Is it a sin or sinful to smoke marijuana?

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thanks for that. We were actually talking about arrest, and not conviction. I shared that a ploiceman can arrest you, and probably will if you say, " oh, its ok officer, I only have a buzz" he may be released in the morning… but the officer can arrest him.
 
thanks for that. We were actually talking about arrest, and not conviction. I shared that a ploiceman can arrest you, and probably will if you say, " oh, its ok officer, I only have a buzz" he may be released in the morning… but the officer can arrest him.
True, we can but an in-custody arrest (one that results in going to jail, instead of just cite and release) is against our department policy for 1st-3rd offenses unless:
  1. out of state, or
  2. poor risk of court appearance (i.e. failure to appear in the past), or
  3. other criminal charges which you are holding them in jail for anyway, or
  4. no one sober to turn them over to.
Just a clarification on how it works in different departments, though I know some take everybody to jail even on a first offense.
 
True, we can but an in-custody arrest (one that results in going to jail, instead of just cite and release) is against our department policy for 1st-3rd offenses unless:
  1. out of state, or
  2. poor risk of court appearance (i.e. failure to appear in the past), or
  3. other criminal charges which you are holding them in jail for anyway, or
  4. no one sober to turn them over to.
Just a clarification on how it works in different departments, though I know some take everybody to jail even on a first offense.
Very interesting, thank you for the information. I will be speaking to my wife’s son who is a lawyer later in the day about all of this.

You mentioned an in-custody arrest that some officers take to jail on a first time offense. Wouldn’t that offense have to be sufficient enough to warrant an arrest?

Common sense would seem to indicate the offense must be sufficiently serious enough to warrant it. Otherwise, what is the purpose of our Bill of Rights against unlawful search and seizure?
 
Very interesting, thank you for the information. I will be speaking to my wife’s son who is a lawyer later in the day about all of this.

You mentioned an in-custody arrest that some officers take to jail on a first time offense. Wouldn’t that offense have to be sufficient enough to warrant an arrest?

Common sense would seem to indicate the offense must be sufficiently serious enough to warrant it. Otherwise, what is the purpose of our Bill of Rights against unlawful search and seizure?
If a law was broken (in this case DUI) that is reason enough to lock them up overnight. Illegal search and seizure simply requires a warrant , though a warrant is unnecessary in certain circumstances.
 
Very interesting, thank you for the information. I will be speaking to my wife’s son who is a lawyer later in the day about all of this.

You mentioned an in-custody arrest that some officers take to jail on a first time offense. Wouldn’t that offense have to be sufficient enough to warrant an arrest?

Common sense would seem to indicate the offense must be sufficiently serious enough to warrant it. Otherwise, what is the purpose of our Bill of Rights against unlawful search and seizure?
In most states, the primary condition “that must be met” is called “probable cause”. In Ohio, for instance, probable cause is achieved by a driver simply swerving across the center line on the roadway, a few times. At that time, an officer has the power to stop and investigate the cause(s) of the swerving.

Interestingly, in Ohio at least, you can swerve to the right and it is not probable cause. They don’t care that you could drive into a pond and kill yourself, but, when you cross the left line, you could take someone else with you! My understanding of Florida is that it is pretty much the same.

Now, earlier in my post I said, “that must be met”. That, my friends, is the policeman’s word against yours. I would suggest you remain respectful and charitable in your conversation with him/her. Because, even though you do not blow >.08, any amount is considered an amount that contributes to impairment. Your charge might not be Driving Under the Influence, it might become Wreckless Operation - Alcohol Related.

Either way, the charges are contra-survival. Try to get a job with a *Wreckless-Op - Alcohol Related *on your record that requires driving. Also, see what that does to your insurance premiums. Now, if one has a family that one must provide for, and one’s only real skill involves driving, we have “sin”. We have caused harm to others. We have damaged the family unit. We have potentially damaged the component we call “love” due to the disrespect such an act engenders.

Meerry Christmas and
God Bless,
jd
 
Rob, thanks for the comments. Some parts gave me a very good laugh. I also think it would be a sin to get stoned and listen to Britney Spears. Listening to Eric Clapton or Santana on the other hand … you can’t go wrong there.
I can’t listen to her at all! Clapton’s good, but I think Santana’s last album was one of his very best! 😃
I also am subject to random drug testing at anytime for my work, so I am definitely in agreement with you there as well.
👍 😃
 
thanks for that. We were actually talking about arrest, and not conviction. I shared that a ploiceman can arrest you, and probably will if you say, " oh, its ok officer, I only have a buzz" he may be released in the morning… but the officer can arrest him.
I spoke to two lawyers at dinner this evening. If a police officer ever stops you, it would be a very moronic act to volunteer that you have a “buzz”. The burden of proof for an alcoholic related offense would then be on the officer and not on you.

