About the Church of Cognizance
Introduction
The Church of Cognizance (COC) is a religious organization founded in 1991 by Danuel and Mary Quaintance in Graham County, Arizona. Rooted in ancient spiritual traditions, the Church centers its faith on the reverent use of cannabis as a sacrament and teacher. Drawing from Zoroastrian and other Indo-Aryan religious lineages, the Church promotes a lifestyle of peace, family unity, and natural living. Its foundational doctrine is summarized in the Zoroastrian motto: “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds.”
The Church of Cognizance is not a new religion but a revival and reinterpretation of ancient truths suppressed over time. It represents an effort to restore the rightful place of cannabis in spiritual, medicinal, and cultural life—guided by ethical conduct and legal responsibility.
Foundational Beliefs
At the core of the Church of Cognizance is the belief that cannabis is a sacred plant, central to humanity’s spiritual evolution and connection with the Divine. Known in ancient texts as Haoma or Soma, cannabis was historically venerated in numerous traditions—particularly in early Indo-Aryan, Vedic, and Zoroastrian contexts. The Church embraces these interpretations and asserts that modern society has forgotten these sacred truths.
COC members regard cannabis not as a recreational drug but as a sacrament, used in carefully prescribed religious contexts to promote spiritual insight, health, and harmony. It is seen as a bridge to deeper understanding, not as an intoxicant, and must be used in accordance with moral discipline and family responsibility.
To this end, the Church upholds seven core principles:
- Family-based Faith Practice
All members must anchor their spiritual practice within the nuclear family unit, promoting stability and generational continuity. - Natural Living and Personal Responsibility
Members strive to live in accordance with nature, taking responsibility for their physical, mental, and spiritual health. - Nonviolence and Peace
Nonviolence is a central tenet. Members must avoid aggression and live harmoniously within their communities. - Study and Preservation of Ancient Knowledge
The Church reveres ancient religious and philosophical texts, advocating scholarly pursuit to restore historical cannabis-based religious wisdom. - Moral Conduct and Self-discipline
The sacramental use of cannabis demands purity of intention, mindfulness, and ethical conduct. Use is strictly for religious purposes, not pleasure or escape. - Respect for Law, While Advocating for Change
The Church respects civil law but holds that unjust laws against sacramental cannabis use violate fundamental religious freedoms. - Service and Good Works
Members are encouraged to serve their communities, uplift others, and act in ways that bring honor to their beliefs.
Historical Foundations
The Church’s religious narrative draws deeply from Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest known monotheistic religions, founded by the prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster) around 1200 BCE. In Zoroastrian scripture, the Haoma plant is celebrated as a divine gift that brings wisdom, healing, and insight. Scholars such as Dr. Mary Boyce have documented the central role Haoma played in early Indo-Iranian religious practice.
The Church of Cognizance teaches that cannabis was the original Haoma, and thus its use is not novel, but a return to an ancient sacrament. Furthermore, references to Soma in the Vedas and Kaneh Bosm in the Hebrew Bible reinforce the belief that cannabis has long been used in sacred ritual across cultures.
In reclaiming this lineage, the Church does not proselytize or claim exclusive truth. Instead, it encourages a respectful revival of sacred plant knowledge within the bounds of moral responsibility.
Legal Recognition and Challenges
The Church of Cognizance asserts its rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). It has openly operated as a religious institution since its founding in 1991, formally registering as a religion in 1994.
In 2006, the Church faced federal prosecution that tested the boundaries of religious freedom. Founders Danuel and Mary Quaintance were arrested and charged with conspiring to distribute marijuana. They asserted a RFRA defense, claiming the cannabis in question was for sacramental use. While the courts did not grant them protection under RFRA at the time, the case raised significant legal questions about the scope of religious liberty in the United States.
The Quaintances’ case highlighted a contradiction in federal religious law: although RFRA provides protection for sincere religious exercise, courts often weigh those claims against compelling government interests. Despite the legal setback, the Church continues to maintain that its religious use of cannabis is legitimate, sincere, and constitutionally protected.
Today, many legal scholars and advocates revisit the Church of Cognizance case as a landmark moment in the broader movement for cannabis religious rights. In an era where other entheogenic churches (such as those using ayahuasca or peyote) have received exemptions, the COC continues to seek equal treatment under the law.
Organizational Structure and Membership
The Church of Cognizance operates as a non-hierarchical, family-based religious fellowship. Each family unit (called a “Monastery”) functions as an independent congregation, guided by Church doctrine and the principles of personal responsibility.
There are no centralized temples or formal rituals. Instead, daily life itself is sacred. Members are expected to integrate their beliefs into family routines, educational pursuits, ethical work, and spiritual discipline. Monasteries may differ in emphasis, but all agree on the core role of cannabis as a teacher and guide when used with reverence.
To become a member, one must:
- Accept the Church’s basic tenets and lifestyle commitments.
- Be part of a family unit or form one with shared belief.
- Register a Monastery and adhere to moral and sacramental guidelines.
Membership is open to people of all backgrounds, regardless of ethnicity, previous religious affiliation, or socioeconomic status. However, acceptance requires genuine commitment and a lifestyle in accord with Church ethics.
The Path Forward
The Church of Cognizance stands today as a symbol of spiritual resilience, cultural reclamation, and peaceful protest. In the face of misunderstanding, marginalization, and legal opposition, the Church continues to affirm that the sincere, sacramental use of cannabis is a valid and protected religious practice.
As public attitudes toward cannabis shift, and as courts begin to recognize the sincerity of other plant-based religions, the Church remains hopeful that legal acknowledgment will one day match spiritual truth.
Our mission moving forward is to:
- Educate the public about the sacred history of cannabis.
- Support religious freedom for all sincere spiritual practices.
- Help families build ethical, peaceful lives guided by ancient wisdom and modern clarity.
- Continue advocating for legal recognition of sacramental cannabis use through peaceful and lawful means.
Conclusion
The Church of Cognizance is more than a cannabis church. It is a living faith tradition, rooted in history, inspired by family, and dedicated to the highest ideals of human spiritual potential. It offers a path for those who see cannabis not as a crutch or escape, but as a sacrament—a divine teacher capable of guiding people toward good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.
If you seek a faith of peace, purpose, and personal responsibility—anchored in the wisdom of the ancients and the promise of spiritual freedom—the Church of Cognizance welcomes you.
“Truth is not new; it is eternal. What is new is its rediscovery.”
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EC_Danuel D Quaintance — Church of Cognizance