marijuana
With ‘Christian cannabis,’ a pastor is promoting the spiritual side of marijuana
By Diana Kruzman — March 29, 2022
(RNS) — Craig Gross believes he can convince Christians to give getting high a try.
Rastafari want more legal marijuana for freedom of worship
By Luis Andres Henao and Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu — December 10, 2021
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — For Rastafari, the ritualistic smoking of marijuana brings them closer to the divine. But for decades, many have been incarcerated because of their use of cannabis.
J. Dana Trent turns her drug-dealing childhood into a podcast about poverty and faith
By Yonat Shimron — September 24, 2021
(RNS) — ‘Breaking Good,’ a four-part podcast, tells a complex story of a dysfunctional churchgoing family living in a fading railroad town beset by poverty, addiction and mental illness.
Mormon church backs deal to allow medical marijuana in Utah
By The Associated Press — October 4, 2018
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The agreement in such a conservative state underscores the nation's changing attitude toward marijuana.
Oklahoma conservatives’ views on medical marijuana evolving
By Sean Murphy — June 23, 2018
Their support for a medical marijuana measure on Tuesday's ballot could ensure Oklahoma joins the growing list of states that have legalized some form of pot.
In red-state Oklahoma, marijuana ballot question splits people of faith
By Bobby Ross Jr. — June 6, 2018
OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) — Clergy on both sides of State Question 788, which would permit the distribution of medical marijuana, call it a moral issue, with proponents arguing that pot will reduce dependence on opioids and critics, including the state's Southern Baptist convention and Catholic conference, saying it will lead to recreational use.
Rastafarian pot farm shootout sparks religious-use debate
By Yonat Shimron — August 3, 2017
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California authorities said religious organizations will have to obtain a state license when they become available next year like everyone else if they want to legally grow marijuana in California.
California’s ‘weed nuns’ on a mission to heal with cannabis
By Omar Younis — April 20, 2017
MERCED, Calif. (Reuters) The sisterhood stresses that its seven members, despite the moniker, do not belong to any order of the Catholic Church.
The down-ballot issues people of faith were watching
By Kimberly Winston — November 4, 2016
(RNS) Marijuana, gun control, the death penalty and the minimum wage are some of the issues being highlighted by religious leaders.
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics jumps into Bible, pot debate
By Greg Horton — September 3, 2015
OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) After two commenters posted references to the Bible in response to a story about the effects of marijuana on the brain, a bureau employee engaged them in a theological argument.
Marijuana ministries * Chicken blood * Chocolate snakes: July’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — July 31, 2015
Cannabis churches are billowing out across America. Chicken huggers are suing to keep ritual bird blood off Brooklyn’s sidewalks. And a South African prophet is being prosecuted for turning congregants into snakes and snakes into chocolate.
Indiana’s Church of Cannabis files religious liberty suit
By Stephanie Wang — July 9, 2015
The lawsuit challenges state laws on possession and use of marijuana as infringing upon religious beliefs.
Cannabis Church won’t have marijuana at first service Wednesday
By Mark Alesia — June 29, 2015
Bill Levin, who calls himself the church's minister of love, formed it partly to test Indiana's new Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which bars the government from infringing on religious practices.
Rastafarian sues NJ police, says he was searched for pot because of his dreadlocks
By Seth Augenstein — November 12, 2014
KEANSBURG, N.J. (RNS) One of the officers allegedly told Justin Cooke that he wanted to search him for marijuana because of his dreadlocks.
Voters pass wage hikes and legal pot, divide on abortion
By Greg Toppo — November 5, 2014
(RNS) Tennessee approved a constitutional amendment that will give more power to state lawmakers to regulate and restrict abortion.
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