Morality of marijuana

[Ghosty]

Reason is a part of the intellect. From A Catholic Dictionary, “Broadly speaking, intellect is the faculty of thought. Under thought is included attention, judgment, reflection, … and the process of reasoning.” They may not outwardly appear to be affected by the marijuana, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t affected. I often have a hard time telling whether a close family member has become drunk, but they are drunk nonetheless. You can drink a glass of wine and not be affected at all, but just a bit of marijuana will affect someone’s mind considerably. If it is as harmless as it seems, then I don’t see why it has been so oppressed for so many years and taught so strictly against in schools and churches.

I am very glad that I don’t live in Washington.

Again you are falling back on the erroneous argument that a little bit of marijuana will affect the mind considerably. That is simply false. I have used both marijuana and alcohol, in moderation and to excess, and I and everyone else that has used it can tell you that there is a vast difference between excess and moderation.

If you haven’t used it then I don’t suggest you try it now, but I would caution you against making arguments from ignorance, especially when facts and experience contradict your points.

As for arguing from its prohibition, that is also fallacious. For one, it has only been persecuted for less than a century, but was widely used in various forms for centuries without prohibition. Such an argument can also be made for any prohibition, like that against interracial marriage (which lasted far longer than the eighty year prohibition against marijuana has). One can’t say that something must be evil because it is illegal; it may be evil to break certain laws, but that does not mean that only evil things are illegal.

Peace and God bless!

 

[LogisticsBranch]

From The National Institute of Health:
The National Institute of Drug Abuse
Revised September 2015
DrugFacts: Marijuana

When a person smokes marijuana, THC quickly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream. The blood carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. The body absorbs THC more slowly when the person eats or drinks it. In that case, the user generally feels the effects after 30 minutes to 1 hour.
THC acts on specific brain cell receptors that ordinarily react to natural THC-like chemicals in the brain. These natural chemicals play a role in normal brain development and function.
Marijuana over activates parts of the brain that contain the highest number of these receptors. This causes the “high” that users feel. Other effects include:
• altered senses (for example, seeing brighter colors)
• altered sense of time
• changes in mood
• impaired body movement
• difficulty with thinking and problem-solving
• impaired memory

Long-term effects
Marijuana also affects brain development. When marijuana users begin using as teenagers, the drug may reduce thinking, memory, and learning functions and affect how the brain builds connections between the areas necessary for these functions.
Marijuana’s effects on these abilities may last a long time or even be permanent.
For example, a study showed that people who started smoking marijuana heavily in their teens and had an ongoing cannabis use disorder lost an average of eight IQ points between ages 13 and 38. The lost mental abilities did not fully return in those who quit marijuana as adults. Those who started smoking marijuana as adults did not show notable IQ declines (Meier, 2012).

What are the other health effects of marijuana?
Marijuana use may have a wide range of effects, both physical and mental.

Physical effects
• Breathing problems.Marijuana smoke irritates the lungs, and frequent marijuana smokers can have the same breathing problems that tobacco smokers have. These problems include daily cough and phlegm, more frequent lung illness, and a higher risk of lung infections. Researchers still do not know whether marijuana smokers have a higher risk for lung cancer.
• Increased heart rate.Marijuana raises heart rate for up to 3 hours after smoking. This effect may increase the chance of heart attack. Older people and those with heart problems may be at higher risk
• Problems with child development during and after pregnancy. Marijuana use during pregnancy is linked to increased risk of both brain and behavioral problems in babies. If a pregnant woman uses marijuana, the drug may affect certain developing parts of the fetus’s brain. Resulting challenges for the child may include problems with attention, memory, and problem-solving. Additionally, some research suggests that moderate amounts of THC are excreted into the breast milk of nursing mothers. The effects on a baby’s developing brain are still unknown.

