**Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church**
The Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church is a fascinating religious sect that intertwines the spiritual and cultural significance of cannabis with the tenets of Christianity. Originating in Jamaica during the 1970s, the church claims a spiritual heritage linked to the ancient Ethiopian Orthodox Church, emphasizing the use of cannabis as a sacrament. This “holy herb” is believed to facilitate a deeper connection with the divine, serving as a tool for meditation and spiritual growth. The Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church gained international attention in the late 20th century due to its legal battles in the United States, where it sought recognition for the religious use of cannabis. Despite legal hurdles, the church has remained steadfast in its beliefs, contributing to the broader conversation about cannabis legalization and religious freedom. Today, the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church stands as a testament to the enduring relationship between spirituality and cannabis, influencing both religious practices and the modern cannabis movement. [Source: MedPub, Encyclopedia Britannica]
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The Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church is a religious group that first emerged in Jamaica during the 1940s and later spread to the United States, being incorporated in Florida in 1975. Its beliefs are based on both the Old and New testaments of the bible, as well as the teachings of Marcus Garvey, self-reliance, Afrocentricity and Ethiopianism. Their ceremonies include bible reading, chanting, and music incorporating elements from Nyahbinghi, Burru, Kumina and other indigenous traditions. The group holds many beliefs in common with the Rastafari, including the use of marijuana as a sacrament, but differ on many points, most significantly the matter of Haile Selassie's divinity.
The group expanded rapidly in the 1970s, under the leadership of 'Niah' Keith Gordon, attracting a new generation of white American followers to their "Gospel camp" in Jamaica. The Coptic's pro-marijuana beliefs went as far as to consider it their duty to distribute it widely, and the new converts helped move ever larger consignments of "herb" from Jamaica to the United States. Proceeds from marijuana smuggling allowed the Coptics to acquire significant land holdings in Jamaica, as well as a luxurious 'embassy' in Miami. They also established numerous agricultural and business ventures in Jamaica, providing badly needed employment during the island's turbulent 1970s.
The group attracted widespread publicity in the early 1980s, when they were the subject of investigative TV reports, and several of its members were prosecuted for importing marijuana to the United States. The movement continues to this day, but went into decline when a large number of the American members were incarcerated in the 1980s, followed by the death of Keith Gordon in 1986.
Despite its name the group has no affiliation with either the Ethiopian Orthodox Church or Coptic Orthodox Church, and has radically different beliefs and practices from most Christian congregations.
