Editing International Church of Cannabis

{{Short description|American cannabis-based religious movement}}
{{About|a Cannabis-based religious movement in Colorado|similar organizations in Indiana and Michigan|First Church of Cannabis|and|First Cannabis Church of Logic and Reason}}
{{Infobox religion 
| name                = International Church of Cannabis
| image               = International Church of Cannabis in May 2025.jpg
| imagewidth          = 250px
| alt                 = 
| caption             = Church building on May 26, 2025
| leader_title        = 
| leader_name         = 
| area                = [[United States]]
| headquarters        = [[Denver, Colorado]] 
| founder             = 
| founded_date        =  April 20, 2017
| founded_place       = Denver
| scripture           = 
| type                = [[Cannabis]]-based [[new religious movement]]
| congregations       = 1 ([[Washington Park, Denver]])
| members             = 19,000 (2024)
| tax_status          = 
| publications        = 
| website             = {{URL|elevationists.org}}
| footnotes           = 
}}
{{Cannabis sidebar}}
The '''International Church of Cannabis''' is a [[religious organization]] in [[Denver]] that uses [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] as a sacrament. Members claim the use of cannabis helps elevate people to a higher understanding of self.<ref name=Fortin>{{citation|title=Marijuana on Religious Grounds? A Cannabis Church Opens in Denver|author=Jacey Fortin|date=April 20, 2017|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/20/us/international-church-cannabis.html}}</ref><ref name=Technicolor />

The chapel headquarters, a converted old church painted by contemporary artists, opened its doors on [[420 (cannabis culture)|April 20]], 2017.<ref name=Harris>{{citation|work=[[Merry Jane]]|title=Denver's New "International Church of Cannabis" Will Open for Worship on 4/20|date=April 13, 2017|author=Zach Harris|url=https://www.merryjane.com/culture/denver-cannabis-church}}</ref>  No cannabis consumption is allowed during times the church is open to the public;<ref name=About /><ref name=Puff /> celebrations of the "sacrament of cannabis" are held for members only.<ref name=Holy /><ref name=Pasquariello>{{citation|title=Denver cannabis church's debut doesn't go exactly as planned|work=[[The Cannabist]]|publisher=Denver Post|date=April 21, 2017|author= Alex Pasquariello|url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/04/21/international-church-of-cannabis-denver-420-debut-public-consumption/78098/}}</ref>

==Beliefs==
Members of the International Church of Cannabis are known as '''Elevationists'''. They ritually use "the sacred flower" of cannabis to accelerate and deepen self-discovery. A member is considered awakened when their cannabis experience becomes [[transcendence (religion)|transcendental]] in nature. Elevationism claims no [[divine law]] and no unquestionable [[doctrine]]; it adheres to no specific [[dogma]] while following the [[Golden Rule]].<ref name=About /><ref name=Technicolor />

Since 420 is a [[420 (cannabis culture)|significant number for cannabis culture]], the church opened its doors on April 20,<ref name=Technicolor /> inviting members to partake cannabis at 4:20&nbsp;p.m.<ref name=Fortin /> Celebration of the "sacrament of cannabis" is the regular church service, held each Friday.<ref name=Holy /> The symbol of the church is a set of interlocking triangles.<ref name=Puff />

[[Cannabis and religion|Ritual use of cannabis]] is not a modern invention, as it appeared in several world religions over a period of 3,000 years.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t1wdDQAAQBAJ|title=Sacred Bliss: A Spiritual History of Cannabis|pages=7–9|last=Ferrara|first=Mark S.|date=2016|isbn=9781442271913|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield}}</ref> The International Church of Cannabis is one of several [[New religious movement|modern religious organization]]s that consider cannabis a sacrament.<ref name=Holy>{{cite web |url=http://www.mensjournal.com/entertainment/articles/getting-high-and-holy-at-the-international-church-of-cannabis-w478721|title=Getting High and Holy at the International Church of Cannabis |last=Warner |first=Joel |date=26 April 2017 |publisher=Men's Journal}}</ref>

