INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WOWO): Cannaterians are now official in Indiana, Cannaterians as in cannabis. The First Church of Cannabis Inc. was approved by Secretary of State Connie Lawson shortly after Governor Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law.

Would the law protect what the church says is it's practice of lighting up as part of the sacrament? The church's founder says he believes so.

“I have been a religious smoker for years,” said Bill Levin, who describes himself as the Minister of Love and Grand Poohba of the cannabis church.

There are cannabis churches in other states, primarily those – like Colorado – where some marijuana use is legal. As soon as RFRA became law, Levin said it was time to bring what he considers the healing power of cannabis here.

“I decided it was time to bring my faith forward and put down my 12 pathways to a better living,” Levin said. “Our church does not go with the old doctrine of the old magic books that other religious institutions use.” Levin is among those who believe in the health properties of marijuana and products derived from the plant, but his “Deity Dozen” focuses as much on how church members – and everyone – should be nice to each other. “Don't be an a—–e. Treat everyone with love as an equal,” reads the first of his version of the commandments.

Another says “Do not be a troll on the internet, respect others without name calling and being vulgarly aggressive.”

While the church's Facebook page has more than 15,000 likes already, Levin does not have a church building – he is using an online GoFundMe campaign to try to raise $20,000 to rent a place who will be accepting of the church's weed doctrine.

Though he believes any worship service where cannabis is used would be protected by RFRA, Levin said he would be careful to avoid the attention of law enforcement. He hasn't said where he is looking to rent a building, and that church policy will initially be BYOC.

“We will not buy, sell, trade or give any cannabis out. That would be illegal. But if the parishioner has something in their pocket and they feel it's time to pray when we call to pray, God bless them.”