Cannabis Use Not Sinful if Only Used to Feel Good, (but not to excess)?

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I am not sorry for doing any of this…is that wrong?.. Do I have to stop?
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Yes, that is sinful. Whether you ought stop or not ought to be obvious.
 
What if I’m speeding to help someone out? What if I’m speeding to get my pregnant wife to the hospital? What if I’m speeding to try to catch a murderer I just saw murder 3 people?
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If you reasonably believe the intent of the lawmaker was not to bind you to the speed limit in emergency situations, and there’s no time to seek council from higher authority, then as St. Thomas Aquinas teaches, “necessity knows no law.” Yet, you ought not to rationalize criminal behavior simply because there are some exceptions to the letter of the law in emergency situations.

See here:

Whether he who is under the law may act beside the letter of the law?
newadvent.org/summa/209606.htm
if the observance of the law according to the letter does not involve any sudden risk needing instant remedy, it is not competent for everyone to expound what is useful and what is not useful to the state: those alone can do this who are in authority, and who, on account of such like cases, have the power to dispense from the laws. If, however, the peril be so sudden as not to allow of the delay involved by referring the matter to authority, the mere necessity brings with it a dispensation, since necessity knows no law.
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maendem:
Conveniently sidestepping the issue of cannabis, I want to note that doing something illegal should not be equated with sinning, although they often dovetail. Illegal immigration is not a sin per se. Neither are hundreds of traffic and civic laws (parking the wrong way on the street). Conversely, numerous legal actions (abortion, etc.) ARE sinful. I think the distinction’s important.
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I disagree. It is a sin to disobey the lawful authority in any matter that they are not contradicting moral or natural law. Therefore, illegal immigration, traffic violations and smoking pot are all sins. The degree of sinfulness would, of course, depend on the amount of knowledge and consent the person has. What you may have meant is that these actions are not intrinsically evil. That is true.

Abortion is contrary to the natural and moral law so the fact that it is legal does not mitigate its sinfulness.
 
The issue in the poster’s quoted article was housemates smoking pot. If you live in a jurisdiction (like a college town) where pot smoking is illegal, everybody in the house is going to get charged with possession or use, depending on the quanitity, if somebody gets busted. That means the housemate has a definite interest in telling his roomies not to do this or any other illegal activity. Priest’s advice was naive at best.
 
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fix:
Actually I would think any violation of a just law is a sin. It may only be venial, but it is definitely a sin. All just laws come from the state which derives its authority from the creator.
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I agree. It is a sin if you go through a stop sign, drive recklessly and endanger the lives of others, including crossing over double lines, speeding, etc.

These are venial sins, but they truly are sins. You are right with the comment about just laws and this is supported by Scripture, since we are told to obey the civil authorities.

Maggie
(who had a bad experience this morning)
 
What, no poll? :eek:

Anyway, if pot is illegal, then as others have pointed out, this causes problems. But, saying for a moment that it is not illegal, what then? Assuming the heath risk profile is similar to alcohol (perhaps an unreasonable assumption; one doesn’t *smoke *alcohol), maybe we should ask, is it okay to drink some alcohol just to feel good?

I am not comfortable saying “just to feel good”. This has no reason behind it save to have a mental alteration for the sake of mental alteration. Morality generally does not acknowledge this as a reason. But if one needs a lift or a slow-down for some valid purpose, then morality is capable of seeing these as a reason.

On a large scale, you could take a drug to be able to hold your breath longer in order to swim father and go save a life even if there were some side effect to your bodily health. It is a matter of the reasonableness of accepting the side effect. Don’t accept a side effect of guaranteed blindness if all you are trying to achieve is to calm down for a bit.

Maggie, An auto accident?😦
 
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SamCA:
Criminal, certainly, but does that automatically make it immoral or sinful?

Take the example of alcohol. The standard position is that as long as drinking alcohol is not abused, it isn’t sinful, correct? But what, then, of the Prohibition era?

Was drinking a beer not a sin in 1918, a sin fron 1919 to 1933, and then not a sin again after that?

