For Love of the Lord on (a) High

Published April 17, 2007
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By Nicole Vincent-Roller

“MARIJUANA IS NOW LEGAL TO OUR MEMBERS IN ALL 50 STATES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” Temple 420’s website proclaims in loud capital letters. The Temple, a Judeo-Christian church based out of California, claims that cannabis is the “plant for the healing of all nations” mentioned in the Book of Revelations 22.2 and therefore incorporates the burning of the sacred bud into their services as a sacrament.
“I have dedicated my entire life to ending the prohibition of marijuana in the United States,” writes the church’s founder, Craig X Rubin. “Now I can finally accomplish that goal and at the same time spread the loving message of the Bible.”

The Temple’s website encourages readers and believers to exercise their right to religious freedom by becoming card-carrying members of the Temple, urging them to pass on the word along with the pipe while assuring them of their legal safety.

Ironically, the biggest source of publicity to the fledgling church thus far has been the Reverend Rubin’s recent arrest. In November of 2006, an undercover police officer joined the Hollywood temple and proceeded to use his membership to purchase 3.5 grams of pot (to be used, of course, for religious purposes; whether or not the cop was forced to partake of the sacrament is uncertain, but either way we can be sure donuts were involved—though probably more donuts if he did).

Rubin, his son, and one other church member were then arrested and charged with two felony counts of selling or transporting marijuana, as well as possession for sale. Claiming that these legal actions were a violation of his civil and religious rights, Rubin is suing the California police for $30,000,000. Indeed, how dare they violate Rubin’s sacrosanctity as a reverend—he’s been on Showtime’s “Weeds,” for God’s sake.

Despite Rubin’s claims and suit, someone has recognized the hitch this bad press puts in the Temple’s giddyup, and their website is working overtime to combat it. The Temple claims legal security based on the recent Supreme Court decision in the case of Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Benefiecente Uniao do Vegetal, in which the court unanimously voted in the favor of the Brazilian-imported church’s right to use a hallucinogenic tea in worship.

Temple 420 not only guarantees the sanctity of your religious right to smoke the ganga if you become a member, but offers to foot the bill for your legal services if you get arrested while enjoying said religious right.

However, part of the membership contract also states (in the itty-bittiest of fonts) “the Temple shall not be liable to member for any claims, demands, injuries, damage or actions arising from the use of sacramental herbs during worship.” Basically, you may as well put the part about legal protection and support in your pipe along with the sacramental herb.

So if you’re feeling particularly pious this 420 season, beware. If you believe in cannabis as a sacrament in honor of the Lord, by all means pay the $100 entry fee to support Temple 420 in its holy crusade against squares and sin. If, on the other hand, you were just planning on using your membership card to ward off the police while taking the sacrament in public, you’re probably better off saving the money for bail.

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