Comments on Advance Indiana™: Grand Poobah Of First Cannabis Church Serves Hite And City With Notice Of Defamation Claim

Does the realtor christian hater attend Levin'...

2015-07-05T22:02:22.118-05:00

Does the realtor christian hater attend Levin's church?

Bill Levin has no case for defamation. I don't...

2015-07-05T20:31:17.739-05:00

Bill Levin has no case for defamation. I don't know what he intends to accomplish by all this. But using only makes him look worse.

Cocky Mountain high, near Colorado... Ave?

2015-07-04T08:35:31.849-05:00

Cocky Mountain high, near Colorado... Ave?

Yes, Bill needs to sue. It should be legal to gro...

2015-07-03T18:53:47.636-05:00

Yes, Bill needs to sue. It should be legal to grow hemp, and if one wants, smoke or sell it in Indiana. This would benefit our farmers, and marijuana does have medicinal purposes.

Bill Levin has no case for slander. He should know...

2015-07-03T01:11:08.994-05:00

Bill Levin has no case for slander. He should know that. Where's the damage?

Let me see here: The self-proclaimed "Grand ...

2015-07-02T19:40:04.435-05:00

Let me see here: The self-proclaimed "Grand Poobah" of The First Church of Cannibis is claiming his is slandered by a remark that simply points out an obvious comparison that has FACTUAL BASIS and he claims it is slander? -What an outrageous proposition. I bet the attorney representing him is planning of billing him a storm for a futile filing while at the same time praying in the First Church of Cannibis that he is not disbarred for violation of the Code of Professional Conduct.

Let's see a comparison: Jones' 'ministry' was an eclectic mix of faith healing and socialist politics that ultimately shunned white Christianity and the Bible. Jones asked his followers not only to call him “Dad” or “Father.” Now Levin wants to be known as The Grand Poobah of the First Church of Cannibis. The name Grand Poobah has come to be used as a mocking title for someone self-important or high-ranking and who either exhibits an inflated self-regard or who has limited authority while taking impressive titles, much like Jim Jones did. See, factual similarity.

Indiana Law states: "In any civil action, the court may award attorney's fees as part of the cost to the prevailing party, if the court finds that either party: (1) brought the action or defense on a claim or defense that is frivolous, unreasonable, or groundless; (2) continued to litigate the action or defense after the party's claim or defense clearly became frivolous, unreasonable, or groundless; or (3) litigated the action in bad faith."

The Code of Professional Conduct states: "A lawyer shall not counsel a client to engage, or assist a client, in conduct that the lawyer knows is criminal or fraudulent, but a lawyer may discuss the legal consequences of any proposed course of conduct with a client and may counsel or assist a client to make a good faith effort to determine the validity, scope, meaning or application of the law." It also states: "A lawyer shall not bring or defend a proceeding, or assert or controvert an issue therein, unless there is a basis in law and fact for doing so that is not frivolous, which includes a good faith argument for an extension, modification or reversal of existing law."

A pot head bobble head. Classic.

2015-07-02T09:24:52.265-05:00

A pot head bobble head. Classic.

I was told the only electricity was from generator...

2015-07-01T22:23:50.407-05:00

I was told the only electricity was from generators and that all those supplying water need have a generator. Did the "Church of Cannabis" have basic utility service?

There was clearly electricity flowing during the c...

2015-07-01T21:16:31.966-05:00

There was clearly electricity flowing during the church services for the musical instruments, sound system and lighting.

Does he have water to flush toilets at his "c...

2015-07-01T20:56:44.851-05:00

Does he have water to flush toilets at his "church" or for drinking? Does he have electricity? -It appears NOT.

What is the definition of LOSER?

There's word on the street Levin has been shop...

2015-07-01T20:05:27.132-05:00

There's word on the street Levin has been shopping a reality tv show gig. Keeping up with the Kardashians and s_ _ _.

I do not think that Levin is going to be that fort...

2015-07-01T19:50:42.338-05:00

I do not think that Levin is going to be that forthcoming about who is bankrolling him. Is he just being funded to push for marijuana legalization or is there another reason for this whole media showcase?

From the looks of the media reports, the number of...

2015-07-01T18:59:48.232-05:00

From the looks of the media reports, the number of police officers, reporters and protesters easily outnumbered the people who showed up to worship Levin and the weed he's smoking. You'll have to ask Levin who's financing him. His GoFundMe page identifies a lot of the individuals who signed up for a membership.

Gary, How many of these people do you think were ...

2015-07-01T18:32:49.444-05:00

Gary,

How many of these people do you think were just there for the free publicity? Also who is financing Bill Levin?

