Neighbors aren't rolling out welcome mat for Cannabis Church

Sarah Taylor has enjoyed living next door to a church for 25 years. Until this week, that is, when the cross came down and a pot leaf went up.

"It's not a church anymore," said Taylor, 50. "They can call it a church, but they are using a law that got messed up in the wording in order to smoke marijuana in there."

The First Church of Cannabis on Wednesday invited media to its sanctuary at 3400 S. Rural St. on Indianapolis' Eastside.

Self-described Grand Poobah and Minister of Love Bill Levin said he is bringing love to the community, but neighbors said they don't see love.

They see crime, drugs and sin.

"If you can't sell buy or use marijuana legally, where are they getting it to bring it in here to use?" asked Taylor, who lives in a house next to the building.

"They had goats penned up on the porch (on Tuesday) making all this noise," Taylor said. "Seriously? This is a quiet residential neighborhood, and we're going to hear that too? I don't think so. I don't think so."

Benita Tabor, who lives about a mile and half from the church, called it "an abomination."

"It's a joke to call that a church for one thing," Tabor said. "All it is is a legal way for them to get by with smoking marijuana."

Levin formed the church as a way to test Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Levin said it has amassed about 700 members, all who pay $4.20 per month in dues.

Levin claims RFRA protects worshipers who use marijuana as part of a religious service.

"RFRA got us clear," Levin said. "Our governor fertilized this state properly for all sorts of beautiful things to develop."

RFRA was designed to protect religion from being infringed upon by the government. The law drew national attention after critics claimed it was a disguise to give business owners the right to refuse service to same-sex couples.

Under intense public pressure, Indiana lawmakers amended RFRA to specify that it can't be used to undermine local human rights ordinances that protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination in Indianapolis and 10 other cities.

"Love is being noticed in Indiana after so much hate was given to us," Levin said. "I'm doing a benefit by bringing love back to this state."



The church will host its first service 7 p.m. July 1. The building has seats for about 200, but Levin said there will be a tent outside for up to 1,000 more. Worshipers will smoke cannabis during the service, Levin said.

Taylor said she intends to call police the moment those worshipers infringe on her peace and quiet.

"I've been told if it gets too noisy to call police," Taylor said. "If I keep calling police, it will become a public nuisance, and it will get shut down."

Call Star reporter Vic Ryckaert at (317) 444-2701. Follow him on Twitter: @VicRyc.