Four months after Denver's International Church of Cannabis opened its doors, more than 1,400 people have become members, otherwise known as Elevationists. You don't have to be a weed worshipper to take a look inside the colorful building, but if you want to take part in the church's cannabis services on Friday nights, you'll need a membership.

How did the church get its start, why is it members only, and what goes on behind closed doors? Here are three facts about the pot lovers church where members go to puff, pray, and play games.

Change of plans

According to the Guardian, the building was purchased by Yale University grad Steve Berke's parents as an investment — they originally wanted to turn the building into condos. After spending some time inside the church with friends, Steve and his friend, Lee Molloy had "stupid, fantastical conversations" about keeping the building a church, but not in the conventional sense.

After convincing Steve's parents they should nix their idea of turning the 113-year-old building into condos, it was transformed into a wildly colorful church that opened on April 20, 2016, aka 4/20 or "Weed Day."

Members only — most of the time

While most churches in the U.S. are open to everyone, the International Church of Cannabis is members only.

But it wasn't supposed to be that way. Apparently, the church was going to be open to the public but Colorado's pot laws state that all smoking must take place inside a private home or club.

So far, there are 1,400 members, but, according to the church's official website, curious non-members can stop by and take a smoke-free look at the church Thursday through Sunday between 1 and 3 p.m.

Stoner's paradise

Every Friday night, members can attend private cannabis services at the church. Whether you pray or not, it's up to you. The church, a non-profit, promotes the services as a "spiritual journey" that "may be accelerated" by smoking pot.

The traditional church pews are still in place, but there is another area of the church that is set up for members to hang out.

With ping-pong tables, board games, arcade games, and snacks, the Guardian calls it a "stoner's paradise."

So far, the International Church of Cannabis is a success story, although there are some people in Denver who think smoking weed inside a church is not a good thing. Dan Pabon, a member of Colorado's House of Representatives, is trying to get an amendment passed to ban the use of pot in churches. Pabon tells the New York Times the use of Marijuana in church "offends religious beliefs."
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