Is smoking Marijuana sinful?

[BobObob]

List all the chemicals found in marijuana.

[Still no responses.]

I know this wasn’t directed towards me, but I’d like to address this anyways.

It appears that out of the 421 chemicals found in marijuana, only 61 are unique to marijuana. The other 360 are found throughout other natural substances.

druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/marieff.htm
medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000636

I cannot currently list all 421 chemicals. However, I’m sure that of the 360 that are found in other natural substances, most of the substances they’re in aren’t considered dangerous (and the one’s that are probably studied often). Of the other 61 (cannabbinoids), delta-9 THC produces the psychoactive effect, and is the focus of most research.

It actually doesn’t matter that much what each and every chemical in a substance is, as long as the effects of that substance containing all of those chemicals is understood. I don’t know all the substances in various medications, yet I can generally take needed medication confidently because the effects of most medications that have been around for a long time are very well understood. The risks of marijuana usage, especially when it isn’t smoked, have proven to be minimal in comparison to other drugs. It seems that if one who isn’t prone to psychological disorders bakes or vaporizes marijuana in moderation, there usually are no problems after the high has gone away.

 

[Makarios]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a wonderful document that can provide many answers to moral questions. Even specific ones:

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 first sentence: The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life.

Note that the sentence doesn’t state illegal drugs, recreational drugs, designer drugs, home-brew drugs, street drugs, legal drugs. Drugs.

The second sentence: Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense.

This doesn’t mean “I need therapy (wink, wink)”. If the therapeutic grounds are misrepresented then then one has broken the Eighth Commandment (bearing false witness) as well as civil law (if applicable). Strictly therapeutic grounds

The third sentence: Clandestine production of and trafficking in drugs are scandalous practices.

The third sentence sates “drugs”. Again, not illegal, street, etc., drugs. Drugs That means one cannot produce AND distribute their own clandestine (secret, without legitimate authority) “aspirin” or aspirin. scandalous practices

The fourth sentence: They constitute direct co-operation in evil, since they encourage people to practices gravely contrary to the moral law.

The fourth sentence should not need explanation. If one is deceived that it’s OK or don’t-know-what-to think to have direct co-operation in evil and encourage practices gravely contrary to the moral law, then discuss the subject (including what evil, gravely and moral law mean) with an ordained priest or bishop. Or, look up the subjects in the Catechism, the subjects are there!

You sound like a Christian Scientist. Should I stop taking drugs when sick and also not go to the doctor?

 

[pcg2]

That isn’t my logic at all read the entire paragraph. Context matters. Drugs inflict harm to the body. Some people have exhibit different side-effects than others, some experience them worse. What might seem fine to some may be deadly for others. An uniformed combination of drugs can be deadly. Peanuts can be deadly. That is why, in part, the Government makes a distinction between over-the-counter and prescription drugs. That is why manufacturers are required to label whether or not food was processed by machinery that has had contact with peanuts. People can abuse over-the-counter drugs and inflict the same sin as illegal drugs. People do exactly that. If I knew I were allergic to peanuts and knowingly ate them anyway that would be a sin. That is why the Catechism states Drugs, lest some clever person attempts to redefine the word “drug” to wiggle their way out of sin. God is not fooled.

Are you considered a minor in the USA? Have you discussed this question with a priest? Are you listening to your priest? Are you listening God?

Cigarettes are sin. They are abused and harmful crimes are done for them – anyone try to smuggle cigarettes into prison? Don’t. The unwary are lured into a lifetime of bad habit, potential cancer. The discussion can go on forever. Alcohol is a controlled substance. Breaking the legitimate law is a sin. Pharmacies don’t have to be shut down, they (hopefully) control and distribute legitimate and therapeutic drugs lawfully and morally.

The Catholic Church and the legitimate law say “don’t”. While one can “move away” from legitimate law, they can’t escape Church Law.

If one desires to sin, Satan will encourage it and God will permit it.

If you are at the age of reason, then use it (keeping in mind that reason can be used for both good and evil).

The church certainly doesn’t condemn cigarettes as sinful. In all due respect, this is where your argument falls to pieces. You want to put all drugs in the same basket. The CCC makes no distinction whatsoever between a cigarette, a cigar, a glass of vodka, or a joint. You are espousing your personal opinion as to the sinfulness of cigarettes.

