Author Topic: How Sinful is Marijuana? (Read 15515 times)

Belloc · « **Reply #15 on:** October 13, 2009, 02:23:54 PM »

Quote from: MrsZ

Marijuana is a mood altering substance. Like cigarettes and alcohol and other drugs.

Tehn we shuold ban those too, no? They can be a public threat to common good as well......why one and not the other?

Vladimir · « **Reply #16 on:** October 13, 2009, 02:28:11 PM »

Quote from: ChantCd

Yes, but unless you become a "farmer", how are you going to guarantee that the pot isn't laced with something dangerous?

It's an unacceptable risk, like skydiving.

Most pot that young people have access to is laced with poisons. The same with other drugs available to the general populace.

I suspect that real, natural marijuana is available, however it most likely costs much more, making in unavailable to your average teenager or college student.

Caraffa · « **Reply #17 on:** October 13, 2009, 02:30:04 PM »

Outside of governing law, marijuana may not be sinful per se, but it does act as a mind altering substance (harms brain cells) and its not really possible to smoke marijuana without getting high (unlike tobacco or alcohol).

I think we have to move outside of the question as to whether something is a sin and thus be the philosopher asking, which is better? Think of the type of company that you may attract. If we are looking for how far we can push it without committing sin, then we are setting ourselves up for trouble.

amariec · « **Reply #18 on:** October 13, 2009, 02:37:18 PM »

natural marijuana is available, and actually cheaper. things that are artifically grown to make it stronger are more expensive. last year, my first year in college, i smoked it for a few months. i am now 4 months clean. but when i used i was able to find limits. what made me mellow (one or two puffs) and high (three or more puffs).

this question just arose to me because at our homecoming last week i drank... and had no control over it. i was drunk and did not enjoy it. i thought that if u drank a little it would be okay since it was legal, but i was completely unhappy. i found it alot harder to moderate than smoking (im not a first time drinker or anything). i just don't see how one of these substances if used in MODERATION can be any better than the other. (more or less morally correct)

Matthew · « **Reply #19 on:** October 13, 2009, 02:41:43 PM »

Quote from: MrsZ

Marijuana is a mood altering substance. Like cigarettes and alcohol and other drugs. I don't think most people do just a little bit, at least not over a longer period of time.

You do not 'use' marijuana like you can with a glass of wine or beer with a meal.

I think it is often a gateway to other drugs .. it's associated with a self absorbed, hedonistic, lazy personality type. While there are exceptions, I doubt seriously, that someone who is a regular user of marijuana is a real hard working, go-getter type of personality.

Most people who use this drug find that most things become too much of an effort even if they still manage to get up every day for work. It's a real motivation killer.

I realize that some people can use it in "moderation" - but I think they are the exceptions and not the rule.

Much of this could be said for alcohol I guess. I don't know about legalizing it. But as long as it's against the law, then no you shouldn't break the law. If it's made legal, than I guess like everything else, you have to make that decision based on the moral law and other considerations, like being honest with it's effect on you.

But just because something's legal (ie., abortion) doesn't mean it's okay to do it.

Also, before anyone else feels compelled to argue with me about my observations of what marijuana does to people....I was raised by hippie drugged out parents. My father graduated from pot to heroin and I grew up in that type of home...drugged out, aimless, self hating and miserable. You may say that it was the heroin ultimately..and maybe it was. But he was also a user of pot from his teens and for many decades beyond. I have not known anyone who used pot consistantly that doesn't have some negative dimension to how they live their lives.

Most who function are doing so at a much lower level than they might have done otherwise.

Plus, when you kick in the faith factor here .... the habit of blunting life's problems with any substance, doesn't exactly make a case for growing spiritually and becoming more dependent upon God and trusting in Him to help you and guide you through life.

Jesus may have drunk wine with his meals (and the wine had much less alcohol in it back then), but do you think he would have smoked marijuana? And what if they legalize cocaine or heroin? Is that a good idea, too?

The fact is for all the talk about "Don't do drugs," I read that about 60% of Americans are on prescription medications. We are a nation of hypocrites and having access to more drugs legally isn't going to help any of us.

God Bless,
MrsZ

Very well thought-out post.

