Indiana
Indianapolis has a marijuana church. Learn about First Church of Cannabis, how it started, how to join
Did you know Indianapolis has a place of worship dedicated to marijuana?
Testing the bounds of religious freedom, this establishment was created to respond to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, opening its doors the same day the law went into effect.
“This is what I live by, and I have more faith in this religion than any other,” Bill Levin, founder of the Church of Cannabis told IndyStar in May 2015. “This is my lifestyle. This is millions of people’s lifestyle.” Here’s what we know.
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What is the Church of Cannabis?
The First Church of Cannabis was founded by Levin in 2015 in response to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was signed into law by former governor Mike Pence on March 26, 2015, and went into effect on July 1, 2015.
When the law finally went into effect on July 1, the doors of Levin’s beloved establishment opened that same day, as previously reported by the IndyStar. According to the First Church of Cannabis website, the group’s mission is to “celebrate life’s great adventure by building on compassion, good health, and love.”
While the group is unable to participate in the “holy sacrament” of being able to light up at their regular Wednesday service, they’ve found other ways to fill the time, according to the IndyStar. A typical service starts with a shorter sermon from Levin before opening the floor to members to discuss concerns. They also perform a “diety dozen,” with affirmations of marijuana as a means of healing. Learn more about the “diety dozen” here.
Where is the First Church of Cannabis?
The First Church of Cannabis is located at 3400 S Rural St. in Indianapolis.
Who founded the First Church of Cannabis?
Levin, 68, founder and leader of the First Church of Cannabis, is a long-standing marijuana advocate who began working with the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) in the late 19990s, according to the church’s website. He eventually started his own pro-cannabis organization, ReLegalize Indiana.
Levin also ran for political positions as a Libertarian in the early 2010s, with marijuana legislation as a key focus, but came up short. When the Religious Freedom Restoration Act was passed, “Bill took this as an opportunity to establish The First Church of Cannabis on the basis of ‘Cannatarian’ religion where love is the most important and including the sacrament, cannabis,” according to Church of Cannabis.
Marijuana Church challenges Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act
Levin and the Church of Cannabis filed a lawsuit against the state of Indiana, Pence and Attorney General Greg Zoeller in July 2015 with the claim that denying them the right to smoke in public infringes on religious freedom. A second lawsuit was filed on March 3, 2016 against the city of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and former Police Chief Rick Hite.
The filed suits argued that members’ use of marijuana at the Church of Cannabis should be protected under Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, but was dismissed by the Indiana Court of Appeals in December of 2018.
“I feel sorry for the people who are not educated in this subject matter,” Levin previously said to the IndyStar. “We’ll keep doing what we’re doing, because we’re doing God’s work.”
Becoming a member of the First Church of Cannabis
Members can join for an annual fee of $54 on the group’s website. Click here to learn more.
INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — Indiana saw a significant decline in veteran homelessness last year, despite the total number of homelessness rising across the state.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annual estimation of the homeless population, known as the Point in Time (PIT) count, Indiana saw an 18.7% decline in veteran homelessness in 2025 compared to the year before.
That marked the second-largest decline of any state by percentage.
Helping Veterans and Families (HVAF) of Indiana specializes in assistance for veterans facing homelessness. CEO Emmy Hildebrand told News 8 the formula that’s finding success is the same that works with any at-risk group: housing and wrap-around services.
Hildebrand said that the formula needs support from the state.
“There is no state funding supporting homeless services in our state,” Hildebrand said. “And very little local funding outside Indianapolis.”
Safety net programs have faced budget cuts, with lawmakers eliminating funding for the Housing First program in 2025. It supported organizations helping people secure stable housing.
And housing advocates have criticized Indiana’s public camping ban as essentially making it illegal to be homeless.
HVAF client Terri Massey, a 34-year-old Navy veteran, said the stigma of being homeless was the most difficult challenge to overcome.
“I’m still trying to provide for my kids,” Massey said “I’m (not) out here being lazy or not trying to do better.”
Massey was working, supporting her children, but found herself sleeping in cars and hotel rooms because she didn’t have stable housing. “Going to that work, working 10 hours, leaving, going to sleep in my car.”
HVAF helped place Massey in a permanent apartment. HVAF also placed Massey in a different kind of “bootcamp” years after her time in the military, learning job skills. She’s looking for a job, but thankful to do it from a place she can call home.
“I am beyond grateful and thankful. I literally pray and thank God every day,” Massey said. “Because for the longest I felt like I was alone. And I had to figure everything out by myself. I didn’t.”
It’s estimated that seven percent of Indiana’s homeless are veterans. Hildebrand said there are federal funds for organizations working with veterans, which support HVAF’s programs.
Still, finding permanent housing is a struggle.
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, for every 100 extremely low-income households in Indiana, just 34 rental homes are affordable and available.
“There are so many people on the bubble that are just one emergency away from living in their car, staying with friends and family, or living on the streets because we don’t have the appropriate system here in Indiana,” Hildebrand said.
Hildebrand said lawmakers assured her they would work to support homeless services, but she hasn’t seen any drafted legislation that might be introduced in the next legislative session.
Across the country, about one in 25 people experiencing homelessness previously served active duty in the armed forces, according to numbers from HUD. Veteran homelessness declined 56% between 2009 and 2025.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has issued an Air Quality Action Day for July 8th in Northwest Indiana.
Ozone levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range, also known as the “orange” level. While not everyone will notice or be effected by the conditions, and while they may not be as severe as recent wildfire smoke events, individuals with asthma, COPD, and other health issues should proceed with caution when exercising outside.
Ozone levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range, also known as the “orange” level. (WSBT Photo)
The affected area is all of Northwest Indiana, including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso and all other cities in the region, especially those near Lake Michigan.
Warm temperatures, mostly sunny skies, and light and varied winds coming off of Lake Michigan are expected to contribute to elevated ozone levels.
To stay up to date on issuances and quality levels in Indiana, visit SmogWatch.IN.gov.
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