Is it a sin to smoke marijuana or any other recreational drugs if it is legal where you live?

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First, a reminder (which you may already know): the legality of an act plays no part in it’s morality. Abortion is exhibit A. Just thought it was worth saying that up front.

Secondly, smoking marijuana is akin to excessive drinking, which is sinful. The typical purpose of both is to achieve an altered state of consciousness, of varying degrees. Anything that does this also weakens the virtues which defend against sins. Hence drunkenness and drug use are inherently sinful.

It can also be argued that anything you do that jeopardizes your health is sinful, a sin against your body. So some contend that smoking cigarettes is, in fact, sinful.
 
Alcohol is a drink that has its roots in the preservative qualities of the ethanol it contains. There was no other way to preserve drinks without refrigeration in the ancient world. It was used as the primary drink to accompany a meal. Marijuana is smoked to get stoned. It cannot wash food down. Since our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, it is an abuse to get either purposefully drunk or stoned. It seems that what we lack in the Spirit, we try to make up for in liquor or weed. That is an indicator of a spiritual problem.
 
Depends what effect they have on you, from what I here all those kind of drugs are deliberately used to get wasted which is what would make them a mortal sin, with regards to alcohol drinking it is ok while getting drunk out of your mind by over consuming is actually also mortal sin.
 
SteveGC said:
First, a reminder (which you may already know): the legality of an act plays no part in it’s morality. .
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Not true. Certain things are immoral because they are illegal. It is of course true that just because something is legal it is not always moral. However, it is not correct that legality “plays no part” in assessing morality.
 
The Church only specifies that it is immoral if it IS illegal in your state or nation. I for one, was very happy my state, legalized it for medicinal purposes. I know someone who has benefitted from this tremendously. Eventually, hopefully in my life time, it will be made legal. There is really no good argument, to keep this substance illegal, and Alchohol legal. Alchohol is a far worse substance, and causes many more problems. I personally do not smoke. But from a law enforcement view, I would love to reserve Jail space for more deserving folk. Now on the other hand, the person smoking gets into a car and decides they are gonna drive stoned?..Well, lets just say, that they should increase the penalties for driving under the influence across the board. But as long as they are doing it privately, and not harming themselves or others? Legalize it. 👍
 
CuriousInIL said:
Not true. Certain things are immoral because they are illegal. It is of course true that just because something is legal it is not always moral. However, it is not correct that legality “plays no part” in assessing morality.
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Perhaps I wasn’t clear; using the term “legality” was misleading. Indeed, my intent was to emphasize that legal does not determine moral. Illegal does play some part in morality, as you say. Thanks for helping me be clear.
benidict said:
But as long as they are doing it privately, and not harming themselves or others? Legalize it. 👍
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Don’t really have an opinion about the legality of marijuana, but as I mentioned before, I would contend that there IS harm done to the one using marijuana - perhaps not physical harm, but certainly spiritual harm.
 
SteveGC said:
Perhaps I wasn’t clear; using the term “legality” was misleading. Indeed, my intent was to emphasize that legal does not determine moral. Illegal does play some part in morality, as you say. Thanks for helping me be clear.

Don’t really have an opinion about the legality of marijuana, but as I mentioned before, I would contend that there IS harm done to the one using marijuana - perhaps not physical harm, but certainly spiritual harm.
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If it is habitual, and over done, I can agree that would cause spiritual harm. You can say the same about Alchohol can you not? 🙂
 
benidict said:
If it is habitual, and over done, I can agree that would cause spiritual harm. You can say the same about Alchohol can you not? 🙂
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Alcohol can be habitual while remaining harmless - assuming it is not over done. Not so sure the same can be said about marijuana. Certainly if over done, it is harmful. But I’m not sure it needs to be habitual to be harmful.

Any time you alter your perception, you invite actions on temptations. Inhibitions are lowered; clear, rational thinking deteriorates; the occasion of sin escalates. I never experimented with drugs (including marijuana), thus I am admittedly not the best to weigh in on this. But my understanding is that a “casual” marijuana smoker does not typically engage in smoking without experiencing something akin to drunkenness. Perhaps you know more about this. Are typical marijuana users just “relaxing” with a few puffs here and there, with very little affect on perception, much like a person who engages in one or two small drinks?
 
I do believe it is, because gettiing intoxicated is a sin. The average adult can ingest alcoholic beverages in moderation without intending to or becoming intoxicated, whereas one ingests marijuana or other such substances for the sole purpose of becoming intoxicated. The only non-sinful use of of marijuana would be for legitimate medical purposes.
 
SteveGC said:
Alcohol can be habitual while remaining harmless - assuming it is not over done. Not so sure the same can be said about marijuana. Certainly if over done, it is harmful. But I’m not sure it needs to be habitual to be harmful.

