Marijuana

[GEddie]

Let’s be clear then, is the topic medical use, or using for fun?

Whether or not someone has a medical condition does not change the morality of mind-altering stuff used for fun.

ICXC NIKA

 

[GEddie]

Also, the Church cannot, and will not, proscribe alcohol, for the simple reason that our LORD used it and we cannot improve upon Him.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Jim_Baur]

I am the O. P.

I posted this about twenty hours ago.

I had no idea it would generate so many ideas.

THANKS!

I have never used it; I was curious about it is the sense of a moral question.

THANKS!

 

[hu324b]

Using drugs and alcohol takes you away from your duties in life - you get a "I’ll do it tomorrow attitude " then tomorrow comes and you use and take that same attitude again. How much does it take away from your life? When you could be spending time with your children your out getting drunk or stuck on the couch smoking pot to lazy to do anything. You end up missing work, the list goes on. You have to open your eyes to truly see this - if you can’t see it you are not being honest with yourself.

Don’t drink or smoke pot for a month and see what you accomplish.

Then go back to your old ways and tell me there is no difference.

You end up missing out on life and the thing that you should be doing.

 

[Bonnie]

Using drugs and alcohol takes you away from your duties in life - you get a "I’ll do it tomorrow attitude " then tomorrow comes and you use and take that same attitude again.

I haven’t used marijuana for well over 40 years and I haven’t drunk alcohol (more than a sip) for about 30 years - maybe more. Yet I’ve always had a “I’ll do it tomorrow attitude.” That is usually called procrastination & it’s been a failing of mine for as long as I can remember. I don’t think I can blame sporadic marijuana & alcohol use from years ago for it!

About 6 months ago I bought a book about procrastination by a Christian author - haven’t read it yet. I’m hoping I’ll make it thru the book during Lent.

Question unrelated to thread but to this post - why don’t Catholics write about these things? Lots of Catholic conversion stories, devotions, and theology, but very few - if any - Catholic books about dealing with life in the here & now.

 

[edwest2]

I heard it said in regards to drinking alcohol, that we should drink to remember, not to forget. I suppose the same could be said for marijuana, and I find it hard to justify recreational smoking marijuana to celebrate something.
Although no doubt someone could find a reason.

On the hand I would say that cannabis certainly could be used for medicinal purposes. After all, many prescription drugs that are taken legally can also be abused, same goes for cannabis.

I see where you’re coming from but no one should take any drug they don’t need. And if cannabis can be used for medicinal purposes, let it go through the whole drug screening process, get FDA approval and be sold in drug stores.

Ed

 

[nick347]

I see where you’re coming from but no one should take any drug they don’t need. And if cannabis can be used for medicinal purposes, let it go through the whole drug screening process, get FDA approval and be sold in drug stores.

Ed

I would agree with you on that. I guess I didn’t really word that right. What I was trying to say, is that cannabis is like any other prescription drug in that it can be both abused, and used responsibly.

 

[edwest2]

I would agree with you on that. I guess I didn’t really word that right. What I was trying to say, is that cannabis is like any other prescription drug in that it can be both abused, and used responsibly.

Unless it has medical value, there is no reason to use it.

Ed

 

[Bruised_Reed]

People with depression shouldn’t use marijuana, because it’s a depressant.

As to medication, it is possible to have many drugs now that aren’t addictive, and marijuana is addictive.

In low doses cannabis is effective as an anti-depressant. Also, many medications are addictive or habit forming; some are more habit forming and some are less so and it depends on the person as well.

 

[NM505StKate]

I would like to know what the teaching of the Church is on the use of marijuana in countries where it is legal to smoke, not just for medical reasons.

THANKS!

Pot is good? I would smoke it here in my state if it was legal. Washington and Colorado look welcoming. More Washington

 

[Robert_Sock]

I immediately become suicidal when I experience panic attacks. My smoking pot does not prevent anxiety for me, but it eliminates suicidal urges.

I do not see why the Church should be for it or against it. Getting blasted would be sinful.

 

[edwest2]

I immediately become suicidal when I experience panic attacks. My smoking pot does not prevent anxiety for me, but it eliminates suicidal urges.

I do not see why the Church should be for it or against it. Getting blasted would be sinful.

Just google marijuana rehab. Only a doctor should be prescribing drugs.

Ed

 

[Robert_Sock]

Just google marijuana rehab. Only a doctor should be prescribing drugs.

Ed

Yes, it’s medical marijuana that is prescribed. I must say though, it interferes with our immediate memory. It’s not hard to go off of marijuana, so I wonder who goes through these rehabs.

 

[Little_Sheep]

Yes, it’s medical marijuana that is prescribed. I must say though, it interferes with our immediate memory.

I am so happy your are under a doctor’s care and using cannabis. It is an amazing medicine for so many things. Yes, it does fuzzy short-term memory. In some cases, that is a very good thing and one of its beneficial medical benefits (ask any pain patient).

You are correct that marijuana is not hard to put down because it is in no way physically addictive the way harsher drugs such as alcohol, opiates and amphetamines are. For some, cannabis can by psychologically addictive. Youth should certainly never use it. But it is that rare medicine that is both benign to overall health and very effective.

I will pray for your anxiety, something I understand. I would have you know God’s peace. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

 

[LongingSoul]

Yes, it’s medical marijuana that is prescribed. I must say though, it interferes with our immediate memory. It’s not hard to go off of marijuana, so I wonder who goes through these rehabs.

I haven’t spoken a lot about my middle son who is 23. He had been addicted to marijuana since he was first sold it at highschool in 2008 or 2009. (Catholic High School sadly. The seller was another student who was subsequently expelled). His father and I were so clueless about marijuana that we didn’t even know he was using it until we took him to a psychologist in 2011 overwhelmed by depression and anxiety. He was hospitalised in the public system as a suicide risk but discharged the next day. He admitted to the pscyhologist that he had been addicted for 2 years. We swung into action then getting him to psychiatrists and onto medication for depression. He is a very bright person and during this time with our help he secured a brilliant job in IT with the government.

As we gradually let him go to get on his feet, having money he of course went back to marijuana because as the mindless experts on the internet tell you, marijuana is good for all your ailments. He started staying up all night smoking, and listening to idiots on the internet prescribe marijuana for his woes, calling in sick to work, feeling sorry for himself endlessly. With the wonderful help of his bosses and us combined we got him back to therapy and without an income he could get away from weed again. We took a gym membership for him and his father and I made a deal with the bank to pay a reduced amount on his $15,000 car loan for the next 4 months. He gradually came back to himself again. He had life in his eyes and could sleep and live like a normal person.

Back to work again. Once he had more money and still gave credit to internet idiots and others who praise the wonders of marijuana… he went back to it again. He stopped going to work and was terminated. He couldn’t get welfare and so started intimidating us for money. He destroyed things in the house when he couldn’t get the money he wanted. We put up with it all for the next 2 years until the morning he had smoked his lovely wonderful marijuana all night and walked through our house smashing walls and doors because we were such horrible parents.

Terrified I called the police not knowing what was happening. They took him to the watchhouse and raised a DVO on our behalf. To cut a long story short, we had been to court numerous times related to his contempt for the DVO. Since November 2014 he has wavered between staying with friends who have all had enough of him and kicked him out and homelessness.

On Monday last week, we had a call from the psychiatric hospital to say he was there and has checked himself in for help. We arranged for a private clinic and on Ash Wednesday he began rehabilitation in the best place we could find in our area. I don’t know what the outcome will be. He is on every perpetual prayer list that my Mother knows of and is prayed for daily by everyone we know. I thank God he never progressed to ‘harder’ drugs but in a way I think of marijuana as the worst. It is a lie. A sheep in wolves clothing. It makes users liars and skivers who can justify their lazy, self indulgent existences. I hat it with a passion.

So if you don’t think that marijuana causes mental illness and requires rehab. instead of making up stupid theories from your imagination… go to the hospitals, talk to the doctors and nurses working in the field and speak to people honestly about the realities of marijuana. Stop spreading lies.

 

[edwest2]

This is an important message. Call a marijuana rehab center. Talk to the people who work with those whose lives, and mental health, have been damaged due to encouragement from others - total strangers - or those misled by total strangers who are unconcerned if using it puts you in harm’s way.

Unless it’s prescribed by a doctor, don’t use it.

Ed

 

[PolarGuy]

Longingsoul, I’m sorry for your situation.

I have in fact spoken to doctors who can attest that what you’re saying is accurate. They’ve testified to that effect in court proceedings I’ve participated in.

I too hate pot with a passion, and I have no sympathy for people who want to tell everyone how wonderful pot is.

 

[Robert_Sock]

I haven’t spoken a lot about my middle son who is 23. He had been addicted to marijuana since he was first sold it at highschool in 2008 or 2009. (Catholic High School sadly. The seller was another student who was subsequently expelled). His father and I were so clueless about marijuana that we didn’t even know he was using it until we took him to a psychologist in 2011 overwhelmed by depression and anxiety. He was hospitalised in the public system as a suicide risk but discharged the next day. He admitted to the pscyhologist that he had been addicted for 2 years. We swung into action then getting him to psychiatrists and onto medication for depression. He is a very bright person and during this time with our help he secured a brilliant job in IT with the government.

As we gradually let him go to get on his feet, having money he of course went back to marijuana because as the mindless experts on the internet tell you, marijuana is good for all your ailments. He started staying up all night smoking, and listening to idiots on the internet prescribe marijuana for his woes, calling in sick to work, feeling sorry for himself endlessly. With the wonderful help of his bosses and us combined we got him back to therapy and without an income he could get away from weed again. We took a gym membership for him and his father and I made a deal with the bank to pay a reduced amount on his $15,000 car loan for the next 4 months. He gradually came back to himself again. He had life in his eyes and could sleep and live like a normal person.

Back to work again. Once he had more money and still gave credit to internet idiots and others who praise the wonders of marijuana… he went back to it again. He stopped going to work and was terminated. He couldn’t get welfare and so started intimidating us for money. He destroyed things in the house when he couldn’t get the money he wanted. We put up with it all for the next 2 years until the morning he had smoked his lovely wonderful marijuana all night and walked through our house smashing walls and doors because we were such horrible parents.

Terrified I called the police not knowing what was happening. They took him to the watchhouse and raised a DVO on our behalf. To cut a long story short, we had been to court numerous times related to his contempt for the DVO. Since November 2014 he has wavered between staying with friends who have all had enough of him and kicked him out and homelessness.

On Monday last week, we had a call from the psychiatric hospital to say he was there and has checked himself in for help. We arranged for a private clinic and on Ash Wednesday he began rehabilitation in the best place we could find in our area. I don’t know what the outcome will be. He is on every perpetual prayer list that my Mother knows of and is prayed for daily by everyone we know. I thank God he never progressed to ‘harder’ drugs but in a way I think of marijuana as the worst. It is a lie. A sheep in wolves clothing. It makes users liars and skivers who can justify their lazy, self indulgent existences. I hat it with a passion.

So if you don’t think that marijuana causes mental illness and requires rehab. instead of making up stupid theories from your imagination… go to the hospitals, talk to the doctors and nurses working in the field and speak to people honestly about the realities of marijuana. Stop spreading lies.

What makes you believe that it was the marijuana that was causing all the other problems? Does he drink? Is he on harder drugs that you are unaware of? Does he have a psychological problem that leads him to aggression? Anyway, it sounds strange to me to blame everything on the marijuana.

The bottom line: Marijuana is basically a mild drug that never really leads to aggression.

 

[hu324b]

I always like to say - do I think Jesus wants me to smoke pot recreationally and the answer always comes back the same.

Carrying the cross is doing what God wants me to do - not carrying my cross is doing what I want to do.

The decision on this one is for each one of us to make and if you are being completely honest in your faith you will get the same answer I did.

 

[edwest2]

What makes you believe that it was the marijuana that was causing all the other problems? Does he drink? Is he on harder drugs that you are unaware of? Does he have a psychological problem that leads him to aggression? Anyway, it sounds strange to me to blame everything on the marijuana.

The bottom line: Marijuana is basically a mild drug that never really leads to aggression.

Please contact a marijuana rehab center, Talk to a professional. Get the facts. Opinions are not helpful.

With all due respect,

Ed