 

[pcg2]

Apology accepted, dear friend! I know that it seems like there is irrational resistence going on on the part of those saying marijuana is not inherently sinful, but I believe that we are really getting somewhere!

If I may offer a summary:

1. • Where it is illegal, marijuana is immoral because we have a duty to follow legitimate authority
   • If it is not illegal, two important points follow:
   • The secular government is not compelling us on pain of sin
   • We are not supporting organized crime, since the mob does not deal in legal substances.
   • Over-consumption of marijuana falls under the same sin of gluttony that over-consumption of alcohol does
   • CCC 2291 either applies to both marijuana and alcohol, or neither.
   I think #4 is most in need of discussion.

1. 
   Exactly.

 

[Blairamir]

When it is said that marijuana is not addictive, it is usually meant that it is not chemically addictive. Virtually anything can be psychologically addictive. Caffeine is more chemically addicting than marijuana.

drugtext.org/sub/marmyt1.html
answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100329170600AAYKpU9

When using any drug (caffeine, alcohol, marijuana, etc.) one must reasonably educate themselves on the possible risks associated with taking such drugs, and act responsibly.

Regarding medical use of marijuana, Marinol (the drug touted as the legal medical marijuana substitute) has more problems than marijuana. It’s more dangerous and doesn’t have all the medicinal uses than one might use marijuana for.

Regarding the dangers of marijuana use, Lester Grinspoon MD, professor of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School, said, “Marijuana is remarkably non toxic. In all the years that marijuana has been used, there’s not been one single documented death from it. I don’t know that you can say the same thing about any other drug.” (abc.net.au/quantum/poison/marijuan/lester.htm ) Of course, virtually all substances have at least some risks, but alcohol is a LOT more harmful to one’s body than marijuana.

I want to also add that there are certain risks, such as lung cancer, which are associated with smoking marijuana, but not vaporizing or baking it.

Laws against marijuana were originally made because Congressmen gave in to lobbyists from DuPont and due to racism (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States#Marijuana_Tax_Act_.281937.29)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuPont(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuPont)). In fact, a Texas Senator said, on the floor of the Senate, “All Mexicans are crazy, and this stuff [marijuana] is what makes them crazy.” (drugwarrant.com/articles/why-is-marijuana-illegal/) (druglibrary.org/olsen/dpf/whitebread05.html ) This is relevant to this discussion because just like the evil intention of an otherwise good action makes the act evil, the evil intention of a law makes it a bad law (and thus not binding in conscience).

As a theology major at a conservative Catholic college who is entering my senior year, I understand that the Catechism of the Catholic Church isn’t by any means infallible in itself, but rather is like a compendium of Catholic teaching that is based largely off of documents it cites which often contain authoritative, and sometimes even infallible, teachings. It is to be “[A] sure norm for teaching the faith (vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19921011_fidei-depositum_en.html ) rather than a dogmatic proclamation of new teachings. I don’t want to get into this here and now (because this would be getting off-topic), but not everything in the CCC is absolute.

Regarding the teaching of the Catholic Church on obeying laws, there is nothing that reaches the level of dogma, and not even anything that I know of that all Catholics are absolutely bound to.

A lot of what influences what the CCC says regarding governing authorities came from the philosophy of divine rule, the idea that a government’s temporal power comes from God. This is extremely problematic since all governments, except for ancient Israel, were founded by man, and any government that claims otherwise may deny being accountable to anyone but God. It’s extremely dangerous because in it’s most radical forms can be ideal conditions for tyranny.

The more important thing that influences what the CCC says regarding governing authorities is doing what’s best for society. Generally, it’s best for society for people to obey almost all laws.

If one isn’t doing something immoral in itself (like wreckless driving or getting drunk) then IMHO it is moral to break the law if you are capable of taking the risk of the civil penalties. This is why one may morally drive drive 70 mph on a road with a speed limit of 65 and risk getting a ticket if it’s safe to drive at that speed in that situation. On the other hand, if one has children who are dependent on him, one may not risk being put in jail (since doing so would be risking the welfare of the children), even for something that is not immoral in itself (unless it is a double effect situation).

Thanks for the interesting posts BobObob. IMO the government could remove the violent gangs from the illegal drug market by legalizing them and letting doctors and companies control them; pretty much what William F Buckley proposed. Now some people will still abuse legal drugs and that is a serious problem.