Hmm. Cult of personality ... grand entrance after ...

2015-07-01T18:28:17.825-05:00

Hmm. Cult of personality ... grand entrance after playing lengthy, feel-good music to work up the crowd ... feel-good gurus promising no judgment of anybody because there are no sinners ... sounds like a majority of "Christian" churches in the USA today.

I watched the live stream of most of the church se...

2015-07-01T17:31:05.520-05:00

I watched the live stream of most of the church service provided on the Star's website. What I saw on full display was a cult of personality. The grand entrance after playing lengthy, feel-good music to work up the crowd. Levin presented himself as a feel-good guru promising no judgment of anybody because there are no sinners. The guy was hocking bobble heads of himself with the message, "Vote For Bill Levin," while putting on the pretense he's all about spreading love and kindness. He gives media interviews in which he spews various four-letter expletives and refers to a woman's sexual parts in the most vulgar terms. Some people might watch Levin's performance on display today and in recent weeks and conclude Hite's hyperbolic rhetoric was but an exaggeration intended to dissuade his followers from knowingly breaking the law as Levin had earlier advocated they do.

The problem we have here is Hite opened his mouth ...

2015-07-01T17:15:28.275-05:00

The problem we have here is Hite opened his mouth and inserted foot. He is a lousy communicator and an overall dolt.

Levin loves the attention and the local media is happy to shower it all over him. It is sad that there are so many important things to report on and they chose a clown.

As a pew-jumping, tongue-talking, chandelier-swing...

2015-07-01T15:51:23.349-05:00

As a pew-jumping, tongue-talking, chandelier-swinging Penny-costal, I support this entirely!

Anon 1:01- While there may now be a "Church o...

2015-07-01T15:09:16.602-05:00

Anon 1:01- While there may now be a "Church of Cannabis;" there is no "conservative church" as you suggest. The churches you describe no doubt have names, which might help you identify them...

I would agree Chief Hite went way over the top, by...

2015-07-01T14:54:51.428-05:00

I would agree Chief Hite went way over the top, by trying to some how equate Levin to Jim Jones. It is like some people who casually compare some one to Hitler or Stalin.

Nearly 30 Police in the area!!!! This is incredible over kill. Lets bring out the water cannon and Bradley Fighting Vehicles and police dressed up in desert Camo Gear. What is Chief Hite hoping for a big haul in traffic and parking tickets??? Did the doughnut truck make a delivery????

The Mega-Media loves it all. Lets bring in Jerry Springer. Our local Mega-Media is just when all is said and done a cheap tabloid.

Much as I find Mr. Levin's cannabis enterprise...

2015-07-01T13:08:02.526-05:00

Much as I find Mr. Levin's cannabis enterprise midly amusing and without serious merit, I agree that Mr. Rick Hite may well have slandered the man. All this from the guy who is the Chief of the IMPD. Disgraceful.

Regardless of Mr. Levin's history and regardless of whether Levin's "church of cannibis" is a real religion, it is my opinion that the Greg Ballard selected Rick Hite had no legal right to impugn Levin's name nor equate Mr. Levin with a mass murderer.

I fervently pray Mr. Hite is found guilty of the defamation claim.

I don't believe that Bill Levin can be defamed...

2015-07-01T13:07:16.313-05:00

I don't believe that Bill Levin can be defamed....he's done so much on his own to show his true character. How does that character get defamed by anyone but Levin?

I do think Chief Hite defamed Mr. Levin and the Ch...

2015-07-01T13:01:31.545-05:00

I do think Chief Hite defamed Mr. Levin and the Church of Cannibis by comparing him to Reverend Jim Jones and the People’s Temple. There are a lot of Christian denominations with bizarre beliefs and practices that we nonetheless afford certain respect to. I mean we have traditional, conservative churches speaking in tongues, handling snakes, rolling in the aisles, crying hysterically, and even polygamous marriages. And while there may be criticism, they aren’t equated with mass murderers. I consider myself quite middle of the road, and I find nothing objectionable to Mr. Levin believing in the mystical benefits of marijuana smoking. Most of the country seems to be doing it quite regularly. If I was on the jury Chief Hite would be in trouble, because I believe he defamed Mr. Levin, and I think the rest of the leisure suit crowd left over from the 50’s who seem “shocked” by his church are similarly crossing a line. He is entitled to his beliefs. He has his federal tax exempt status. We have passed the rfra. Leave him alone. If this city pays a huge judgment to Levin because Chief Hite can’t respect his church or keep his mouth shut about sensitive matters, I’m going to join those asking for his resignation.