Marijuana?

[LovelyU]

What are your views as a Christian on marijuana?

I know it has been outlawed by many governments though medical research has found there are a lot of good uses for the natural herb/weed. I watched a documentary by Dr Sanjay Gupta and there were some really great benefits for it. I also saw a documentary with some well off American housewives who use it rather than a taking daily a large range of prescribed drugs, it seemed to help them so much more than all of the prescription stuff they would have been taking.

Anyway, just thought it might be an interesting topic to hear of others views of the plant. I know it has a bad name, but it is also a medically prescribed drug. I know a lot of people who smoke it and they're not terrible, thieving, gang related or stupid, in fact some are extremely smart and have very respectable jobs and are very nice people. I don't think I would use it recreationally but if I had some of the medical problems some of the people in the documentary did I think being a natural remedy that I would definitely consider it.

 

[Ugly]

This comes up every 3-6 months. Usually nothing but a debate. Bottom line is, if it's illegal it's illegal and as a Christian you shouldn't be involved in it.
Besides, though there may be some benefits to it, the vast majority of people using it aren't using it for health but rather recreational use and to hide from their problems. Which is psychologically and spiritually detrimental.

 

[posthuman]

my feeling is that there are 4 biblical precepts to weigh here:

• God gave every seed-bearing plant for food (Genesis 1:29)
• it's not what goes into your mouth, but what comes out of it that defiles you; everything God created is good and nothing should be rejected that can be received with thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:4, Matthew 15:11)
• we ought to respect the laws of the authorities that God has set in place (Romans 13:1-11)
• sobriety is to be cultivated rather than drunkenness (Hosea 4:11, 1 Peter 4:7-9, 5:8, 1 Timothy 3:8, etc)

loosely put, anything that alters the body's chemistry is a "drug" and can be either used with wisdom or misused in gluttony.

the law in this country is becoming less clear about this plant with a few states recently OK'ing it for recreational use, but at a federal level it's still taboo, and even though this is probably due more to political reasons (the private prison industry would suffer serious economic trouble if we stopped jailing non-violent drug offenders) than medical ones, we ought to respect the law.

the principles set down in the epistles concerning eating non-kosher meat or meat 'sacrificed to idols' i think applies here, even if it were to be nationally legalized -- we should not use our liberty to hurt the conscience of the "weak brother" that thinks some food is sinful, but those not having that understanding should not impose a "legalism" on the freedom of the others.


personally i'd rather deal with someone who smokes pot than a meth-head or a drunk in almost any situation, i'd rather use a natural medicine than any fabricated pill, and from what i've read, it's clear that production of paper & other fibers from hemp is far more environmentally & economically responsible than from wood pulp. like i mentioned about the prison industry, too, i'd rather see the billions of dollars spent on the failed drug war and the time spent by law enforcement on the hundreds of thousands of marijuana-related arrests per year put to better use.

i guess my stance is that i'd respect the current law but i'm agreeable to voting to change it. if the law were changed, then like i feel about alcohol, an occasional beer is good for your kidneys & alcohol can be a very effective muscle relaxant and pain mediator, but obviously abusing it is foolish and dangerous. i wouldn't condemn anyone over it & i wouldn't recommend it for "social" or purely "recreational" use.

 

[p_rehbein]

QUOTE FROM POSTHUMAN........

[personally i'd rather deal with someone who smokes pot than a meth-head or a drunk in almost any situation, ]

Well, yeah! 'cause if they start to act agitated or aggressive, just toss 'em a bag of Tostitos........they'll calm right down.

 

[rainin]

QUOTE FROM POSTHUMAN........

[personally i'd rather deal with someone who smokes pot than a meth-head or a drunk in almost any situation, ]

Well, yeah! 'cause if they start to act agitated or aggressive, just toss 'em a bag of Tostitos........they'll calm right down.

Now, that's just pure silliness! Thanks for a laugh to start my day.

 

[breno785au]

In all my years as a pot smoker I never once came across anyone being aggressive whilst stoned. Stop and think for a moment, how would it look if you had your mouth over a bong and Jesus rocked up. Or would you do it in front of your parents? If not then why in front of God?
Lol you get my point...

 

[p_rehbein]

In all my years as a pot smoker I never once came across anyone being aggressive whilst stoned. Stop and think for a moment, how would it look if you had your mouth over a bong and Jesus rocked up. Or would you do it in front of your parents? If not then why in front of God?
Lol you get my point...

Organically "stoned" maybe.........however few people understand that when they go out on the street and buy pot.......they are buying far more than pot.............few people understand the "curing process." A whole lot of how pot effects folks depends on what it is "cut" with during the curing process.........sometimes very dangerous drugs are added to it, and folks don't even know what they are ingesting........inhaling.

 

[p_rehbein]

Some info you might want to consider can be found here........

THE MEDICAL DANGERS OF MARIJUANA USE

 

[secularhermit]

What are your views as a Christian on marijuana?

I know it has been outlawed by many governments though medical research has found there are a lot of good uses for the natural herb/weed. I watched a documentary by Dr Sanjay Gupta and there were some really great benefits for it. I also saw a documentary with some well off American housewives who use it rather than a taking daily a large range of prescribed drugs, it seemed to help them so much more than all of the prescription stuff they would have been taking.

Anyway, just thought it might be an interesting topic to hear of others views of the plant. I know it has a bad name, but it is also a medically prescribed drug. I know a lot of people who smoke it and they're not terrible, thieving, gang related or stupid, in fact some are extremely smart and have very respectable jobs and are very nice people. I don't think I would use it recreationally but if I had some of the medical problems some of the people in the documentary did I think being a natural remedy that I would definitely consider it.