 

[bingbang]

Thanks for the interesting posts BobObob. IMO the government could remove the violent gangs from the illegal drug market by legalizing them and letting doctors and companies control them; pretty much what William F Buckley proposed. Now some people will still abuse legal drugs and that is a serious problem.

If drugs and prostitution were legalized, gangs would have no way of getting money other than robbing and stealing…and robbing and stealing just don’t produce sustainable income.

 

[BobObob]

If drugs and prostitution were legalized, gangs would have no way of getting money other than robbing and stealing…and robbing and stealing just don’t produce sustainable income.

Yup. They would go out of business and cease to exist!

Repealing prohibition hurt the mob.

I love looking at history to learn lessons about the present.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

List all the chemicals found in marijuana.

[Still no responses.]

Still no list.

We are, however, making progress.

Someone said there are 421 chemicals in marijuana.

List them.

Thank you.

[The subject of “Twinkies” would be off-topic. Start a new thread for Twinkies. The topic of this thread is “Is Smoking Marijuana sinful?”]

List all of the chemicals found in marijuana.

**

 

[pcg2]

Still no list.

We are, however, making progress.

Someone said there are 421 chemicals in marijuana.

List them.

Thank you.

[The subject of “Twinkies” would be off-topic. Start a new thread for Twinkies. The topic of this thread is “Is Smoking Marijuana sinful?”]

List all of the chemicals found in marijuana.

**

I am just curious, what is your intent in someone listing the chemicals found in it? Is it so we can see that it actually is bad for you (even in moderation), and that a disticntion can be made between the use of alcohol and pot?

 

[BobObob]

Still no list.

We are, however, making progress.

Someone said there are 421 chemicals in marijuana.

List them.

Thank you.

Why? The effects of marijuana use is well studied and can be well known by individuals without being familiar with each and every chemical in marijuana. If a substance that contains 421 chemicals in it has never killed a single person from overdose (like marijuana, drugwarfacts.org/cms/node/58), than in all likelihood, none of those 421 chemicals are lethal. If any of those 421 chemicals were lethal, chances are at least one person would have died from using that substance with 421 chemicals.

If you do want to know more about all the 421 chemical in marijuana, you could perhaps ask a doctor, like, say, Lester Grinspoon MD, professor of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School, who said, “Marijuana is remarkably non toxic. In all the years that marijuana has been used, there’s not been one single documented death from it. I don’t know that you can say the same thing about any other drug.”

abc.net.au/quantum/poison/marijuan/lester.htm

BTW, if marijuana was legal, the quality of the contents of marijuana (421 chemicals) could be better controlled. During alcohol prohibition, a lot of people had problems from improperly made alcoholic drinks. In fact, the government made this worse by killing thousands of people by poisoning alcohol. (see slate.com/id/2245188 , chemistry.about.com/b/2010/03/01/government-poisoned-alcohol-during-prohibition.htm )

[The subject of “Twinkies” would be off-topic. Start a new thread for Twinkies. The topic of this thread is “Is Smoking Marijuana sinful?”]

The person who mentioned Twinkies was, I think, trying to make a similar point to the one a made just above. Thus, that person, IMHO, was on-topic.

 

[sean_jackson]

Exactly.

So this # 4 or CCC 2291 is all that is left and it describes all we need to know about drugs and lists every chemical in 4 sentences?

 

[sean_jackson]

It may be to me, but not to you, or to you and not to me. God instilled a conscience. What does it tell you? Do you suppose that whether or not it is a health hazard, that it is a sensible means of keeping the temple of God clean, and keeping your soul open to prayer and contact from God? Do you tend to visit the sick more often, or give alms, or visit the blessed sacrament, or discuss pot with your grandma much when you’re high? Being fat, smoking, drinking, drugs, etc. if not used responsibly, and in thanks to the glory of God are sinful. Particularly if you think they are for you and your purposes after consulting with God through your conscience in prayer.

What is your treasure? That’s the question I must ask myself every day. When the answer comes back as anything but my eternal life with Jesus, then I need to pray and meditate on many parables.

Nobody here can tell you it is a sin. God tells you whether it is a sin. I’ve never known anybody, including myself, who didn’t smoke pot for effect. In order to get high. I’ve known many people who can drink 1 single small glass of wine with their dinner, or even a cognac afterward to enjoy the fruits of their labors and enjoy the good things God gave us. They can then put the alcohol down and go back about their life. There are people that way about cigars and such too. I have never been successful. I’m an alcoholic. So for my brother to drink is not a sin, but for me it is. The alcohol isn’t the sin. The way I use alcohol is a sin. Do you see?