And if it remained not-sinful during the Prohibition era, then what is the logical difference with marijuana?
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The difference between the two situations is that of OBEDIENCE. If laws have been enacted and you disobey those laws by drinking alcohol where it is forbidden then you have sinned, not by drinking the alcohol but because you have freely chosen to break the law.

If for example you are living in Saudi Arabia where it is forbidden to drink alcohol, and you know that it is illegal to bring alcohol into that country, and you disobey the law within Saudi Arabia, wilfully by bringing in crates of beer and wine, then you have sinned in the eyes of God, because you have disobeyed the civil authorities of that country.

It is the same with Mary Jane. If you are living anywhere that forbids the use of this product, and you disobey that law, then you have sinned against God because of your lack of obedience, through the action you have taken. So yes it is a sin to smoke pot in an area where it is forbidden.

Maggie
 
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rheins2000:
Does this mean that I can’t speed anymore? I’m a pretty good Catholic…I go to confession once a month, but I speed everywhere. I speed up, down and all over the city, I roll through stop signs, don’t wear my seatbelt, dont signal each and every time I change lanes, speed up at yellow lights, Ive run a few lights when there’s noone around. I am not sorry for doing any of this…is that wrong?.. Do I have to stop? What if I’m speeding to Church? What if I’m speeding to help someone out? What if I’m speeding to get my pregnant wife to the hospital? What if I’m speeding to try to catch a murderer I just saw murder 3 people?

It is never permissable to do evil to obtain a greater good, so where does it end?

Please help me,

Greg “the speeder”
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Greg,

if you do all of those things then you are driving recklessly and endangering the lives of others. Yes, speeding is a sin, even if you are running late for Mass. I have that on the authority of a priest. One cannot run traffic lights, make an excuse and say that the car is wanting to go that fast, etc.

As shocking as it sounds, speeding and breaking those traffic rules is sinful and has to be confessed. :crying:

Maggie
 
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Pug:
What, no poll? :eek:

Anyway, if pot is illegal, then as others have pointed out, this causes problems. But, saying for a moment that it is not illegal, what then? Assuming the heath risk profile is similar to alcohol (perhaps an unreasonable assumption; one doesn’t *smoke *alcohol), maybe we should ask, is it okay to drink some alcohol just to feel good?

I am not comfortable saying “just to feel good”. This has no reason behind it save to have a mental alteration for the sake of mental alteration. Morality generally does not acknowledge this as a reason. But if one needs a lift or a slow-down for some valid purpose, then morality is capable of seeing these as a reason.

On a large scale, you could take a drug to be able to hold your breath longer in order to swim father and go save a life even if there were some side effect to your bodily health. It is a matter of the reasonableness of accepting the side effect. Don’t accept a side effect of guaranteed blindness if all you are trying to achieve is to calm down for a bit.

Maggie, An auto accident?😦
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Pug,

I am thankful to God that there was not an auto accident. I was a witness to what could have been a head on smash. I was on my way to Mass this morning and behind a slow truck. A speeding car went over the double lines in front of oncoming traffic. He was well over the speed limit. I felt totally shocked when I saw the car coming towards him (panic more likely), but the other driver swerved to avoid him. Thankfully the other driver was in complete control and did not have a single car accident because of the stupidity of that person.

I was shocked and it is difficult to explain why I felt that way. Something like that brings back certain memories of feelings that exist somewhere in my mind because of a near fatal car accident that occured when I was around 4 years old. I can remember something that happened prior to the accident and after I awoke in the hospital room, but I have no knowledge of the accident. However, everytime a car is approaching at too high a speed or looks like it is going to hit me on the left side, I panic.

Oh yes, I should add to this that a near miss head on is a reminder of another accident when we were hit from behind and my husband steered us clear of the oncoming bus.

Maggie
 
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WhiteDove:
I visit this ‘Ask Father’ site often, and have posted several questions, always receiving very orthodox and sensible advise. It seems to be a very conservative site.

Here is a link to a question. If you read Father’s answer, he says that cannabis is ok to use in moderation, just like alcohol. How surprising!

CLICK HERE for link

What say ye???
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Seems like a perfectly reasonable explanation to me

What is your problem with it?
 
