Posted on 01/12/2018 2:34:20 AM PST by ransomnote
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Services at the Coachella Valley Church begin and end with the Lord’s Prayer.
In between, there is the sacrament.
“Breathe deep and blow harder,” intoned Pastor Grant Atwell after distributing small marijuana joints to 20 worshipers on a recent Sunday afternoon. “Nail the insight down, whether you get it from marijuana or prayer. Consider what in your own life you are thankful for.”
A middle-aged man wearing a “Jesus Loves You” baseball cap piped up. “Thank you, God, for the weed,” he called out. “I’m thankful for the spirit of cannabis,” a woman echoed from the back. “I am grateful to be alive,” said another young woman, adding that she had recently overdosed — on what, she did not say — for the third time.
The small room, painted black and gold and decorated with crosses and Rastafarian symbols, filled with pungent smoke after an hour-long service of Christian prayers, self-help slogans and inspirational quotes led by Atwell, a Campbell, Calif., massage therapist and photographer.
Despite its mainstream Christian trappings, the Coachella Valley Church describes itself as a Rastafarian church, something that’s tough to define. Rastafari is a political and religious movement that originated in Jamaica. Combining elements of Christianity, pan-Africanism and mysticism, the movement has no central authority. Adherents use marijuana in their rituals.
The church’s leaders say they believe that religious freedom laws give them the right to offer marijuana to visitors without a doctor’s recommendation — and without having to abide by any other regulations.
(Excerpt) Read more at californiahealthline.org ...
From the OP at link: “Marijuana churches typically require people to purchase a membership, then give or sell them marijuana and related products.”
Pot churches. Smh. Only in California.
well at least they are exposed to the bible, whatever it takes to reach hearts..Those folks would not come to church stoned..not saying it is right, but why not reach out..
They have them in Colorado, Maine, Vermont, Oregon as well.
Different names, of course but the same kind of “church”.
The old Flip Wilson show is where that started as I recall.
There’s also a podcast by the Comedian Joey Diaz that goes by this same title. He’s a dirty comic butte’s really funny & his podcasts are either interesting or a riot.
I wonder why we never had bar churches. Nursing a large mug of draft beer might make the sermon more tolerable.
Better no blasphemy than blasphemy.
I’ve been hooked on Uncle Joey for about 3 yrs now.
“Kick that mule, Lee”
Living like a DOCTOR! :)
LOL...”If you’re walking on ice you might as well dance”...”Take a chance, Columbus did”...”I want the stuff that killed Whitney...I wanna see the Devil”.
No one makes me laugh harder.
I agree he is imo, the funniest comic on the planet.
I had no idea who he was until I got turned onto Rogans podcast by a friend.
>Pot churches. Smh. Only in California.
Right. I thought it was the Catholic church that had the market on selling indulgences.
I found him indirectly via Joe Rogan as well. Been watching every episode for 2 years or so now. I really love the periscope pre-show show he does.
Because of Rogan I now watch Tom Seguar & his wife’s podcast, & Bert Kreischer’s podcast. All very funny podcasts.
I like Rogan’s standup & Some of Ari’s standup...but I hate Segura’s standup but he’s funny on the podcasts. Been a lot of fun getting to know these incredibly broken, yet talented people.
LOL you’re practically quoting me word for word, I’ve had almost the same experience.
Can we vote California “Off the Island?”
If you haven’t already. Go to you tube, search for: Joey Diaz on Doug Benson & watch Joey do his thing.
The live Doug Benson show taped at some theater with Uncle Joey on it hurt me I laughed so hard :)
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