Indiana ‘Religious Freedom’ Law Opens Door to Cannabis Church

Posted by | March 30, 2015 13:00 | Filed under: Politics Top Stories

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Whoops! That’s not what they meant. At all.

According to Indiana attorney and political commentatorAbdul-Hakim Shabazz, Indiana legislators, in their haste to protect the religious values and practices of their constituents, may have unwittingly put the state in an awkward position with those who profess to smoke pot as a religious sacrament.

Shabazz pointed out that it is still illegal to smoke pot in Indiana, but wrote, “I would argue that under RFRA, as long as you can show that reefer is part of your religious practices, you got a pretty good shot of getting off scot-free.”

Noting that RFRA supporters say the bill “only spells out a test as to whether a government mandate would unduly burden a person’s faith and the government has to articulate a compelling interest for that rule and how it would be carried out in the least restrictive manner,” Shabazz contends the law may tie the state’s hands.

“So, with that said, what ‘compelling interest’ would the state of Indiana have to prohibit me from using marijuana as part of my religious practice?” he asked. ”

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Copyright 2015 Liberaland
By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.

18 responses to Indiana ‘Religious Freedom’ Law Opens Door to Cannabis Church

  1. wpadon March 30th, 2015 at 13:15

    Now that’s funny.

  2. oldfart March 30th, 2015 at 13:18

    I got the feeling that “our lady of the sacred reefer” would still not be warmly welcomed.

    • Bunya March 30th, 2015 at 21:51

      Yes but, perhaps a name change, like “Our Lady of Perpetual Cannabis” might bring in a few converts.

    • Guy Lauten March 30th, 2015 at 22:46

      I say go corporate and show ’em we mean business:
      How about “Cannabology”!
      It has a certain non-aligned ring to it…

  3. Bunya March 30th, 2015 at 13:53

    A cannabis church? Where is it and where can I sign up? All hail MaryJane!

  4. Warman1138 March 30th, 2015 at 13:53

    I’m still waiting for a beer church ” Our Lady of the Holy Lager ”.

  5. Anomaly 100 March 30th, 2015 at 13:55

    I’m gonna start a Church of the Bloody Mary.

  6. Apocalypse March 30th, 2015 at 14:07

    The first RFA was to permit indians to use peyote (American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978)

    “Indiana’s Republican legislative leaders said on Monday they were working on adding language to the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to make it clear that it does not allow discrimination against gays and lesbians. ”
    More at:
    http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/30/indiana-republicans-revisit-language-religious-freedom-law

  7. Hirightnow March 30th, 2015 at 16:39

    It’s already happening…

  8. bpollen March 30th, 2015 at 17:01

    Well, one of the nicknames for pot is “Lamb’s bread.”

  9. Chinese Democracy March 30th, 2015 at 22:27

    I’m sensing an uptick of rastafarians in Indiana’s future

  10. fahvel March 31st, 2015 at 03:43

    indiana seems bad enough – but viewing and experiencing it stoned might just be a “worst” trip ever had.

  11. Warman1138 March 31st, 2015 at 08:03

    Is it possible or impossible to create, make, or start a new religion that actually works?

  12. greenfloyd March 31st, 2015 at 09:54

    Hmmmm… I wonder what Jesus would do?
    http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608021400867963858&pid=1.7

    • oldfart March 31st, 2015 at 10:19

      he’d turn parsley into weed, of coarse.

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