Catholic Church and medicinal marajuana?

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Lauds said:
Nothing sinful about smoking, no more than smoking a cigarette, what about alcohol, that kills brain cells, and other things we put into our bodies kill brain cells too or cause other maladies. Smoke a joint, You may like it:shrug:
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Intoxication is sinful, because it is a way of evading reality. Cigarettes do not cause intoxication. Alcohol (if in moderation) does not produce intoxication.

But there is no way you can smoke dope without aiming to be stoned.

It is not a serious sin, of course, and most of us have used it at one stage of life.

But ask yourself this, if you had a teenage child, or a younger brother or sister, would you encourage them to smoke hash? Probably not. Well the exact same reasons you would give them apply also to you.
 
Qoeleth said:
Intoxication is sinful, because it is a way of evading reality. Cigarettes do not cause intoxication. Alcohol (if in moderation) does not produce intoxication.

But there is no way you can smoke dope without aiming to be stoned.

It is not a serious sin, of course, and most of us have used it at one stage of life.

But ask yourself this, if you had a teenage child, or a younger brother or sister, would you encourage them to smoke hash? Probably not. Well the exact same reasons you would give them apply also to you.
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I am glad you agree it is not a serious sin, & no, I would not dare introduce it to my children or any other minor , but as an adult, I have smoked & never had a bad high, but there were times I drank, & was totally out of control, I never let dope control my life, Sometime though the way life is, we need an escape from reality. All of us need a break sometime, all of us!
 
Lauds said:
I do not agree with what you wrote , no grave offence at all , there is a lot of things contrary to moral law but most of us do them anyway
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CCC 2291 The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense. Clandestine production of and trafficking in drugs are scandalous practices. They constitute direct co-operation in evil, since they encourage people to practices gravely contrary to the moral law.

The above is not my wording. It is the official Church teaching which you must accept.
 
It may help to steer this discussion to know that not all physicians agree that medicinal marijuana is necessary or desirable.

Many eminent physicians believe that proper use of existing legal pain control drugs are sufficient, and that the issue is insufficient training into their use.
 
thistle said:
CCC 2291 The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense. Clandestine production of and trafficking in drugs are scandalous practices. They constitute direct co-operation in evil, since they encourage people to practices gravely contrary to the moral law.

The above is not my wording. It is the official Church teaching which you must accept.
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Alcohol is a drug. So, its use, according to this is a grave offense. Do you accept this? It is pretty black and white.
 
Qoeleth said:
Alcohol is a drug. So, its use, according to this is a grave offense. Do you accept this? It is pretty black and white.
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Don’t you actually know the Church teachings?
I guess you don’t read the Catechism either.
Tobacco and alcohol are a separate issue but if they are taken in excess then that is a sin of grave matter.

CCC 2290 The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others’ safety on the road, at sea, or in the air.
 
I believe that god put the meed of marajuana on this earth for just that purpose… plant it,tend it and watch t grow… You can grow totally chemical free…The thc is chrystal that glissens… cut it dry it and medication is ready… Just remenber it was all of your tax dollars that have funded the research…Alcohol should be totally banned… do the research drunk drivers verses marajuana driver accidents…
 
OraLabora said:
It may help to steer this discussion to know that not all physicians agree that medicinal marijuana is necessary or desirable.

Many eminent physicians believe that proper use of existing legal pain control drugs are sufficient, and that the issue is insufficient training into their use.
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It’s legal when it’s prescribed, so that’s not a good argument for that matter, regardless of it’s origin, natural or man made.

There is a lot of scandal and corruption going on with the pharmaceutical companies and hospitals, entirely since there is a lot of money at stake. Staff get many direct perks from the companies selling medication to them, ask any doctor hooked up to a lie detector, they’ll agree.
 
thistle said:
It is the official Church teaching which you must accept.
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…and that’s what drove so many away from catholicism…

Also what do you think happened at Caina with the 120-180 gallons of grade A wine the Christ supposedly made? I doubt there were many uninebriated people there by the end.
 
prodigalson12 said:
It’s legal when it’s prescribed, so that’s not a good argument for that matter, regardless of it’s origin, natural or man made.
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In many jurisdictions it remains either illegal or a gray area, or it is legal to “prescribe” it, but it must be obtained from illicit sources because there is no legal manufacturer.
 