I agree -- we have tons of legal drugs which should be avoided completely, even though they are legal.

And the question "should we be running to substances to blunt our sufferings" is a good one.

The saints often abstained from something like alcohol, nevermind something more easily abused.

We do need to focus on how BEST to increase our chances for going to heaven (and avoiding hell) -- not just "avoiding grave sin" but doing everything "permissable" up to that point. This isn't Fisheaters.

Matthew

Vladimir · « **Reply #20 on:** October 13, 2009, 02:43:55 PM »

Matthew · « **Reply #21 on:** October 13, 2009, 02:45:09 PM »

And we can't legalize pot -- just think, it might lead to Tom Petty songs playing at teen "masses"!

:bob-marley:

sedetrad · « **Reply #22 on:** October 13, 2009, 02:47:30 PM »

amariec · « **Reply #23 on:** October 13, 2009, 02:50:23 PM »

Quote from: ChantCd

Marijuana is a mood altering
We do need to focus on how BEST to increase our chances for going to heaven (and avoiding hell) -- not just "avoiding grave sin" but doing everything "permissable" up to that point. This isn't Fisheaters.

This is a very good point and is exactly how i'm trying to guide my life. Which is why i brought up this question, nothing shall come before God, and i don't want to put anything or things that are sinful in front of him.

Caraffa · « **Reply #24 on:** October 13, 2009, 03:02:10 PM »

Quote from: amariec

this question just arose to me because at our homecoming last week i drank... and had no control over it. i was drunk and did not enjoy it. i thought that if u drank a little it would be okay since it was legal, but i was completely unhappy. i found it alot harder to moderate than smoking (im not a first time drinker or anything). i just don't see how one of these substances if used in MODERATION can be any better than the other. (more or less morally correct)

Amariec, I don't believe that I have given you a welcome, so welcome. :wave:

If you are having trouble controlling your alcohol consumption without getting drunk, then you may have to wean yourself off alcohol for a time. Not everyone is given the initial freedom or ability to drink alcoholic beverages. St. John the Baptist was not (St. Luke 1:15).

Elizabeth · « **Reply #25 on:** October 13, 2009, 04:44:17 PM »

Quote from: sedetrad

MrsZ,

I am sorry your experience has been negative but I have wealthy friends that are very successful who smoke pot regularly. It doesn't inhibit their success at all. I personally do not consume it as it is illegal. Everyone is different. Pot can be used in moderation. I have seen it done.

Andrew

100% agree. Anyway, the question is whether or not it is a sin.

I don't believe it is a sin, it is illegal and therefore not worth the trouble.

spouse of Jesus · « **Reply #26 on:** October 13, 2009, 07:54:45 PM »

Quote

I don't believe it is a sin, it is illegal and therefore not worth the trouble.

Aren't we bound to obey the authorities in all things that are not sinful?

Elizabeth · « **Reply #27 on:** October 13, 2009, 08:09:55 PM »

I think so, Spouse, but I don't 100% know. I thought St. Thomas says, "an unjust law is no law at all". But then, am I the one who gets to decide justice?

I think the laws are very unjust. Pot smokers getting all that mandatory prison time, while they let out child rapists who go free and kill and torture more children.

But don't worry, I am law-abiding.

amariec · « **Reply #28 on:** October 13, 2009, 09:37:44 PM »

Quote from: Elizabeth

I think so, Spouse, but I don't 100% know. I thought St. Thomas says, "an unjust law is no law at all". But then, am I the one who gets to decide justice?

I think the laws are very unjust. Pot smokers getting all that mandatory prison time, while they let out child rapists who go free and kill and torture more children.

This is a very good point and this what bothers me. I think the law is very unjust. But i see that breaking the law is a sin(is it a mortal sin? ) Yet i agree with " an unjust law is no law at all".

roscoe · « **Reply #29 on:** October 13, 2009, 10:19:55 PM »

Acc to the Catholic Bible, Gen 9:3 says(paraph)--- 'I have given you the birds and the sky and.....even the green herbs have I given you'-- it is not allowed to condemn MJ.

That is unless there is something I am unaware of in the NT that invalidates this Law. The Prot Bible uses the singular herb for some reason.