Any time you alter your perception, you invite actions on temptations. Inhibitions are lowered; clear, rational thinking deteriorates; the occasion of sin escalates. I never experimented with drugs (including marijuana), thus I am admittedly not the best to weigh in on this. But my understanding is that a “casual” marijuana smoker does not typically engage in smoking without experiencing something akin to drunkenness. Perhaps you know more about this. Are typical marijuana users just “relaxing” with a few puffs here and there, with very little affect on perception, much like a person who engages in one or two small drinks?
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Every one of your arguments can be used about alchohol as well. Try again. 😉 Also you DO damage the liver every time you drink. Alchohol is a poison. Just like the toxins in smoke are a poison. They are really not that much different. Both should never be opporated with heavy machinery. Other then that…If It is legal where you are, and you choose to smoke it? Enjoy. I also in my duties will NOT aprehend someone in posession of a joint. Unless they are driving high. Then its no different than drunk driving. Id keep the alcohol bottle to make my case too. If they have not been smoking, I may ground it up on the pavement, just so the letter of the law is followed. but Im not putting that person in jail. Hopefully this problem is rectified thru the voting system within my life time. 🙂 Oh and inciedentally I dont smoke. But I have friends that do, and it is like you say. They take a few tokes and are fine. One is getting it legally for medicial purposes. Never bothered me. I never can even tell when he has been smoking. 😉
 
I have smoked marijuana in the past and would never do it again, but I truly believe it is something that could be done in moderation for medicinal purposes or as a means of relaxation. There are similar things people do like drink kava and smoke flavoured tobacco, which in themselves have absolutely no benefit to one’s health but are good for social purposes and relaxation. I don’t see how marijuana can be different, they all have the same effect, and they can all be abused and become very addictive.
 
Mikaele said:
I have smoked marijuana in the past and would never do it again, but I truly believe it is something that could be done in moderation for medicinal purposes or as a means of relaxation. There are similar things people do like drink kava and smoke flavoured tobacco, which in themselves have absolutely no benefit to one’s health but are good for social purposes and relaxation. I don’t see how marijuana can be different, they all have the same effect, and they can all be abused and become very addictive.
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👍
 
SteveGC said:
Alcohol can be habitual while remaining harmless - assuming it is not over done. Not so sure the same can be said about marijuana. Certainly if over done, it is harmful. But I’m not sure it needs to be habitual to be harmful.
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actually marijuana has neuroprotective effects! and if you use it in food recipes or use a vaporizer, you eliminate the harmful effects of smoking!
 
Having mild alterations of the mind is not sinful per se. It is only sinful if it takes away your capacity to think rationally/reasonably.

The Bible itself mentions that wine “gladdens the heart” (not sure if this is the expression that will be familiar to English speaking members…), and this in a positive light. The Church has also famously approved the drinking of coffee, which is done by many as a means to become more alert and stay awake. And many smoke cigarettes to deal with their anxiety.

So, even using drugs that are now illegal (in the 19th century, in most countries, drugs were not illegal. There were cocaine commercials - in the form of posters - in the USA) for a mild alteration of one’s state of mind is not necessarily immoral. Smoking marijuana to relax, for instance.

Since we live in prohibition times, the moderate and temperate use of these illegal substances is very rare, as is finding them in good quality and with mild potency, which would likely become the norm if they were legalized. If you lived in the 20s in the US, drinking alcohol would mean going to very unwholesome places and probably drinking not very good stuff, hard liquor to get you wasted with as little quantity as possible.

So, despite all the prejudice (of which I take a part in - whenever I think of marijuana I think of slow-headed pot-heads; that isn’t likely to change any time soon, and I don’t plan on ever trying it), there is no logical case to make against any and all consumption of now-illegal drugs.
 
benidict said:
I like that. Any proof? 🙂
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M. Van der Stelt et al. 2001. Neuroprotection by delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active compound in marijuana, against ouabain-induced in vivo excitotoxicity. The Journal of Neuroscience 21: 6475-6479; J. Joy et al. 1999. Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base.

i’ll have to look harder for specific studies on the smoking thing, i forget where that was. although its common sense
 
samiam1611 said:
M. Van der Stelt et al. 2001. Neuroprotection by delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active compound in marijuana, against ouabain-induced in vivo excitotoxicity. The Journal of Neuroscience 21: 6475-6479; J. Joy et al. 1999. Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base.

i’ll have to look harder for specific studies on the smoking thing, i forget where that was. although its common sense
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It may be on your level! :rotfl: I dont think I have near the educational level you have. 👍 Im always happy to learn something new, and be educated. 🙂 Love the pug. Peace
 
Don’t really have an opinion about the legality of marijuana, but as I mentioned before, I would contend that there IS harm done to the one using marijuana - perhaps not physical harm, but certainly spiritual harm.
 
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