Indiana Court Of Appeals Dismisses First Church Of Cannabis Lawsuit

Indiana’s Court of Appeals recently dismissed a religious freedom lawsuit the First Church of Cannabis filed against the state.

The Indianapolis-based church and its leader Bill Levin filed the legal challenge after the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act passed in 2015.

It argued Indiana’s laws prohibiting marijuana possession and use prevented members from practicing their religion.

A Marion County judge dismissed the case in the summer of 2018, saying the church’s love of marijuana does not count as practicing a religion.

The church appealed that decision, but the Indiana Court of Appeals dismissed the case again.

In its Dec. 28 order, the court says the church failed to pay for court transcripts. The order also says the appellants didn’t show cause for why the appeal shouldn’t be dismissed.

Attorney General Curtis Hill released a statement applauding the ruling.

“The devout worshippers of the First Church of Cannabis may find more fertile ground in another state to legally consume their favorite sacrament, but they won’t be lighting up in Indiana,” the statement said.