A leader of a shuttered cannabis church has been arrested and charged with illegal sales of psilocybin mushrooms. Christopher Tindall of Jah Healing Kemetic Temple of the Divine Church in Big Bear, California, was released on bond but faces a felony charge.
Jah Healing Cannabis Church was shut down in 2022 by San Bernardino County authorities after being accused of illegally operating as a cannabis dispensary.
Before Jah Healing Cannabis Church was shut down, the church held a service every Sunday and a Bible study on Wednesday evenings. It offered cannabis to worshippers in exchange for donations.
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According to Religion News Service, the church claims to be a Christian institution that “believes that the fragrant cane ingredient of the holy anointing oil described in Exodus 30:22 is cannabis.”
Images of the church facility, captured by The New York Times, reveal that decals containing Scripture references to Psalm 136:1 and 2 Corinthians 5:7 are on the inside walls of the church, along with several crosses. In one image, a string of prayer beads similar to a rosary is draped over a bottle of cannabis oil.
According to The New York Times, the church operated a food pantry and has done clothing drives for the small mountain community.
While the church’s religious views are largely Christian, its convictions also feature an eclectic assortment of beliefs from Rastafarianism, Buddhism, and Judaism. The church sees cannabis as a sacrament and even anoints worshippers with cannabis oil as part of its religious practice.
The church was shut down after being accused of using religious belief as a cover to operate a dispensary while avoiding the expenses of state licensing and taxes.
One undercover officer reported being able to purchase cannabis from the church twice in one day without any religious ceremony.
