Members of the International Church of Cannabis call themselves Elevationists. They use what they call "the sacred flower" to accelerate self-discovery, and consider a member awakened when their cannabis experience becomes transcendental in nature. The faith claims no divine law and no unquestionable doctrine. It adheres to no specific dogma while following the Golden Rule. There is no formal hierarchy. Elevationism joins a small but growing number of modern religious movements that consider cannabis a sacrament, and it operates under constitutional protections for authentic religious belief. All ritual cannabis use occurs by invitation only; no consumption is permitted when the church is open to the public, and no marijuana is sold on the premises.

The building itself dates back more than a century in Denver's Washington Park neighborhood. In July 2015, a company co-owned by Steve Berke and his parents purchased the property intending to convert it into apartments. But Berke's colleagues and friends, who would become co-founding members of the church, convinced him to pursue a different vision. Renovations began in July 2016, and the result bears no resemblance to the structure's former life as a traditional church. Spanish artist Okuda San Miguel, who had previously painted abandoned churches in Spain and Morocco, covered the interior with colorful surrealist murals featuring geometric neon shapes and animal images. American artist Kenny Scharf painted the facade with graffiti-inspired works. The transformation was complete.

The church has evolved into something unexpected: a top-ten tourist attraction in Denver. The daily experience called "Beyond" draws visitors who may have no interest in cannabis at all. It is a guided meditation that uses cutting-edge lights and lasers, 3D-mapped to the mural painted across the vaulted ceiling. Visitors lie back and watch Okuda San Miguel's geometric animals come alive in synchronized light. Since May 2017, the church has also offered wedding services in what it describes as a cannabis-friendly environment. The institution operates as Elevation Ministries, a religious nonprofit organization that established a licensing and management agreement with Bang Digital Media, a company founded by Berke that specializes in cannabis industry marketing.

The International Church of Cannabis occupies an unusual position in American religious life. It exists because Colorado voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, yet it operates under restrictions that keep it distinct from the commercial cannabis industry. Public consumption remains banned in Colorado, so the church's sacramental use is private and by invitation. The building that was nearly converted into condominiums instead became a temple where art, meditation, and an ancient plant converge. Whether visitors come seeking spiritual awakening, visual spectacle, or simply curiosity about what a weed church looks like, they find the same thing: geometric neon animals watching from the ceiling, laser light playing across century-old walls, and the Golden Rule as the only commandment.