"It is the official Church teaching which you must accept.
…and that’s what drove so many away from catholicism…"

WOW! Really?
Does That Mean We Shouldn’t Accept Official Church Teaching???
Are We Supposed To Cave Into What The People Want To Do As To What God Wants Us To Do?

**Jesus Let Many Turn Away From His Teaching Of “My Body Is Real Food”
Many Turned Away & Followed Him NO More! Should He Have Changed His Teaching Just Not To Lose Those People???

So, If It Is The Official Church Teaching Then Just Accept The Truth!
Unless You Want To Protest The Truth, Than You Are Just Another Protestant/Heretic! .**
 
Perusing these posts, I guess I should not be surprised at some of the characters that a discussion on marijuana attracts… 🤷

Onto the question…

The basis for making a moral decision on the use of medicinal marijuana is the same as any moral decision.
  1. Intent: Why am I using it? If the intent is to correct a ‘defect’ in normal bodily function, then the intent is moral. There may be some cases of the use of medicinal marijuana correcting defects (perhaps glaucoma?).
  2. Act: Is the act itself immoral? Buring the dried remains of a plant and inhaling the smoke is probably not an inherently immoral act.
  3. Circumstances: In this situation, the legality of the act falls into play. If the act has been determined to be illegal, then in most cases, the act is immoral. There are obviously exceptions to this generality, but I don’t think any of the obvious ones fit in this situation.
Therefore: IF: 1. The reasonable intent of the drug is to correct a medical defect, or restore normally bodily function, and 2. The procurement and use of the drug can be done legally in the jursidiction of the concerned, then the act can be considered a moral act, not against the will of God, as taught by the Church.

Dan Grelinger
 
First and foremost: if it’s of benefit for medical reasons then there is no sin.
Secondly on the issue of just smoking marijuana: it’s sinful as of now because it is against the law and in this instance the law is legitimate because it causes no harm to follow it. It would be a venial sin just like smoking cigarettes can be a venial sin because it causes harm to our bodies. After it has become a habit however, the culpability is lessened.

It’s never the use of something created by God, but the misuse, or abuse of that something. It’s not sinful to drink alchohol unless we are drunkards. “A little wine is good for the stomachs sake.” However, drunkness is absolutely a sin (for a lot of reasons).

If marijuana were legal, then the best course would be to eat it as smoking is harmful to the body.

By the way, whoever said that marijuana kills brain cells or causes brain damage is listening to propoganda.

Peter
 
There are ways to take marijuana without smoking or needles, so that would probably be OK because you wouldn’t be harming your body, and medical marijuana is taken in prescribed amounts, so it probably wouldn’t be harmful to your mind, either. Mary Jane is probably fine if it’s for medical use, but I DON’T speak for the Church.
 
lufty said:
Are there any Church rulings, or thoughts on the Catholic Church or Catholics and medicinal marijuana? Just wondering as I have not seen this come up yet.
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I am Catholic and may be starting the medical marijuana program. I have a severe back injury, degenerative disc disease, fibromyalgia, sciatica, TMJ disorder and more.

I live in Oregon, which is one of the few states with a coherent medical marijuana plan. For people who are terminally ill or those who are in chronic pain, marijuana is an excellent medication. It’s natural; it can ease pain, it can increase the appetite of those who are nauseous, etc.

I don’t know if I am going to stay in Oregon - I may move to a warmer climate. But I have the forms and I have a physician who has told me he will approve the application for the program.

Currently I take opiates. I have been taking opiates for so long that I have brain damage, mostly in my memory and language centers. I also get stupid. I’ve decreased my intake of opiates and since I have done that my physician has noticed an increase in my ability to comprehend and communicate.

In the past I was given numerous pain meds, most of which contained tylenol. Because I’ve been on tylenol so long I can never take it again. I most likely have the beginnings of liver damage, which tylenol is responsible for.

I’ve read some of the posts here and I’m sorry to see that this thread is being used to promote the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. That’s not what this thread is supposed to be about. This thread is about medical marijuana and Catholics. If people want to discuss recreational use they should start another thread. This isn’t about fun - this is about people, like myself, who experience chronic, debilitating pain and nausea, or are terminally ill with chronic, debilitating pain and nausea (and I haven’t even brought up glaucoma).

