Do YOU think marijuana use is wrong?

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rr1213 said:
Is Marijuana use wrong?

Easy answer for American citizens. It is illegal in this country and, since we are called by God to obey all non-sinful laws of the government, yes it’s wrong. Now, what if the government were to legalize marijuana use? Then I think that it would depend on whether it is possible to use the drug without becoming intoxicated. Much comparison is made to alcohol, but we know from Scripture that it is not sinful to use alcohol in a moderate fashion, indeed Jesus himself did this. What is sinful is becoming intoxicated through alcohol. If marijuana was legal, and it was possible to use it without being intoxicated, then I think that it would not be sinful. If not, then yes it is sinful.
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This is the sticking point…that is, to what extent is recreational marijuana use pursued in order to purposefully reach what might objectively qualify as morally excessive mental impairment?

Mental impairment or even incapacitating relaxation would not morally disqualify truly medicinal uses of marijuana, of course, assuming these were legal. Many are the prescription bottles which carry the warning: Do Not Operate Heavy Machinery. Even small amounts of alcohol use, ones that would not qualify as drunkenness, are not appropriate if you are going to be doing surgery, for instance.

The question is, is there a responsible level of marijuana use in which the person is not essentially choosing to get incapacitated for fun? Do people choose to use marijuana at a level that is well below what would essentially be drunkenness? I don’t have that kind of experience, so I don’t know.
 
BLB_Oregon said:
This is the sticking point…that is, to what extent is recreational marijuana use pursued in order to purposefully reach what might objectively qualify as morally excessive mental impairment?

Mental impairment or even incapacitating relaxation would not morally disqualify truly medicinal uses of marijuana, of course, assuming these were legal. Many are the prescription bottles which carry the warning: Do Not Operate Heavy Machinery. Even small amounts of alcohol use, ones that would not qualify as drunkenness, are not appropriate if you are going to be doing surgery, for instance.

The question is, is there a responsible level of marijuana use in which the person is not essentially choosing to get incapacitated for fun? Do people choose to use marijuana at a level that is well below what would essentially be drunkenness? I don’t have that kind of experience, so I don’t know.
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I will tell you that like alcohol, the more marijuana you consume, the more effects you are going to feel. That is why, for example in marijuana magazines, they have ads which say, “Smoke Responsibly.” Thankfully, you can’t OD on pot, but a large amount is definitely a different experience. I have been through this one time, and I must say, it was one of the scariest moments in my life. Everything began to flash before my eyes, and I was with a few friends outside around the city. I knew from there, I would never use so much ever again.

Same goes with alcohol…you can have a good time with 1-3 beers for example, but the second you pass that up, you’re in for something else. Not to mention, unilke pot, you will be dealing with a hangover and or throwup.

With that being said, whenever I indulge in pot, I don’t get this drunkeness effect, or anything. It’s almost like caffeine in a way, but it’s a burst of energy, followed by a very relaxing state, which makes marijuana a popular sleep aid. If you sleep after taking pot, you will sleep almost instantly, and you are sure to get a good nights rest.
 
Hippie4Peace said:
If you sleep after taking pot, you will sleep almost instantly, and you are sure to get a good nights rest.
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Heard that one too many times, followed usually within months by ‘‘Wheres the spliff? Where is it seriously?! You best not have touched it I swear to God!!! I can’t sleep without a F*****G SPLIFF!!!’’

Lovely stuff.
 
LDNCatholic said:
Heard that one too many times, followed usually within months by ‘‘Wheres the spliff? Where is it seriously?! You best not have touched it I swear to God!!! I can’t sleep without a F*****G SPLIFF!!!’’

Lovely stuff.
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and how about sifting through the seeds, just to get one hit off the bong?
 
Bennie_P said:
and how about sifting through the seeds, just to get one hit off the bong?
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Good point. Wouldn’t know about that one though, most of the potheads I know spend all their money on the weed and paper itself, leaving no money to afford the luxury of a bong:rolleyes: But I do remember a few times my friends were in such a hurry to smoke shisha that they prepared the hookah wrong and inhaled charcoal…
 
Rach620 said:
OK, marijuana use might not technically kill brain cells. But that doesn’t mean that the larger problem still isn’t there.

Pot smokers are typically in some sort of altered state / stupor. The ‘pothead’ stereotype does have *some *origin in reality, you can’t deny that.

