Attend a laser meditation at the International Church of Cannabis
A religion with a light show
A 113-year-old church in a residential Denver street, painted floor to ceiling in saturated colour, that is the only house of worship anywhere founded on Elevationism — a belief that cannabis aids self-exploration. The previous pastor sold the building when his congregation grew too small for it.
Why it's unique
There is no second one. Elevationism has one church, and this is it, which makes the building itself the entire physical extent of a religion.
The interiors are the reason to come even if the theology is not. Okuda San Miguel painted the sanctuary floor to ceiling in geometric colour, and Kenny Scharf flew in and painted the exterior doors in a single twenty-four hour visit before flying home. The result is a genuine early-1900s church interior underneath work by two artists with international careers, which is not a combination you will find repeated.
Before you go
No cannabis is required, offered, or consumed by visitors, which surprises almost everyone who walks in expecting otherwise.
The public-facing event is a light and laser show staged under Okuda's ceiling, and it is the thing to time your visit around rather than dropping in. The church opened on 20 April 2017, which was not an accident.