A Madison church is using and distributing marijuana as a sacrament, and some city officials are trying to stop it. To most people, it’s weed, but church co-founder Jesse Schworck considers it a religious sacrament and part of the worship at a Rastafarian church in an old storefront near the UW-Madison campus. Its members use and distribute marijuana freely. That’s really the only requirement for membership.”We all have to agree that we all break bread and use this one sacrament: cannabis,” Schworck said. The church doesn’t try to hide the marijuana use there. It is very open about it, even smoking right in the window for anyone on the street to see.Anyone can just sign a card to become a church member and walk out with marijuana.”I stand with Rastafarian religion all the way,” church member Jerry Sersch said. Schworck accepts donations but doesn’t require payment.”This is no different than a shop distributing marijuana.” WISN 12 News reporter Kent Wainscott said to Schworck. “Sounds like someone that would be selling cannabis or giving it to the public — two things we don’t do,” Schworck said. Wainscott was unable to reach the city attorney for comment, but city officials have reportedly ordered the church’s landlord to put a stop to the marijuana use. But Schworck argues this is a fight for religious freedom.”It’s not even an argument. It’s just reality,” he said. Schworck said he will ask a federal court for an injunction to stop what he describes as harassment from the city of Madison.
A Madison church is using and distributing marijuana as a sacrament, and some city officials are trying to stop it.
To most people, it’s weed, but church co-founder Jesse Schworck considers it a religious sacrament and part of the worship at a Rastafarian church in an old storefront near the UW-Madison campus.
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Its members use and distribute marijuana freely. That’s really the only requirement for membership.
“We all have to agree that we all break bread and use this one sacrament: cannabis,” Schworck said.
The church doesn’t try to hide the marijuana use there. It is very open about it, even smoking right in the window for anyone on the street to see.
Anyone can just sign a card to become a church member and walk out with marijuana.
“I stand with Rastafarian religion all the way,” church member Jerry Sersch said.
Schworck accepts donations but doesn’t require payment.
“This is no different than a shop distributing marijuana.” WISN 12 News reporter Kent Wainscott said to Schworck.
“Sounds like someone that would be selling cannabis or giving it to the public — two things we don’t do,” Schworck said.
Wainscott was unable to reach the city attorney for comment, but city officials have reportedly ordered the church’s landlord to put a stop to the marijuana use.
But Schworck argues this is a fight for religious freedom.
“It’s not even an argument. It’s just reality,” he said.
Schworck said he will ask a federal court for an injunction to stop what he describes as harassment from the city of Madison.
