Healing Church in Rhode Island

The Healing Church in Rhode Island is a Rhode Island-based religious sect whose adherents believe that cannabis (or marijuana) is a "holy herb" and use it in religious rituals.[1] Leaders of the group attracted attention in 2015 for attempting to smoke marijuana in front of the Roger Williams National Memorial (a memorial to Roger Williams, a pioneer of religious freedom and one of the smallest National Parks) as part of a religious service.[1][2] One of the church members said that bhang was consumed during the service on federal property, to avoid a no-smoking rule.[3] The following year, two leaders of the group were arrested and charged in connection with a marijuana grow operation.[1] Days before the arrest, the pair had filed a lawsuit in federal district court, contending that enforcement of state anti-marijuana laws against those who use marijuana for religious purposes violates the U.S. Constitution.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Members of Rhode Island cannabis church arrested on marijuana charges, WJAR (Sinclair Broadcast Group) (July 20, 2016).
  2. ↑ Matt Reed, "Healing Church" holds cannabis ceremony in Providence, WJAR (Sinclair Broadcast Group) (May 24, 2015).
  3. ↑ Adams, Mike (June 2, 2015). "Religious cannabis already being put to the test in Rhode Island". High Times.
  4. ↑ Paul Edward Parker, Leaders of Healing Church filed federal lawsuit days before their arrest on marijuana charges, Providence Journal (July 20, 2016).
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