Mental effects
Long-term marijuana use has been linked to mental illness in some users, such as:
• temporary hallucinations—sensations and images that seem real though they are not
• temporary paranoia—extreme and unreasonable distrust of others
• worsening symptoms in patients with schizophrenia (a severe mental disorder with symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia, and disorganized thinking)
Marijuana use has also been linked to other mental health problems, such as:
• depression
• anxiety
• suicidal thoughts among teens

Is marijuana addictive?
Contrary to common belief, marijuana can be addictive. Research suggests that about 1 in 11 users becomes addicted to marijuana (Anthony, 1994; Lopez-Quintero 2011).This number increases among those who start as teens (to about 17 percent, or 1 in 6) (Anthony, 2006) and among people who use marijuana daily (to 25-50 percent) (Hall & Pacula, 2003).

How Does Marijuana Affect a User’s Life?
Compared to nonusers, heavy marijuana users more often report the following:
• lower life satisfaction
• poorer mental health
• poorer physical health
• more relationship problems
Users also report less academic and career success. For example, marijuana use is linked to a higher likelihood of dropping out of school (McCaffrey, 2010). It is also linked to more job absences, accidents, and injuries (Zwerling, 1990).

How can people get treatment for marijuana addiction?
Long-term marijuana users trying to quit report withdrawal symptoms that make quitting difficult. These include:
• grouchiness
• sleeplessness
• decreased appetite
• anxiety
• cravings
Behavioral support has been effective in treating marijuana addiction. Examples include therapy and motivational incentives (providing rewards to patients who remain substance free). No medications are currently available to treat marijuana addiction. However, continuing research may lead to new medications that help ease withdrawal symptoms, block the effects of marijuana, and prevent relapse.

Points to Remember
. . . (Please read online)]
drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
drugabuse.gov/about-nida/directors-page/messages-director/2012/09/marijuanas-lasting-effects-brain
PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM MARIJUANA! Thank you.

 

[Pedro_1987]

It’s no worse than alcohol. In fact it’s a little better.

 

[clem456]

our new prime minister wants to legalize it

now, all morality aside, I think this is an extremely bad idea. do we really need more available substances to decreases peoples’ brain activity floating around?

but is recreational pot use actually immoral?

Pardon me for nitpicking the language, but there is so much misuse of the word “morality”.
Is marijuana immoral? No, marijuana is a plant substance etc…
Morality deals with the evaluation of human acts.

The use of pot is not immoral per se. God created marijuana.
However, the use of it in violation of just civil laws is immoral. We are called to obey laws, when they are just.
(no, this does not mean that abortion is moral because a law permits it…)

The abuse of marijuana is immoral of course. Just like any other substance that is used in an intemperate way.

 

[dskysmine]

From The National Institute of Health:
The National Institute of Drug Abuse
Revised September 2015
DrugFacts: Marijuana

When a person smokes marijuana, THC quickly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream. The blood carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. The body absorbs THC more slowly when the person eats or drinks it. In that case, the user generally feels the effects after 30 minutes to 1 hour.
THC acts on specific brain cell receptors that ordinarily react to natural THC-like chemicals in the brain. These natural chemicals play a role in normal brain development and function.
Marijuana over activates parts of the brain that contain the highest number of these receptors. This causes the “high” that users feel. Other effects include:
• altered senses (for example, seeing brighter colors)
• altered sense of time
• changes in mood
• impaired body movement
• difficulty with thinking and problem-solving
• impaired memory

Long-term effects
Marijuana also affects brain development. When marijuana users begin using as teenagers, the drug may reduce thinking, memory, and learning functions and affect how the brain builds connections between the areas necessary for these functions.
Marijuana’s effects on these abilities may last a long time or even be permanent.
For example, a study showed that people who started smoking marijuana heavily in their teens and had an ongoing cannabis use disorder lost an average of eight IQ points between ages 13 and 38. The lost mental abilities did not fully return in those who quit marijuana as adults. Those who started smoking marijuana as adults did not show notable IQ declines (Meier, 2012).

What are the other health effects of marijuana?
Marijuana use may have a wide range of effects, both physical and mental.