It reminds me of a story when I was hit by an 18 wheeler from behind one morning driving to work. After I was immobilized by the medics and put on the ambulance, an officer got on to ask me a few questions before they took me to the hospital. The first question he asked was “were you wearing your seatbelt?” I responded “is the word MORON on my forehead? Of course I was wearing it.” Even if I wasn’t (which wasn’t the case) I wasn’t going to volunteer that information.

The same is true when you are pulled over by an officer. It is not a smart idea to volunteer that you have a slight “buzz” and been drinking alcohol in any capacity.
 
It is a sin. Marijuana is harmful. Period. Growing it yourself is illegal. Period.

I have seen no good evidence from medical professionals that even so-called medical marijuana is good or useful.

Peace,
Ed
Friends who have smoked for 30 years or more seem to have tappered off a bit as they get older. Friends who drink alcohol for years most often develope a real problem.

Marijuana is the best medicine for nausea. This I know from personal experience.

I have also been told it is great for the symptoms of menopause, especially hot flashes.

If not used in moderation, I believe it affects the brain, mostly the memory. Marijuana is not as addictive as cigerettes and not nearly as destructive as alcohol.

I have to believe the drug companies are helping to keep it illegal as no other reason makes any sense. It would be best to use none of these products, but the way our society handles marijuana use is really crazy.:twocents:

This is just my experience. As a teenager in the 60’s, almost everyone I knew smoked at one time or another, many still smoke but are not addicted as seem to leave it alone for long periods of time.
 
I wonder about using pot, in that we rely on our Church to guide us- the truth is guarded within her, and she teaches us to not smoke pot. As a convert to catholicism- it is a treasure to have the guidance of the Church.

the last time I smoked pot, I was very convicted in my heart by the Holy Spirit- I went to confession. I was hanging out with my pot smoking buddy (who doesnt know the Lord) and there it was in front of me- so I did inhale.

Situations occur, and I don’t believe in judging- a hit off a joint could be venial- smoking daily It is mortal. That is what my priest told me. He also told me it may be a good idea to stop hanging out with that friend.

On an open forum such as this, I wouldnt condone it- who knows whose younger eyes could be reading here…

many valid points about the evils in drug trafficing have been made in this thread.

We are called to Holiness. In the examples of the Saints that went before us, I don’t believe any of them have claimed that pot helped them become Holy.

Leaving your sobermind behind is not what we are created for. The “buzz” is doing just that… because if you told a policeman that its ok, you just have a buzz… he would take you to jail whether or not you had a blood alcohol level of .04. they’d send you home the next day- but they’d still arrest you.

Take care and God Bless-
I agree with all you said. I just believe someones life should not be ruined because they got caught with a little pot and it can be used for medical reasons.
 
It is amazing how some dont bother to address the apologists on this very forum.

If Jkierman receives no answer back from his question to the apologist, the question’s answer is the same as the following links, as I had posted earlier.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=15353

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthrea…ighlight=Drugs

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthrea…ighlight=Drugs

Recreational use of marijuana is prohibited.

It will not matter what lawyers and policemen will tell you. You can gravely offend God by using drugs.
 
It is amazing how some dont bother to address the apologists on this very forum.

If Jkierman receives no answer back from his question to the apologist, the question’s answer is the same as the following links, as I had posted earlier.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=15353

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthrea…ighlight=Drugs

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthrea…ighlight=Drugs

Recreational use of marijuana is prohibited.

It will not matter what lawyers and policemen will tell you. You can gravely offend God by using drugs.
the first link is saying the same thing we have been arguing, it doesnt address counter arguments, the second two links wont come up, please post them if you care to. we need posting against our counter arguments, not repetition of the same arguments we believe fail as appropriate interpretations of scripture or CCC
 
the first link is saying the same thing we have been arguing, it doesnt address counter arguments, the second two links wont come up, please post them if you care to. we need posting against our counter arguments, not repetition of the same arguments we believe fail as appropriate interpretations of scripture or CCC
The only reason aout arguments “fail” is that you have already made up your minds and refuse to submit to what the CCC says.
 
