Church plans to use marijuana in service at RI memorial
Providence, R.I. — A church that uses marijuana in its ceremonies plans to hold a service at a national memorial in Rhode Island.
The Providence Journal reports The Healing Church, which normally meets in a West Greenwich Home, has obtained a permit from the National Park Service to hold a service on May 23 at the Roger Williams National Memorial.
Jennifer Smith, the site manager for the memorial, says the permit allows the group to assemble, but not to violate any laws.
Church spokesman Alan Gordon, who describes followers as Judeo-Christian "cannabists," tells the newspaper the service will include cannabis in three forms: an anointing oil, a fermented drink, and smoked or vaporized cannabis.
He says they believe the group's First Amendment rights trump any law against using the marijuana.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.