Maggie,

I’m glad you are well. Those near misses stick in our heads. I still remember a child that darted out in front of my car on a 4 lane busy street. I screeched to a halt and the child placed his hands on my car’s hood for balance…that close. I understand why you remember near misses! The feelings around them are very strong (you mentioned shock). Maybe treat yourself to a bubble bath tonight, nice and soothing (or whatever you do to relax).

Our cars are dangerous. Best to drive them cautiously.:yup:
 
Praise God for the quick thinking and reflexes of the other driver. Where we just moved from we’d have people going left of center nearly every day. I got so tired of people actively trying to kill me every time I got in the car. The people there just wouldn’t see that it was a problem. Another thing they would do that was strange–they would never slow down or move over when an emergency vehicle (police, ambulance, or fire truck) went by, but they would come to a complete stop IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD for a funeral procession. I’m all for giving processions right of way in intersections, but completely blocking traffic (including emergency vehicles!) and causing accidents to stop for processions is simply ridiculous. I asked a local why on earth they would do that, and she said it was to respect the dead. I mentioned to her that if they showed the respect to the emergency vehicles it greatly reduced the number of funerals that were necessary, and she replied that she never thought of it like that.

I think that’s what has happened to a good portion of our society. They are too concerned about what makes them feel good now–“respecting” a funeral procession, or using an illegal substance–than thinking about what is better in the long run. What good is smoking a joint if delays you sharing in the Beatific Vision even for a second, or even sends you to Hell? No thank you!

In addition to all the wonderful reasons people listed above, secondhand marijuana smoke can give a “contact high” just as strong as the high from the person smoking the joint. The poster on the other thread is well within her rights to not be forced to get high by her roommates, regardless of the legality of the actual smoking itself. Personally, I’d give the roommates one warning–if they ever did it again, I’d call the police myself.
 
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MaggieOH:
Greg,

if you do all of those things then you are driving recklessly and endangering the lives of others. Yes, speeding is a sin, even if you are running late for Mass. I have that on the authority of a priest. One cannot run traffic lights, make an excuse and say that the car is wanting to go that fast, etc.

As shocking as it sounds, speeding and breaking those traffic rules is sinful and has to be confessed. :crying:

Maggie
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I really dont consider what I do driving recklessly…I am one of the safest drivers out there (no accidents in the 11 years since I turned 17). Just because I do 75 instead of 65, does not mean I am driving recklessly and endangering the lives of others. It is much more reckless to drive 45 than to keep up with traffic driving 75…one is illegal, the other is not. Why’s that?..so cities and counties can make a few more dollars…

Rolling through stop signs, when there is clearly no danger and noone around is not putting people’s lives in danger. In no way is it purposely disregarding other’s safety and endangering their welfare.

So, I’m not talking about doing 90 down an alley full of playing children(that’s a little out there, don’t we all think)…I’m talking about routinely, I drive in the fast line behind a line of 5000 cars doing 75.

It’s also illegal to jay walk…but what if the nearest crossing is like a mile down the road, and there is no danger in you just crossing the road right where you were? I just can’t see the Lord saying, well Greg, you were a good servant, but you jaywalked that one time and you weren’t sorry about it…into the 7th level of purgatory with you.

I know I’m probably wrong, and I will ask my confessor about it, but…man, I can’t see driving 45 mph for the rest of my life, and coming to a complete stop at every stop sign. A lot of the time I’m driving to avoid others getting angry at me, because I don’t like to see that. I know that’s their fault and not mine, but I think its a good thing to avoid getting on other people’s nerves and short tempers.
 
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rheins2000:
I really dont consider what I do driving recklessly…I am one of the safest drivers out there (no accidents in the 11 years since I turned 17). Just because I do 75 instead of 65, does not mean I am driving recklessly and endangering the lives of others. It is much more reckless to drive 45 than to keep up with traffic driving 75…one is illegal, the other is not. Why’s that?..so cities and counties can make a few more dollars…

Rolling through stop signs, when there is clearly no danger and noone around is not putting people’s lives in danger. In no way is it purposely disregarding other’s safety and endangering their welfare.