I spoke to two lawyers at dinner this evening. If a police officer ever stops you, it would be a very moronic act to volunteer that you have a “buzz”. The burden of proof for an alcoholic related offense would then be on the officer and not on you.

It reminds me of a story when I was hit by an 18 wheeler from behind one morning driving to work. After I was immobilized by the medics and put on the ambulance, an officer got on to ask me a few questions before they took me to the hospital. The first question he asked was “were you wearing your seatbelt?” I responded “is the word MORON on my forehead? Of course I was wearing it.” Even if I wasn’t (which wasn’t the case) I wasn’t going to volunteer that information.

The same is true when you are pulled over by an officer. It is not a smart idea to volunteer that you have a slight “buzz” and been drinking alcohol in any capacity.
well, you talk about having a buzz as an ok thing- you’ve said it over and over again throughout this thread. yet when speaking to THE LAW, you say its moronic. If a buzz is ok now ( including alcohol or pot), why not then? because when push comes to shove, you know its wrong.
 
I agree with all you said. I just believe someones life should not be ruined because they got caught with a little pot and it can be used for medical reasons.
I know. I have friends who use pot. But of all my friends that use pot, none of them have a medical condition. Fact is, there are drugs that can be used in place of pot… and as our law reads, that is what we should yield too.

I find it a shame that pot carries such intense sentences. It’s sad- because truly, these people are not a threat to society.

But our SYSTEM wants them to fail. The prison system has become privatized and they use prisoners as slaves in the work force. And once a user of marijuana is busted, it is very hard for them to get out of it; because they fail their blood test and back to jail they go.

I think the penalties are v very harsh- considering the people I know who use. BUT, as a Catholic, it is ludicrous to say you can use marijuana and be in a state of grace.

Jesus said do not be a double minded man…
to be of one mind is to have one resolve…
SERVE HIM
 
I agree with all you said. I just believe someones life should not be ruined because they got caught with a little pot and it can be used for medical reasons.
Now I may be talking out of school but if I got caught with some weed, that was medication from a Dr, how could it ruin my Life? Just like when I go and pick up pain pills, if they are on me, and I have Id and a bottle saying they were given by a Dr they are legal are they not? Now I have never seen anyone getting weed by a Dr but I know it is given for nausea I believe. But there is one person on this site who does get if from a Dr. Now May I ask you do you get that at the Office or with script at the pharmacy. I really don’t know, and does it come in a script bag or what. Please Im not trying to be funny here.
 
The only reason aout arguments “fail” is that you have already made up your minds and refuse to submit to what the CCC says.
they fail on the basis of interpretation, not on my personal desire. they classify alcohol and tobacco as one thing and drugs as another, but as any chemist can tell you they are also drugs, if alcohol is allowable, then marijuana must be too, as marijuana is significantly less harmful than alcohol and is not addictive where nicotine and alcohol, are, i pointed this out previously, when i said there are almost no facilities for the treatment of problems with marijuana, because those said problems don’t exist, but there are AA chapters every couple of blocks. its very much a common sense argument.

you choose a literal interpretation of the CCC because to you, marijuana is some hard drug worse than alcohol or tobacco, yet the numbers don’t support that view. with many years of personal and professional experience in the area, i know the truth of the matter. pot is no big deal. most of society is now coming to that view from experience and it is now only a matter of time when it is fully decriminalized. further it is a matter of science as to the effects of marijuana and there effects relative to alcohol and tobacco, the church is not speaking infallibly on this matter.there is also some common sense problems with the local illictness of it, the whole morality by geography problem, there is room for disagreement. and i disagree.

so now that you can see that i have reason beyond my personal desire to smoke weed, i expect you can also now see why the opinion of someone who has no or limited experience in the matter is of little value. specifically because they cant judge the merits of the specific arguments, they can only parrot back what they read, regardless of context, as i can read myself what good is that kind of opinion?
 
Fact: Marijuana is illegal
Fact: As long as it is illegal, it cannot be used responsibly, because legal ramifiacations can have an advedrse effect on others, especially if they are in your care.
Fact: We are not abple to “pick and choose” which laws we pbey, because breaking any law not contrary to Church teaching is, in and of itself, at least a venial sin, and depending on its effects possibly grave.