Physical effects
• Breathing problems.Marijuana smoke irritates the lungs, and frequent marijuana smokers can have the same breathing problems that tobacco smokers have. These problems include daily cough and phlegm, more frequent lung illness, and a higher risk of lung infections. Researchers still do not know whether marijuana smokers have a higher risk for lung cancer.
• Increased heart rate.Marijuana raises heart rate for up to 3 hours after smoking. This effect may increase the chance of heart attack. Older people and those with heart problems may be at higher risk
• Problems with child development during and after pregnancy. Marijuana use during pregnancy is linked to increased risk of both brain and behavioral problems in babies. If a pregnant woman uses marijuana, the drug may affect certain developing parts of the fetus’s brain. Resulting challenges for the child may include problems with attention, memory, and problem-solving. Additionally, some research suggests that moderate amounts of THC are excreted into the breast milk of nursing mothers. The effects on a baby’s developing brain are still unknown.

Mental effects
Long-term marijuana use has been linked to mental illness in some users, such as:
• temporary hallucinations—sensations and images that seem real though they are not
• temporary paranoia—extreme and unreasonable distrust of others
• worsening symptoms in patients with schizophrenia (a severe mental disorder with symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia, and disorganized thinking)
Marijuana use has also been linked to other mental health problems, such as:
• depression
• anxiety
• suicidal thoughts among teens

Is marijuana addictive?
Contrary to common belief, marijuana can be addictive. Research suggests that about 1 in 11 users becomes addicted to marijuana (Anthony, 1994; Lopez-Quintero 2011).This number increases among those who start as teens (to about 17 percent, or 1 in 6) (Anthony, 2006) and among people who use marijuana daily (to 25-50 percent) (Hall & Pacula, 2003).

How Does Marijuana Affect a User’s Life?
Compared to nonusers, heavy marijuana users more often report the following:
• lower life satisfaction
• poorer mental health
• poorer physical health
• more relationship problems
Users also report less academic and career success. For example, marijuana use is linked to a higher likelihood of dropping out of school (McCaffrey, 2010). It is also linked to more job absences, accidents, and injuries (Zwerling, 1990).

How can people get treatment for marijuana addiction?
Long-term marijuana users trying to quit report withdrawal symptoms that make quitting difficult. These include:
• grouchiness
• sleeplessness
• decreased appetite
• anxiety
• cravings
Behavioral support has been effective in treating marijuana addiction. Examples include therapy and motivational incentives (providing rewards to patients who remain substance free). No medications are currently available to treat marijuana addiction. However, continuing research may lead to new medications that help ease withdrawal symptoms, block the effects of marijuana, and prevent relapse.

Points to Remember
. . . (Please read online)]
drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
drugabuse.gov/about-nida/directors-page/messages-director/2012/09/marijuanas-lasting-effects-brain
PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM MARIJUANA! Thank you.

On the addiction part I would like to quote an article I read some time ago:
huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/the-real-cause-of-addicti_b_6506936.html?

It’s difficult to say that Marijuana “creates” addiction and alcohol does not.

Having said that, I am Portuguese and I also don’t think drugs are good… but making them illegal and imprisoning people that use it is not the way you want to go.

God bless,
D.

 

[hu324b]

People say its no worse than alcohol - then you must acknowledge the horrible destruction of alcohol in society - life’s are destroyed daily - families broken - innocent people killed by drunk drivers - horrible heath effects of over use - Marijuana takes you away from what you should be doing - gives you that “I’ll do it tomorrow attitude” our faith teaches us to go away from the pleasures of the flesh and to seek spiritual things - sorry it can’t be justified - its not what God wants - its what man wants. I ask the question - do you think this is what God wants?

Most people will ignore the question because its what they want.

 

[clem456]

People say its no worse than alcohol - then you must acknowledge the horrible destruction of alcohol in society - life’s are destroyed daily - families broken - innocent people killed by drunk drivers - horrible heath effects of over use - Marijuana takes you away from what you should be doing - gives you that “I’ll do it tomorrow attitude” our faith teaches us to go away from the pleasures of the flesh and to seek spiritual things - sorry it can’t be justified - its not what God wants - its what man wants. I ask the question - do you think this is what God wants?

Most people will ignore the question because its what they want.

Given the sometimes tragic physical and spiritual effects of overindulgence in anything…

The same thing can be said about food.
Painkillers.
TV
I-Phones
etc…

 

[hu324b]

Given the sometimes tragic physical and spiritual effects of overindulgence in anything…

The same thing can be said about food.
Painkillers.
TV
I-Phones
etc…

Does that justify legalizing another destructive substance? Like i said you did not answer the question - Do you think its what God wants?