Again, are you going to respond to any of our specific comments, or continue to refer us to scientific ‘facts’ about marijuana use that have no bearing on whether drug use is morally licit from a Catholic standpoint? There are some important topics that have been brought up that you need to address.
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Okay, but the same claims can be made against alcohol. Yet the church permits responsible use of alcohol.

I would say the main moral issue of marijuana is its legality.
 
Hippie4Peace said:
NOT inhibit me from maintaining a 3.7 GPA while balancing work and volunteering at a local hospital.
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Yeah…in what subject…relative morality?..Evolutionary theology?..moral relativism?
 
OP, no one is telling you to stop smoking marijuana if thats what you want to do. But to think you’re going to change anyone’s mind on the subject is silly.

I believe there are more harmful effects to using it then anyone knows, even self proclaimed know it alls on the subject like yourself. I believe this because I have experienced it first hand. You have not had any bad effects from it yet, good for you. I hope you don’t. That doesn’t mean no one does nor that everyone should use it. It is still against the law, therefore those found with it should be punished. Since it is still against the law here, and impairs the mind when used, IMO it is a sin no matter how moderate use may be. You’re not going to get anything but debate here though, no ones going to say “Okay, I give up cause you’re right” You asked if we thought it was wrong, people have answered. So why continue to try to change our minds?
 
TimOliv said:
Okay, but the same claims can be made against alcohol. Yet the church permits responsible use of alcohol.

I would say the main moral issue of marijuana is its legality.
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The responsible use of alcohol should not alter the mental state of the person who is drinking. Having a glass of wine with dinner doesn’t put you into a stupor, and if it does, you should stop. The same guideline applies for all substances–when their consumption alters the mental state of the person, it’s not morally licit to continue to use them. Pot, alcohol, whatever.
 
Many conservatives in America think the war on pot is pointless and out of scale with the dangers of this drug. If getting a mild high from smoking a joint is immoral, then so is getting the warm fuzzies from having a beer on a Sunday afternoon. It’s use should not be promoted, it still has a detrimental effect on cognitive function for long term heavy users, but I think it’s one of those substances that should never have been made illegal in the first place (then we wouln’t have to deal with the issue of “sending the wrong message” by legalising it).
 
Alcohol is imbibed in for taste…Does anyone smoke Mary Jane for its taste only? Also People can get relaxed by Wine. But the only way Mary Jane works is if you get stoned…It is sorta like an all or none situation with POT.
 
Yes I think marijuana use is wrong. Drinking alcohol with the intent of getting drunk is wrong - a sin and needs to be confessed. Pot is used to get high (unless it’s used medically which in that case is different). Getting high is wrong -again a sin that needs to be confessed. I have never heard any one say lets all smoke a joint so we can sleep better.:yawn:
Your comment about having surgery done by doctor who had smoked pot making him more careful is hysterical -it reminds me of a friend back when I was in my twenties that said he drove better when he had been drinking because he would then try to be extra cautious and aware.:rolleyes:
Hippie since you know so many pot smokers how many of those pot smokers have never tried any other illegal drug? All the pot smokers I knew back in the day eventually went on to “bigger and better” things.
 
Hippie4Peace said:
I will tell you that like alcohol, the more marijuana you consume, the more effects you are going to feel.

You speak as if all MAC’s (mood altering chemicals) are created equally.
Same goes with alcohol…you can have a good time with 1-3 beers for example, but the second you pass that up, you’re in for something else. Not to mention, unilke pot, you will be dealing with a hangover and or throwup.
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TimOliv said:
Okay, but the same claims can be made against alcohol. Yet the church permits responsible use of alcohol.

I would say the main moral issue of marijuana is its legality.
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I have never seen a theological explanation but I have seen this from the last Pope:
“It is true that there is a distinct difference between the use of drugs and the use of alcohol: while a moderate use of the latter as a drink does not offend moral principles, only its abuse can be condemned; instead, the use of drugs is always unlawful because it implies an unjustified and unreasonable renunciation of thinking, desiring and acting as a free person” (, 19, VII, 1992, n. 1).
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SHOULD ‘SOFT’ DRUGS BE LEGALIZED?Pontifical Council for the Family
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childofmary1143 said:
If you want to know why marijuana is wrong read this article:

news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article2368994.ece
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WOW, a quote from that article: “He said: “The link between cannabis and psychosis is quite clear now; it wasn’t 10 years ago.”
Many medical specialists agree that the debate has changed. Robin Murray, professor of psychiatry at London’s Institute of Psychiatry, estimates that at least 25,000 of the 250,000 schizophrenics in the UK could have avoided the illness if they had not used cannabis.”
 
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