Whether or not marijuana is justly or unjustly illegal is moot. We know that it is. This thread is not about whethor or not it should be legalized; it is about whether or not it is a sin. As long as it remains illegal it sinful. The arguments you are using would be suitible for arguing whether or not the use of alcohol or tobacco is sinful. Those are both legal substances. So my advice to you is start a new thread addressing the decriminalization of marijuana, because that, in essence, is what you are arguing. Again, marijuana use is siful because is is against the law, and we are to subject ourselves to the authoity of the government in all matters that do not contradict the teachings of the Church. Its all pretty basic, actually. That is, of course, unless you can find the Church teaching that commands us to bake our brains by smoking pot.
 
they fail on the basis of interpretation, not on my personal desire. they classify alcohol and tobacco as one thing and drugs as another, but as any chemist can tell you they are also drugs, if alcohol is allowable, then marijuana must be too, as marijuana is significantly less harmful than alcohol and is not addictive where nicotine and alcohol, are, i pointed this out previously, when i said there are almost no facilities for the treatment of problems with marijuana, because those said problems don’t exist, but there are AA chapters every couple of blocks. its very much a common sense argument.

you choose a literal interpretation of the CCC because to you, marijuana is some hard drug worse than alcohol or tobacco, yet the numbers don’t support that view. with many years of personal and professional experience in the area, i know the truth of the matter. pot is no big deal. most of society is now coming to that view from experience and it is now only a matter of time when it is fully decriminalized. further it is a matter of science as to the effects of marijuana and there effects relative to alcohol and tobacco, the church is not speaking infallibly on this matter.there is also some common sense problems with the local illictness of it, the whole morality by geography problem, there is room for disagreement. and i disagree.

so now that you can see that i have reason beyond my personal desire to smoke weed, i expect you can also now see why the opinion of someone who has no or limited experience in the matter is of little value. specifically because they cant judge the merits of the specific arguments, they can only parrot back what they read, regardless of context, as i can read myself what good is that kind of opinion?
Well I am going to tell you what my little friend. You get a hold of the Clevland Clinic and let them take a scan of your brain. And when they take a little scan of your brain they can tell you what that weed did to you brain cells. Its now official. They never knew before how harmfull weed was for you, now they know. Don’t believe me call the clinic. I know! Get a scan of someone that smokes weed and someone that does not. The proof is there. It slows down the cells in your brain, Hey don’t believe me find out for yourself. And if you think weed is bad, well try some coke next that another big one. No one is saying Alcohol is not a drug, anything that slows you down or speeds you up is drug. But more people can be social drinkers then social weed smokers. Please trust me I know. I have seen what weed can do to familys too. It just hasn’t been as popular as alcohol give it time. How many grandfather and etc smoked weed, not many but they did drink. Wait for another fifty years you will see.
 
Fact: Marijuana is illegal
in some jurisdictions, not in others,
Fact: As long as it is illegal, it cannot be used responsibly, because legal ramifiacations can have an advedrse effect on others, especially if they are in your care.
there is no mechanism that causes an inverse relationship between ‘legal’ and ‘responsible’. that is your opinion, nothing more

further it is not illegal everywhere. so legal ramifications may not matter. in fact for the average end user they dont at all, most places it is little more than a ticket.
Fact: We are not abple to “pick and choose” which laws we pbey, because breaking any law not contrary to Church teaching is, in and of itself, at least a venial sin, and depending on its effects possibly grave.
you dont seem to understand that this argument is only applicable to people in jurisdictions where it is illegal. common sense says that morality by geography is ridiculous. prima facia
Whether or not marijuana is justly or unjustly illegal is moot. We know that it is. This thread is not about whethor or not it should be legalized; it is about whether or not it is a sin. As long as it remains illegal it sinful.
more M by G, if its not illegal where i smoke than it is not a sin? apply some common sense to that argument.
The arguments you are using would be suitible for arguing whether or not the use of alcohol or tobacco is sinful. Those are both legal substances.
some places, alcohol is illegal in large swaths of the globe.
So my advice to you is start a new thread addressing the decriminalization of marijuana, because that, in essence, is what you are arguing.
you said i wasnt submitting to the CCC, thats what the defense was about there.
Again, marijuana use is siful because is is against the law, and we are to subject ourselves to the authoity of the government in all matters that do not contradict the teachings of the Church. Its all pretty basic, actually. That is, of course, unless you can find the Church teaching that commands us to bake our brains by smoking pot.
so your only argument is based on geography? so if i smoke it in a legal jurisdiction i am not sinning then right?

so your answer to the title question of the thread must be

“depends where you smoke it” is that incorrect?

morality by geography is ridiculous and denies the common sense G-d gave us.

an imaginary line on a map is of no moral consequence. you can keep repeating that argument, but it was wrong the first time, and its still wrong. it denies common sense.
 
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