Any drug for MEDICAL treatment is good (or could be good) but I HAVE SEEN so many people in front of my mother's window getting SELFMEDICATED that I hate how it's smell. I have seen how taxi motorcyclist inhale its "perfume" to drive like demons in Petare, around Caracas. If legalize here, I don know, but MANY BECAME their "Doctors" with daily and REGULAR self medication.

That's beyond DEPENDENCY!

 

[flight316]

Marijuana, grown naturally and not laced with anything else seems to be ok. It bears a seed. Many people that you wouldn't think smoke it do smoke it. You just don't know it. The government and the law made it illegal but they smoke it just as much as anyone else.

 

[p_rehbein]

Marijuana, grown naturally and not laced with anything else seems to be ok. It bears a seed. Many people that you wouldn't think smoke it do smoke it. You just don't know it. The government and the law made it illegal but they smoke it just as much as anyone else.

So does that make breaking the law ok? Because "they do it too?" Just wondering..............Why is ingesting/inhaling a "mind altering" substance ok? Seems an odd belief for a Christian.............

 

[breno785au]

Yes, its called lacing over here

 

[LovelyU]

Marijuana, grown naturally and not laced with anything else seems to be ok. It bears a seed. Many people that you wouldn't think smoke it do smoke it. You just don't know it. The government and the law made it illegal but they smoke it just as much as anyone else.

I think every government employee should be tested on a regular basis because it's not fair that they introduce this for employees everywhere else and yet who drug tests them? And they're the ones running our country and spending tax payers money. It should be a requirement. But I think they should create a drug test to tell if you are under the influence during work hours ONLY.

We have lots of drug testing here for people who work or to get a lot of jobs you have to be drug tested first, however I don't think this is fair because there are traces of the drugs still in your system even though you are sober at work, maybe you got high in the weekend and I don't think it should be fair for employers to be able to decide what you do in your spare time in ANY way unless they are going to be paying you for your time off work too. I think everyone should have a right to their own recreational choices.

Someone who is a drug user is not necessarily a worse employee than someone who isn't. I've known a lot of people who don't use any drugs and they're terrible employees, but also who do use drugs who are terrible employees and I also know a lot who don't use and who do use who are great employees. So I don't know, I wouldn't discriminate because of what someone does in their spare time, I think for me it would depend on how they work and their work ethics and how they are as a person.

 

[LovelyU]

In saying that though, I think it would apply for marijuana only lol. I don't think I would like someone who regularly smokes meth or any other hard drugs to work for me it may be too risky? So I don't know? I don't care if they smoke weed I think because it's natural and a natural herb as long as it's not chemically enhanced. Maybe they should have drug testing for manufactured or any chemically enhanced/altered drugs??? Not something you pick off a tree, roll it up and smoke or eat it.

 

[alexis]

Anything that is addictive has the potential to damage you.
Drugs for medical purposes when used properly have a place.

As for this particular drug, it not only alters judgement and perception but can lead to lethargic behavior. Non of which according to Biblical text is a positive. Plus it's addictive and in most places illegal. Addiction can lead to placing your addiction before everything.

My opinion is simply my opinion. Most my peers say marijuana is not bad, usually by comparing it to other drugs that are worse. Fact is if you want to do drugs do them but don't lie and justify it.
I can not see in any way The Bible teaching drug use is okay. As for the seeds of the earth comment, poison oak has seeds smoke that and see what you get. God did not intend for His truths to be used as justification for our weaknesses and short comings.

I suspect that many will disagree with me on this... At school and with peers it's a constant disagreance.

My one question is what is the benefit of recreational drug use? Either way this kid isn't purposefully harming herself.

 

[LovelyU]

Anything that is addictive has the potential to damage you.
Drugs for medical purposes when used properly have a place.

As for this particular drug, it not only alters judgement and perception but can lead to lethargic behavior. Non of which according to Biblical text is a positive. Plus it's addictive and in most places illegal. Addiction can lead to placing your addiction before everything.

My opinion is simply my opinion. Most my peers say marijuana is not bad, usually by comparing it to other drugs that are worse. Fact is if you want to do drugs do them but don't lie and justify it.
I can not see in any way The Bible teaching drug use is okay. As for the seeds of the earth comment, poison oak has seeds smoke that and see what you get. God did not intend for His truths to be used as justification for our weaknesses and short comings.

I suspect that many will disagree with me on this... At school and with peers it's a constant disagreance.

My one question is what is the benefit of recreational drug use? Either way this kid isn't purposefully harming herself.

I think you have some very valid points here and it sounds like you have great maturity. I love the point you made about the poison Oak seeds Personally I think the plant is misused and should only be used medically. I'm not sure what the benefits would be for the recreational users? maybe some recreational users could elaborate on this for us here...

 

[Heartsearcher]

honestly cancer patients have had to use it, i used it once and all it did was make me chill.

 

[jimmydiggs]

A Christian should have no part of it. It is pure hedonism.

 

[SparkleEyes]

I am leaning towards supporting the medical use of marijuana. True medical use - not some pot head wanting to use it to get high. Keeping its use limited to those with legitimate needs, however, would probably be difficult.

 

[p_rehbein]

I do not know this for a fact.........so.........but, I am told that everywhere there is a shop that sells Medical Marijuana, right across the street you will find......



Coincidence? I think not!