In May 2017 the church announced it would begin offering wedding services in a "cannabis-friendly" environment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/denvers-international-church-of-cannabis-now-offering-weddings|title=Denver's International Church of Cannabis now offering 'weed weddings' |last=Garrison |first=Robert |date=10 May 2017 |publisher=The Denver Channel}}</ref>

The Church is open to the public and offers a daily [[Projection mapping|light show]] and [[meditation]] called "Beyond" which has become a top 10 tourist attraction in Denver. Beyond is a guided meditation that utilizes cutting edge lights and [[Laser lighting display|lasers]] which are 3D mapped to the mural on the ceiling of the church.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fisch |first1=Devin |title=Beyond Light Show At The International Church of Cannabis |url=https://303magazine.com/2023/04/beyond-light-show-at-the-international-church-of-cannabis/ |access-date=14 December 2023 |work=303 Magazine |date=3 April 2023}}</ref><ref name=H0/>

== Membership ==
Members of any religion can become Elevationists without the need to convert, since Elevationism is seen as a supplement rather than a replacement to existing faith. The only restriction is that persons under 21 years of age are not allowed into the church when cannabis is being burned.<ref name=About>{{cite web|url=https://www.elevationists.org/about|title=About Us|publisher=Elevationists}}</ref> The church does not have a formal hierarchy.<ref name=Technicolor />

The church's membership increased to 200 people from around 50 on the opening week after increased media attention.<ref name=Fortin /> It allegedly grew to 500 in the subsequent two weeks.<ref name=Puff /> By December 2024, it had 19,000 members.<ref name="H0">{{cite news |last=Happe |first=Mackenzie |title=Why this weed church is one of Denver’s top travel destinations |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/22/travel/video/international-church-of-cannabis-denver-digvid |work=CNN |date=22 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

== Legal status ==
'''Elevation Ministries''', the religious nonprofit organization behind the church,<ref name=Fortin /> was formally established in [[Colorado]] in September 2016.<ref name=9News>{{cite web|url=http://www.9news.com/news/local/next/the-international-church-of-cannabis-has-arrived-in-denver/430869268|title=The International Church of Cannabis has arrived in Denver|last=Brennan|first=Noel|date=13 April 2017|publisher=9 News}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=Pasq20170412>{{citation|author=Alex Pasquariello |date=April 12, 2017|work=[[The Cannabist]]|publisher=Denver Post|url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/04/12/founders-international-church-cannabis-elevationists-denver/77237/ |title=Following the paper trail of The International Church of Cannabis}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/kmpkt/article163944779/Das-musst-du-ueber-die-neu-gegruendete-Cannabis-Kirche-wissen.html|title=Das musst du über die neu gegründete Cannabis-Kirche wissen|last=Nagels|first=Philipp|date=24 April 2017|newspaper=Die Welt|language=german}}</ref>

Although Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2012/11/07/news/economy/marijuana-legalization-washington-colorado/|title=Marijuana legalization passes in Colorado, Washington|last=Smith|first=Aaron|date=8 November 2012|publisher=CNN}}</ref> smoking in public spaces remains banned.  All ritual cannabis use at the church is by invitation only.<ref name=Puff>{{cite web|url=http://www.timescolonist.com/puff-puff-pray-inside-colorado-s-international-church-of-cannabis-1.18054060|title=Puff, puff, pray: Inside Colorado's International Church of Cannabis|last=Kane|first=Laura|date=3 May 2017|publisher=Times Colonist|access-date=28 July 2017|archive-date=29 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729053957/http://www.timescolonist.com/puff-puff-pray-inside-colorado-s-international-church-of-cannabis-1.18054060|url-status=dead}}</ref> The church does not sell marijuana.<ref name=Technicolor>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/internationa-church-of-cannabis-photos_us_58fa3c67e4b018a9ce5ae659|title=Step Inside The Technicolor World Of The International Church Of Cannabis|last=Blumberg|first=Antonia|date=21 April 2017|work=The Huffington Post}}</ref> On the federal level, Elevationism is protected by constitutional religious freedom as long as it is considered an authentic religious belief.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.5280.com/2017/04/international-church-cannabis-opens-420/|title=The International Church of Cannabis Opens 4/20|last=Forsythe|first=Jerilyn|date=18 April 2017|publisher=5280 Magazine}}</ref>

