suit specifically names the state's governor, Mike Pence, as well as the Attorney General Greg Zoeller. Other members of state and local government were also named in the suit as well.
Pence came under fire for passing RFRA by LGBT equality groups across the nation, which included big name stars like Miley Cyrus. That of course led them to make an amendment to the bill that RFRA cannot be used to override local ordinances that prohibit discrimination, specifically against any member of the LGBT community, as reported by the Indy Star.
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