In 2015, the eccentric Bill Levin opened the doors of the First Church of Cannabis to the faithful. A divine and clever initiative that would enable him to circumvent the prohibition imposed in Indiana, where his church is located. . Portrait of an activist in a dirty state.
Peroxide hair on firecrackers, sunken face, tall, lanky figure wrapped in black slim-fit jeans and a white shirt with a black silk scarf, Bill Levin is more reminiscent of Iggy Pop’s version of “Doc” from Back to the Future than a minister in one of the most uptight states in the US.
Before donning the green cassock, lhe founder of the First Church of Cannabis was no choirboy: manager of punk bands (including some that had their moment of glory, such as the Zero Boys)manager of a porn bus business (with parties and filming on board), owner of dancings for all kinds of waltzers, partner in a small chain of tattoo stores and then commercial director of a brand of caffeinated energy drinks (Jolt), it was with more than one gospel behind him that, in 2015, Bill Levin founded the first American church dedicated to the worship of weed.
The call of the Virgin Mary-Jeanne, Levin dates it to the summer of 1970, when he first tasted the forbidden flower. 45 years later, he transfigures the divine call by celebrating his first mass on the 1st July 2015, three months after creating the “First Church of Cannabis”.
Slthough the Midwestern state completely prohibits cannabis (including therapeutic cannabis), freedom of religion remains an inalienable right guaranteed to all by the Constitution and, more recently, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which guarantees the right of every American citizen“to practice his or her religion as he or she sees fit, so long as such practice does not interfere with the freedom of belief of others“.
The man of faith sees this as a godsend; as RFRA is a federal law that prevails over Indiana state law, it is legally permitted to consume ganja during the service, as long as the practice is part of a religious rite.
Indiana VS Indica.
The authorities, however, don’t see it that way, threatening severe criminal prosecution for any believer who wants to prove his faith by burning a doobie between two psalms. A fierce three-month legal battle ensued between the First Church of Cannabis and the State of Indiana. Lhe church will lose.
The former future Pope of weed is now in the crosshairs of the entire police force, and smoking a single joint in public is out of the question, on pain of seeing his church closed and him thrown in jail. Beyond this harsh reminder of the law, it will also be banned from speaking positively about cannabis. Any pro-cannabis preaching will henceforth be treated as incentive to consume. During the homilies, “The Great Poohbah” will find other ways to talk about ganja, substituting the word weed for another.
The most westerly priest in the U.S. will then speak of “love” or “good vibrations” when evoking the sacred herb. This gives rise to tasty sermons such as ” if you’re having a domestic dispute, take a step back by absorbing a large dose of good vibrations ” or ” there’s nothing like settling down with love on your sofa after a tense day at the office “. The apostle of weed adds another layer, certifying that no, he’s not directly advising anyone to consume ” the best health supplement in the world “. In another of his less-than-Catholic teachings, Bill evangelizes that “. The best weed doesn’t come from Amsterdam or Denver. It grows here, it’s called “Bubble gum and it’s won three Cannabis Cups.” .
The Twelve Deities, or Commandments, of the First Church of Cannabis:
- 1. Treat your neighbor with love and as an equal.
- 2. The day starts with a smile every morning. When you get up, it’s the first thing you put on.
- 3. Help others as much as you can. Not for the money, but because it’s necessary.
- 4. Treat your body like a temple. Don’t poison it with poor-quality foods and sodas.
- 5. Don’t take advantage of people. Don’t intentionally hurt anyone.
- 6. Never start a fight… but finish them if you have to.
- 7. Grow your own food, raise animals, integrate nature into your daily life.
- 8. Don’t be a “troll” on the Internet, respect others without insulting them or having a vulgar or aggressive attitude.
- 9. Spend at least 10 minutes a day contemplating life in a quiet place.
- 10. Protect those who cannot protect themselves.
- 11. Riez share the laughter. Have fun in life, be positive.
- 12. Cannabis is our sacrament. It brings us closer to ourselves and to others. It is our source of health and love, healing us from sickness and depression. We embrace it with all our hearts and minds, individually and as a group.
The great Poohbah governor.
In July 2020, Bill Levin announced his candidacy in the midtrem elections, the equivalent of legislative elections in France elections of 2020, running for governor of Indiana, a seat then held by Eric Holcomba traditionalist Republican. Cannabis legalization will of course be a central theme of Levin’s campaign, with the candidate believing that ” Indiana residents are in favor of legalizing cannabis. This prohibition would have ended a long time ago if the question had been put directly to the voters. .” “If we had held a referendum, we would have legalized cannabis 10 years ago. When I’m elected governor, this kind of referendum will be one of the measures I’ll put forward so that citizens can decide their future, and not the political and institutions of Washington. ” An ultra-liberal approach that won’t prevent the man of faith from having warm feelings for the IRS , the equivalent of the Internal Revenue Service in the United States. In 2018, the IRS declared the smoking prophet’s income non-taxable since it came from a religious activity. After the trial, when asked about this ruling in his favor, he evangelized his victory with a ” What do you want, the Lord’s ways are inscrutable.”