I’ve never heard of the Church even getting involved in this controversy. If my physician agrees to prescribe marijuana for me as a medication to help ease my pain, I don’t see why the Church would have any problem with that. It’s a medication. I can’t comprehend why people would have a problem with my taking a medication which can help me function in a more productive way than I am able to do now.
 
peter_banks said:
First and foremost: if it’s of benefit for medical reasons then there is no sin.
Secondly on the issue of just smoking marijuana: it’s sinful as of now because it is against the law and in this instance the law is legitimate because it causes no harm to follow it. It would be a venial sin just like smoking cigarettes can be a venial sin because it causes harm to our bodies. After it has become a habit however, the culpability is lessened.

It’s never the use of something created by God, but the misuse, or abuse of that something. It’s not sinful to drink alchohol unless we are drunkards. “A little wine is good for the stomachs sake.” However, drunkness is absolutely a sin (for a lot of reasons).

If marijuana were legal, then the best course would be to eat it as smoking is harmful to the body.

By the way, whoever said that marijuana kills brain cells or causes brain damage is listening to propoganda.

There is a legality problem with the use of medical marijuana. As far as I know, the federal government still considers it a crime, although individual states have legalized this use. So I can obey my state law but will be committing a federal crime. I know that if I go on this program the federal government is not going to be coming after me - they are more concerned with the people who supply and/or prescribe marijuana. But I do wonder if the Church has made a statement regarding the discrepancy between federal and state law.

Peter
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Lauds said:
Nothing sinful about smoking, no more than smoking a cigarette, what about alcohol, that kills brain cells, and other things we put into our bodies kill brain cells too or cause other maladies. Smoke a joint, You may like it:shrug:
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May God have mercy on your soul. You just told someone to sin, so also would be responsible for leading them off. I don’t understand how you can consider that okay for a roman catholic, unless you aren’t one.

Me thinks thou dost protest too much.
Qoeleth said:
I am merely pointing out a logical inconsistency, form the point of view of moral theology, in separating alcohol from other intoxicants.

What is the principle underlying the different policy for alcohol and other intoxicants? If it is that alcohol, in moderation, does not produce drunkeness, I am happy to accept this. However, according to this line of reasoning, to take alcohol in quantities causing drunkeness is equally rephrensible as being stoned from hashish.
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Yes, it’s a mortal sin. Also, there is no real medical benefit of marijuana. Many doctors agree in studies also. There are a whole lot of negative effects. If a drug is just taken to make you goofy, it’s not a drug to help in pain. They need to get some pain meds to take care of serious pain.
 
Highwayhound said:
I agree.

While bicycling through San Francisco last year I saw a man sitting on the sidewalk in the nook of a building. I asked how he was doing. His first response was, “Do you have any weed?” My answer was ‘no’ and then he had nothing else to say. I could have offered him food or drink, but he was not interested. His primary goal in life was to get some weed. This man was ruined.

If a person can benefit from the chemicals in the marijuana plant that is one thing. However that benefit should not be used as a pretext to open up a can of worms.

God bless
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But the same things happens, with greater frequency even, with alcohol. Does that mean we should ban any use of alcohol?
 
DihydrogenOxide said:
May God have mercy on your soul. You just told someone to sin, so also would be responsible for leading them off. I don’t understand how you can consider that okay for a roman catholic, unless you aren’t one.

Me thinks thou dost protest too much.

Yes, it’s a mortal sin. Also, there is no real medical benefit of marijuana. Many doctors agree in studies also. There are a whole lot of negative effects. If a drug is just taken to make you goofy, it’s not a drug to help in pain. They need to get some pain meds to take care of serious pain.
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Such as opiates? Opiates are far more harmful to the body, and WAY more habit forming than THC. You can OD on opiates, you can not OD with THC.

I think if they can find a pain killer that gets us away from opiates, I say do it and do it NOW. I speak from experience. My mom is heavly dependant on opiates and it has just about ruined what bit of life she has left. You don’t see too many “potheads” facing the challenges as some addicted to prescription medication.

I say legalize, in all cases, NOW. It will free up prisons and taxpayer dollars for real criminals (rather than potheads), provide revenue for treatment centers for people with substance problems (you know, so they can go to GOOD treatment centers and get REAL help), and it can be regulated to get it OUT of the hands of minors. It’s WAY easier for a minor to get weed than it is to get alcohol. Anyone who has been through a pubic high school in the last 20 years knows this. The reason? Alcohol (although more dangerous to your body and mind) is legal, and marijuana is not. Therefore, alcohol can be more closely regulated.
 
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