Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church

A distinctive religious movement using cannabis as a sacrament and known for its legal struggles in the pursuit of religious freedom.


The Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church (EZCC) is a religious group that identifies closely with the Rastafari movement and emerged in the 1950s in Jamaica, influenced by the teachings of Marcus Garvey. Formally established in the United States in 1975, the church was initially incorporated in Florida and set up its first U.S. commune on Star Island, Florida, with about 40 members. This incorporation was a significant step in the church’s broader aims of gaining religious legitimacy and the freedom to practice its sacraments, particularly the use of marijuana as a sacrament, which it argues is a sacred practice integral to its religious rituals.

The EZCC is not affiliated with the Coptic Orthodox or Coptic Catholic Churches of Egypt. Its identity partly evolved from a 1959 mission to Ethiopia, although the Ethiopian clergy eventually severed ties with the Garveyite Coptic organization in New York, forming their own parishes to cater to Ethiopian immigrants. The church’s doctrines and practices emphasize a connection to the biblical Israelites, viewing its members as part of a continuous religious and historical lineage, with a unique interpretation of biblical texts often focusing on themes of liberation and divine justice.

Significantly, the EZCC regards Marcus Garvey’s teachings as central to its doctrine and practices daily oblations and sacrifices, using chants, Psalms, and spiritual hymns. It is recognized as the world’s first legally recognized ganja church—a title bestowed by the Queen of England, the Supreme Court of Florida, and the Jamaican Parliament. This acknowledgment came after the church’s involvement in the quest for ganja legalization during the late 1970s and 1980s, marked by notable legal struggles, particularly in the United States. In 1979, despite facing accusations and trials for smuggling substantial amounts of cannabis from Jamaica to Miami—an activity alleged to have supported the Jamaican economy—the Supreme Court of Florida acknowledged the EZCC as a legitimate religion under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and recognized the use of cannabis as an essential part of its religious practice.

The church’s operations in the United States, particularly in Miami, Florida, brought it into the public eye, especially following a series of legal battles centered around its marijuana use. These legal challenges peaked during the 1980s when the U.S. government’s crackdown on their marijuana-related activities culminated in significant legal cases. In 1986, the organization participated in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s hearings on cannabis rescheduling in the United States. A landmark moment came in 2017 when Jim Tranmer, a member of the EZCC who had been imprisoned for defending the sacramentality of cannabis, was pardoned and released by President Barack Obama, reflecting changing societal attitudes towards cannabis.

Despite ongoing challenges, including police brutality, property destruction, and false imprisonment of its members, the EZCC continues to advocate for its religious beliefs and practices. It asserts an apolitical stance, emphasizing its commitment to spiritual and moral laws over secular governance, and declares its opposition to political, religious, and commercial institutions, viewing them as corrupting influences that separate people from their deity.

The church’s legacy and the experiences of its members have been captured in various media, including the 2011 documentary “Square Grouper: The Godfathers of Ganja” by Billy Corben. The EZCC’s unique blend of Christian doctrine, Rastafarian influence, and advocacy for cannabis use as a religious sacrament sets it apart from other religious movements, continuously impacting the interplay between religious freedom, societal norms, and legal frameworks.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *