Is using marijuana a mortal sin?

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Just like the title asks, is there a clear cut answer for this question? I understand the Catechism’s passage regarding illicit drugs and the various scripture verses quoting that adulterers, drunkards and the like will not inherit the kingdom of Heaven. And I understand the spot, role , and stigma marijuana conjures up in everyone’s heads, whether pro, con, or indifferent. And even given personal opinions, there is the legality of it depending on what state you live in and a host of other factors. So, I obviously see the sin in it more on paper than alcohol. But, it is medically legal in many different states for many different diagnosis. And people are reluctantly turning to it from seizures to cancer for themselves and even children with varying degrees of success and life improvement. So, assuming one lives in a legal state, using it in the medicinally prescribed intent, is it still a sin? Venial? Or mortal?? And if used in a state where it is illegal, does that automatically make it a mortal sin? I’m asking for a friend…lol. But seriously, I take seriously all of this information and I parallel it with alcohol because it is its typical counter inhibitor. And yes, drinking for drunkenness is a mortal sin, but one or two glasses is perfectly acceptable. But what about the (former) alcoholic where the occasional 1 or 2 isn’t an option, and past marijuana use was never a gateway drug, or intrinsically evil? Sure, weed can get you high as much as alcohol gets you drunk depending on the moderation level and depending on your mindset. Without continuing down the justification reasoning or breaking things into dosing bc you cannot control how high you get vs drunk you get, is there such a clear cut answer? ( And yes I’m well aware spending this much time on a topic leads me to know using it is a means to escspe is what makes it wrong as well, but to that I’d say, duh, anything can be used as a distraction from God, ESPECIALLY drugs and alcohol. But medicine, properly used and not abused, can also help us find balance (or at least be a limited crutch while healing when needed)…so, a simple yes or no would rock because I put in enough thought to recognize dependacy on anything other than God is sinful, but some things that are permissible, can also be or facilitate, healing).
 
Is using marijuana a mortal sin?
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It depends. Maybe if it’s in a state where it’s illegal. But really I’m not sure it is if it’s being used for someone with cancer or something like that. I used to have epilipsy and I read recently that a very effective treatment for epilipsy is a new drug that uses a chemical extracted from marijuana.

To be honest, I doubt many people are in hell because the smoked some weed.
 
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No but not looking after the health of your mind and body and maybe the lifestyle that sometimes surrounds regular pot smokers can lead to all kinds of sins
 
It depends on the facts of the situation, such as
  • is the marijuana use legal where the person is at
  • how much marijuana use are we talking about - is it keeping the person from their other life responsibilities or was it 2 puffs at a party and then no more
  • how old is the person and what is the situation getting them to use the marijuana; obviously a 50-year-old medical patient using it for pain relief is different from a 15-year-old disobeying his parents to go stay out all night and smoke pot
    etc.
There is rarely a “clear cut answer” when it comes to mortal sin. Even something like homicide might be mortal as a violation of “Thou shalt not kill” if you shoot someone during a robbery, but might not be mortal if you’re at war and you’re killing the enemy, or if you’re defending yourself or your family. The individual situation always needs to be examined.
 
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jheckle81 said:
So, assuming one lives in a legal state, using it in the medicinally prescribed intent, is it still a sin? Venial? Or mortal??
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This would not be a sin at all.
jheckle81 said:
And if used in a state where it is illegal, does that automatically make it a mortal sin?
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No it doesn’t.
jheckle81 said:
And yes, drinking for drunkenness is a mortal sin, but one or two glasses is perfectly acceptable.
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You’re using the phrase “mortal sin” in a way that it is generally not used anymore. I think what you mean to say here is “grave matter”, not mortal sin.
 
In the US, use of marijuana is a federal crime.

We are bound under pain of sin to obey just laws.

If you live in a country where marijuana use is legal, then, it falls under CCC 2290

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.
 
Marijuana is not addictive, so I would say it’s better than alcohol, which is addictive for some people, and much better than nicotine, which is highly addictive.

Legal & ethical are two different things, so if your state has laws against Marijuana the ethical issue is whether the price for getting caught is going to hurt yourself or your family.
 
No but promoting its use to those under 20-ish is sin. Such a person would be purposely encouraging young people to harm their developing brains and that is morally and ethically evil.
 
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I don’t think marijuana use in itself is mortally sinful. The sin involved more relates to your disobedience to authorities, and any harm it could cause your body.
 
Thanks everyone who has posted a response. Just to be clear I am a 37 year old (wow that looks old typing it out like that!) mother of five in the house that I homeschool. I do not do it around my children obviously, but since a horrific tradgedy occured in 2014 that had me maxed out on antidepressants, as well as my even worse self medicating with alcohol, pot has been the one thing that helped pull me out of my pit. Well, God obviously. But with my addiction to alcohol hurdled, and not being a fan of big Pharma anymore than I already have to be, I’ve been off the antidepressants and sober since April 26, 2016. I hate smoking, so have used a tincture form of ingesting via vegetable glycerin and usually do confess this at confession. But sometimes I literally forget because it has given me so much of my life back I don’t view it with the same lens a lot of people do, even livings in an illegal state. I understand I’m justifying, and that it has been a crutch for me, and I think I’m ready to let go of that crutch finally. Because yes, it does dull the pain and put me in a happier, relaxed mood. Much like I’m sure just a couple glasses of wine can do. And I’ve accidentally (and on purpose) overdone things here and there. But I guess I just wanted to know, after two years of almost daily use, if it’s mortal since I was never given a clear answer in the confessional, though I’ll admit, I’d rush over that sin out of embarrassment. I’m sure most that just saw me on the street would be dumbfounded to know that. But it has helped my mental state from our horrific night of June 25, 2014 when my adopted step son murdered our two month old infant. Our lives are still spinning. Not so much reeling like the first year, or hitting bottom hard in 2016, with help from my friend alcohol. Which to be fair isn’t his fault. I had issues saying no to that guy for years. But after hitting that bottom, my adamantly opposed, anti pot hubby scored wifey some weed because he knew that in the past it had helped. And then, my fourteen year old other adopted step son, brother to the murder, found it and called the cops on me cuz we were in a real bad place, the two of us. And he hid that quarter ounce in the rain until two big burly cops arrived, spoke to all of us separately, and made my teen go outside in the pouring rain to give mama back her weed and tell him to quit snooping in moms purse in her room. I don’t say my story to justify, or at least not completely. I am concerned at all times about the decisions I make, how they’ll effect my children, myself, and above all, our salvation. But I hate to think this whole time I’m just fooling myself with a lie I want to believe because it has helped me. So, there’s that. Thanks again for all responses, both previous and any future.
 
i am NOT a marijuana user

the substance can be abused

just like alcohol, tobacco or sugar sweet candy

but imho, simple use of the substance is not a sin
 
The difference between alcohol and marijuana is that you never have marijuana because it goes well with steak. The only reason you’d ever smoke cannabis is to get yourself intoxicated, which is sinful.
 
the best reason not to use marijuana is because in many professions (including mine) you get randomly urine tested for it

so it is not worth the bother

stick with a couple or two of sam adams lager

safer
 
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Oh, I am so sorry for everything that has happened to you.
jheckle81 said:
I hate smoking, so have used a tincture form of ingesting via vegetable glycerin and usually do confess this at confession
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I’m not sure about mortal in your case but confessing a sin without at least the intent of not committing it again is an abuse of the sacrament.

Glad to see you seem to be doing better.
 
I honestly don’t know if it’s a mortal sin or not since I’ve never used it. But imo, anyone who feels they need to use marijuana for any reason (even the alleged medical uses of it) needs to find a new outlet for whatever their excuse is.
 
If you live in the US, you are breaking federal law. That is something to consider. It is sad that medicine cannot be prescribed by doctors because of all of the myths.
 
I’ve never thought of it in that light before. Mainly because everything I’d read seemed to lean more towards venial sin, though some opinions were of that of mortal. So, when I would confess it, it was more out of a questioning whether it needed to be confessed (venial vs mortal) and there was never any direct answer. However, I realize the illegal part puts in it a more serious light, though even that was never direct in if it was mortal or not. All that being said, I do feel like the confessing of it has helped me to be able to step away from it. Like I said, I see it more in a medicinal way, and any medicine, if abused or used too long past it’s intended purpose to help, is a crutch, and once being abused, is sinful in that matter. So, I think it is past its helpful stage and now it at a hindering stage. At least for me. But I can honestly say that it has therapeutic, medicinal benefits from a depression standpoint and hope that views on it (from a medicinal standpoint at least) will change. Anything, legal or illegal, can be abused if that is the mindset. But I truly appreciate all the sincere and honest comments. I recognized when I posted this controversial topic I open myself up to judgement and “pot is evil” comments. I understand that. But again, I do appreciate the helpful considerations.
 
In my opinion, the drug war, and the illegality of taking of cannabis especially, are one of the greatest modern social injustices of our day.
 
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