So, I’m not talking about doing 90 down an alley full of playing children(that’s a little out there, don’t we all think)…I’m talking about routinely, I drive in the fast line behind a line of 5000 cars doing 75.

It’s also illegal to jay walk…but what if the nearest crossing is like a mile down the road, and there is no danger in you just crossing the road right where you were? I just can’t see the Lord saying, well Greg, you were a good servant, but you jaywalked that one time and you weren’t sorry about it…into the 7th level of purgatory with you.

I know I’m probably wrong, and I will ask my confessor about it, but…man, I can’t see driving 45 mph for the rest of my life, and coming to a complete stop at every stop sign. A lot of the time I’m driving to avoid others getting angry at me, because I don’t like to see that. I know that’s their fault and not mine, but I think its a good thing to avoid getting on other people’s nerves and short tempers.
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I think you speak for many people. Unfortunately, your reasoning is no excuse to say sin is not sin. Is every action you mentioned a grave sin? No. My question is why do you think we have laws and why do you think you are exempt? I can see an argument that says certain laws should be changed for specific reasons, but the point is the laws are just and deliberately disobeying them is a sin.
 
IIRC there was a distinction between what Caesar required and what God required

Some immoral things are illegal
Some illegal things are immoral
but there are plenty of things that are one and not the other
 
A QUESTION FOR ALL.

I have sat down with a glass of wine and read the bible. Would you smoke pot and sit down and read the bible? I think not, because you would be high.

If you can’t read the bible you’re in a state that seperates you from God.

It’s a sin.
 
Well, I go over 70 all the time. You have to use your good judgement. Sometimes you need to go with traffic, or speed up to pass a truck. Also, I jaywalk if it’s safe. Plus, I’ll cross a crosswalk against a light if there is no traffic.

These things are extremely minor offenses. Also, there is an unwriiten rule that you are allowed at least 5 miles over the limit.

Pot, on the other hand, is very harmful to body, soul and spirit in my opinion. I used to smoke it quite a bit as a teenager and I fell back into a few times as an adult for brief periods of time. I don’t think it’s right to smoke ‘just to feel good’. It has negative effects on a person.

For one thing, I consider an ego enhancing drug. It feeds pride. It makes you feel like you are better than others. It’s very harmful spiritually. I was extremely suprprised that this priest would basically give the green light for recreational drug use. I suppose snorting a line a coke is okay too, just to feel good? He says in the answer that it’s not a sin to use drugs moderately, right?

I believe that he had an intemperate moment in responding hastily to this question. I think a better answer would be to advise to start looking for a better living situation.
 
Steve Andersen:
IIRC there was a distinction between what Caesar required and what God required

Some immoral things are illegal
Some illegal things are immoral
but there are plenty of things that are one and not the other
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There are morally neutral things, but intentionally disobeying a legitimate civil law is a sin. It may not be a mortal sin in every case, but it is sinful.
 
Michael C:
A QUESTION FOR ALL.

I have sat down with a glass of wine and read the bible. Would you smoke pot and sit down and read the bible? I think not, because you would be high.

If you can’t read the bible you’re in a state that seperates you from God.

It’s a sin.
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Ah, but what if you only took one hit when you were reading?

What if you drank a bottle of wine or two rather than just having a glass?

If it is your mental condition than is important then that just proves the priest’s comment that it is ok as long as it is not abused.

Like many other things in life
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fix:
There are morally neutral things, but intentionally disobeying a legitimate civil law is a sin. It may not be a mortal sin in every case, but it is sinful.
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But what/who determines legitimacy?

I’m guessing that you use that adjective to avoid the “abortion is legal” comeback.

But there appears to be a lot of possible gray areas there. When do you have the right to question a law?

Is just the fact that a law was enacted correctly within the laws of the land be enough for legitimacy?

Would that be enough to create a sin?

Would taking a drink in the USA in 1932 be a sin but ok in 1933?

I don’t think so

I know Christ said “give unto Caesar” when referring to a particularly odious law but I don’t think that God is loosing any sleep if any of His people are having a smoke on Friday night after a long hard week of paying their taxes and raising their kids
 
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