Marijuana is not generally treated as a substance of moderation, and even if it was, it is illegal in most places, and so to use it is failing to be a good citizen, which we are called to be by Christ.

You be the judge of you.

Peace,

Steve

I do like this though.

 

[Spirithound]

Cannabinoids Identified in Marijuana
…Cannabinoid Group…Abbreviation…Known Variants
1…9-Tetrahydrocannabinol…9-THC…9
2…8-Tetrahydrocannabinol…8-THC…2
3…Cannabichromene…CBC…5
4…Cannabicyclol…CBL…3
5…Cannabidiol…CBD…7
6…Cannabielsoin…CBE…5
7…Cannabigerol…CBG…6
8…Cannabinidiol…CBND…2
9…Cannabinol…CBN…7
10…Cannabitriol…CBT…9
11…Miscellaneous types…11
…TOTAL…66

A reproduction of a chart found about halfway down this page:
medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=636

 

[Spirithound]

So CCC 2291 is all that is left and it describes all we need to know about drugs and lists every chemical in 4 sentences?

I certainly think that CCC 2291 is all that is left to discuss. I’m sorry, I’m not sure what the rest of your sentence means?

 

[sean_jackson]

I certainly think that CCC 2291 is all that is left to discuss. I’m sorry, I’m not sure what the rest of your sentence means?

I guess what i mean is that it’s all that’s left but there is nothing there.

The Church was given authority by God to forgive sins and so tells me if smoking pot is a sin. Many say this is where the Church tells you it’s a sin. I just don’t see it. How could anyone find this in only 4 sentences?

Drugs is such a broad term.

 

[sean_jackson]

Ok,

Drugs are wrong and really bad, and i can loose my soul if i get involved with them.

What is a drug and what is not a drug so I don’t lose my Soul?

Is marijuana a drug? Does the Church make this distinction?

 

[GodLovesTheSpek]

You sound like a Christian Scientist. Should I stop taking drugs when sick and also not go to the doctor?

Do you read and comprehend what is written in the Catechism? Drugs/medicine are permissible via 2291 for strictly therapeutic reasons. Illness is an acceptable reason. To go to a doctor and receive medicine is an acceptable reason. Read all of 2291.

 

[bingbang]

Do you read and comprehend what is written in the Catechism? Drugs/medicine are permissible via 2291 for strictly therapeutic reasons. Illness is an acceptable reason. To go to a doctor and receive medicine is an acceptable reason. Read all of 2291.

My argument is that alcohol is not considered a drug as it is permitted to drink in small amounts without it being for medicinal reasons. Now if alcohol, something that can kill people from drinking too much just once, making them so disoriented that they kill themselves or someone else, or kill people from drinking heavily for long periods of time causing cancer, cirrhosis, liver failure, etc. is not considered a drug…than something that does not kill people and does not cause cancer and is far less damaging to society should not be considered a drug either.

 

[GodLovesTheSpek]

The church certainly doesn’t condemn cigarettes as sinful. In all due respect, this is where your argument falls to pieces. You want to put all drugs in the same basket. The CCC makes no distinction whatsoever between a cigarette, a cigar, a glass of vodka, or a joint. You are espousing your personal opinion as to the sinfulness of cigarettes.

Please answer the question about being a minor. Truthfully.

That CCC makes no “distinction” doesn’t mean that it doesn’t apply. Apply reason and intent. The Catechism Of The Catholic Church doesn’t mention anything specific about ingesting unleaded hi-octane gasoline from Exxon, jumping off the Empire State building at 3:45pm, playing Russian Roulette with a Colt 45, or mainlining Mercury.

 

[bingbang]

Please answer the question about being a minor. Truthfully.

That CCC makes no “distinction” doesn’t mean that it doesn’t apply. Apply reason and intent. The Catechism Of The Catholic Church doesn’t mention anything specific about ingesting unleaded hi-octane gasoline from Exxon, jumping off the Empire State building at 3:45pm, playing Russian Roulette with a Colt 45, or mainlining Mercury.

So should we just assume everything is a sin? Or just what you deem to be a sin?