On the day the church opened in 2017 [[Colorado House of Representatives|state Representative]] [[Dan Pabon]] proposed banning cannabis consumption in churches. Pabon confirmed his move was inspired by the International Church of Cannabis. However, members of both parties in the House concluded it would be an [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|unconstitutional]] restriction on religion; they rejected his proposal and the amendment was not formally introduced.<ref name=Fortin /><ref name=Fox /><ref name=Post>{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/2017/04/20/cannabis-church-colorado-house-ban/|title=Colorado House rejects late attempt to bar pot use in churches|date=20 April 2017|publisher=The Denver Post}}</ref>

== Church building ==
The church is housed in a 113-year-old structure in Denver's [[Washington Park, Denver|Washington Park neighborhood]]:<ref name=Technicolor /> a converted [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] church, formerly known as Mount Calvary Apostolic Church.<ref name=Fox>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/the-latest-colorado-rejects-attempt-to-ban-pot-churches/|title=The Latest: Colorado rejects attempt to ban pot churches|date=20 April 2017|publisher=Fox News}}</ref> The church property was purchased in July 2015 by a company co-owned by church co-founder [[Steve Berke]] and his parents with the intention to turn it into apartments. However, Berke's colleagues and friends, who later became co-founding members of the church, convinced him, and eventually the company, to establish a new church in lieu of converting the building into condos.<ref name=9News /> An [[Indiegogo]] campaign to fund repairs on the building raised $40,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-international-church-of-cannabis-marijuana-community--2#/|title=The International Church of Cannabis|last=Gerson|first=Avi|publisher=IndieGoGo}}</ref> Renovations began July 2016.<ref name=Perez>{{citation|newspaper=The New York Post|title='Church of Cannabis' will open on 4/20 — of course|author=Chris Perez |date=April 12, 2017|url=https://nypost.com/2017/04/12/church-of-cannabis-will-open-on-420-of-course/}}</ref>

Spanish artist [[Okuda San Miguel]] painted the colorful surrealist interior with geometric neon colors and images of animals; the artist had previously painted abandoned churches in Spain and Morocco.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://303magazine.com/2017/06/okuda-san-miguel-international-church-of-cannabis-art/|title=The Michelangelo of Cannabis - Meet Artist Okuda San Miguel|last=Bathgate|first=Rae|date=9 June 2017|publisher=303 Magazine}}</ref> American artist [[Kenny Scharf]] painted the façade with graffiti-inspired murals.<ref name=Puff />

In March 2017, Elevation Ministries established a two-year licensing and management agreement with Bang Digital Media, a publicly traded company founded by church co-founder Steve Berke, which does marketing work for the [[cannabis industry]].<ref name=Pasq20170412/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Cannabis|Religion}}
* [[Cannabis and religion]]
* [[Entheogen]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.elevationists.org}}

{{Cannabis in Colorado}}
{{Cannabis and religion}}

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[[Category:2017 establishments in Colorado]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Denver]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 2017]]
[[Category:Cannabis and religion]]
[[Category:Cannabis in Colorado]]
[[Category:Churches in Denver]]
[[Category:Religion in Denver]]
[[Category:Religious organizations using entheogens]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1904]]
[[Category:Religious belief systems founded in the United States]]
[[Category:New religious movements established in the 2010s]]