Two men from Madison, Wisconsin, who operated a Rastafarian church that provided marijuana to members in exchange for donations, have pleaded guilty to charges related to drug trafficking and possession. Jesse Schworck, 44, pleaded guilty to a felony count of maintaining a drug trafficking place and was ordered to pay $518 in court costs. His co-defendant, Dylan Bangert, 29, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor marijuana possession and was ordered to pay $443.
The two men, who claimed to have around 10,000 members, operated the Lion of Judah House, a storefront church in downtown Madison, where they openly smoked marijuana and provided it to members. The church’s website described it as “Wisconsin’s first & only lawful Rastafari cannabis sanctuary.”
In May 2019, the church was raided by police, and Schworck and Bangert were arrested and charged with felonies for dealing marijuana and maintaining a drug trafficking place. Schworck was also charged with misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct.
The building’s owner eventually won a bid to evict the pair, and the church was shut down. In May 2021, a federal judge threw out a civil rights lawsuit filed by Schworck and Bangert against the city and others, claiming that their rights had been violated.
Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said that Schworck’s case was not likely to result in significant time in prison, and that Bangert had “less culpability in the offense” since he did not create or run the illegal store and now has legitimate employment.
The case highlights the growing trend of marijuana use in the United States, with more young women using cannabis than men, according to a recent study. However, experts warn that heavy, long-term marijuana use can have negative effects on mental health, including an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and psychosis.
