Christians and Marijuana

I am re-posting my opinions on Christians and marijuana.  This is to represent a view that is under supported.  That said, if you’re struggling or looking for a justification from sin and poor behavior, this is not it.

Christians and Marijuana

I’m gonna go out on a limb here, but I think it’s okay if Christians smoke marijuana.  The first thing I should do is introduce a clause into the premise, which is; if it were legal.  Romans 13:1-7 makes it pretty clear about Christian living in regards to the law.  With that out of the way, lets move. 

Then there’s the  ”altered states” problem.  There is no biblical passage that I can site for this problem first second, I think the issue of altered states is just code for drunkenness, which I’ll get into later.  We alter our state of mind all the time in ways that no one would ever argue with; when we eat a lot of sugar or see a scary or super sad movie or even by being in love. 

Which now leaves us with the drunkenness issue.  I agree that at times, especially when over done, marijuana can have effects resembling drunkenness.  The issue of drunkenness is clearly established in Ephesians 5:18.  However, I don’t think that this always needs to be the case.  Anyone who drinks or has smoked knows that 1) There is a fine line between enjoying a drink and being drunk, half a beer can push someone over the edge.  2)  There is a permissible amount of alcohol a person can consume where they’re “feelin’ good” but are definitely not drunk.  They can drive etc.  3) Smoking marijuana FOR SOME can also be like number 2.  The effects are felt but there is no loss of inhibitions, which is ultimately the issue.  I believe that someone can enjoy marijuana responsibly like someone could enjoy a glass of wine, and not lose their inhibitions. 

I think it’s hard to get around some of the cultural stereotypes that have been established.  Like one would assume that if I smoked marijuana that I also own a black light and have T-Shirts that have marijuana humour on them and I’m lazy and my life revolves around smoking pot.  This does not need to be the case.

 

Christians and Marijuana, Part 2

There are somthings that I omitted from the first post, for the sake of space.  I came across some anti-marijuana articles and posts after I wrote my post and I couldn’t help but write about it.  The article that best sums up the “typical” Christian view point can be found here, http://www.breakawaymag.com/AllTheRest/A000000066.cfm

The article begins by using a story of a drug addicted teen that goes to jail, a standard Christian scare tactic, “marijuana is a gateway drug”, that kind of thing.  In the article the author spouts drivel like, (1 Corinthians 6:19). Polluting the same body that the Holy Spirit lives in with cancer-causing, mind-altering drugs is definitely not God’s will for your life.  First off, this passage is only speaking of sexual sin and to use it this manner has dangerous legalistic implications.  Lets take the author’s reasoning further shall we, one shouldn’t eat Big Macs, or consume anything with aspartame, pork, candy, wine, Tylenol… you name it, it isn’t good for you.  Is staying away from all of these things what the bible had in Mind?  I don’t think so.  The next example is the “marijuana has more tar than cigarettes” scare tactic.  This ignores the obvious fact that no one, not even the worst of potheads, smoke 2 packs a day in weed.  Not to mention the filtering properties of the bong or better yet the vaporizer which is completely smokeless. 

The gateway drug thing is ridiculous as well.  1)  People can become addicted to anything, even church, food, aspirin, alcohol etc, none of which are of any issue for most Christians.  Anything can be abused, but a lot of things can be used responsibly too.  2)  Legality has a huge affect on drug and alcohol use.  When I was a non-Christian teen, I drank like a fish.  I became a Christian at 18 and became of age at 19 (in Canada) and drank a lot less.  To decriminalize or legalize marijuana would remove it’s mystique and intrigue.  I believe that marijuana should be regulated like alcohol to keep teens from it, because it can have permanent negative affects in a young persons developing years…but so can being a vegetarian.  3)  Lastly, marijuana does have documented medical benefits that cannot be ignored.