 

[clem456]

Does that justify legalizing another destructive substance? Like i said you did not answer the question - Do you think its what God wants?

I did answer the question.
You maybe don’t want to hear the answer.

Simple.
God creates the world.
He creates it good. Marijuana is not destructive, the abuse of it is destructive. Marijuana is a thing. Poppies are things. Fermented grain is a thing.
Disobeying laws by using things improperly is a bad thing. If marijuana is illegal, it is sinful to disobey the law and use it.
The thing in itself is not evil.

Man abuses things through poor choices…intemperance etc…
That’s bad. There is no substance or thing of any kind which cannot be abused to the detriment of a person, including food, alcohol, sex, even religion.

End of story.

 

[hu324b]

I did answer the question.
You maybe don’t want to hear the answer.

Simple.
God creates the world.
He creates it good. Marijuana is not destructive, the abuse of it is destructive. Marijuana is a thing. Poppies are things. Fermented grain is a thing.
Disobeying laws by using things improperly is a bad thing. If marijuana is illegal, it is sinful to disobey the law and use it.
The thing in itself is not evil.

Man abuses things through poor choices…intemperance etc…
That’s bad. There is no substance or thing of any kind which cannot be abused to the detriment of a person, including food, alcohol, sex, even religion.

End of story.

Lol - if you say so

 

[HelenRose]

I don’t know about the morality of smoking pot but I figured out a long time ago that I am not smart enough to smoke marijuana.

Smoking marijuana is only for those people who are very very smart and have lots of unnecessary brains. The rest of us need keep what brains we have in as good a working order as possible.

 

[clem456]

Lol - if you say so

Ok
ha, yes lol.
substance:shrug:

 

[Dirk_Skene]

For me it has been a gift from God.

Because of a bad knee problem and tears in both shoulders, I was taking two ibuprofen every four hours during the day and a Percocet to help me sleep. This went on for about eight weeks. The pain was constant. I started using the pain creams and transdermal’s. After about a week and a half to two weeks I could feel the healing process . Now those products are very expensive but they have no “high” effect. So I could use them at work. I was smoking bud on the weekend which is a lot cheaper, but I had to stay at my apartment of course because of the high affect . Now that I’ve been using it for about six months I can go days without pain at all. I use a cream or transdermal only about once a week. I keep about a quarter ounce of bud handy for the weekends just in case. I have not had to use it for over a month now.

 

[SyroMalankara]

The arguments against marijuana are very very weak. One could potentially state the harmful effects of smoking marijuana, but that’s only one method of consumption. What about eating, drinking, vaporizing, etc? The smoking argument is thus nullified.

Most of these anti-arguments are so far from logical, it’s not worth responding to. Like “vodka is harmful, therefore let’s ban potato for society’s sake.” Please come up with a stronger reasoned argument.

I am not a marijuana user. I do enjoy an occasional beer or wine, spirits far less.

 

[MJDorry]

I believe marijuana is a mortal sin to use recreationally. It is completely different from alcohol so the two can’t be compared as morally equivalent.

You’re absolutely correct! Whereas alcohol contains many toxins, cannabis in its natural and edible states does not.

 

[adawgj]

Just don’t smoke that smelly thing in my face. Other than that I do not see how it could be any worse than alcohol or tobacco.

 

[Robert_Sock]

I find that marijuana provides people with an important method of coping. Not that I would be better off engaging in Contemplative Prayer, but that is more effective than alcohol in relieving stress, aggression and even suicidal thinking. It hampers memory, which I do not like, but I think it should be allowed as a medicine. OTOH, I have taken medicine for depression and panic attacks that had far worse of an effect on my memory.

 

[Dorothy]

I find that marijuana provides people with an important method of coping. Not that I would be better off engaging in Contemplative Prayer, but that is more effective than alcohol in relieving stress, aggression and even suicidal thinking. It hampers memory, which I do not like, but I think it should be allowed as a medicine. OTOH, I have taken medicine for depression and panic attacks that had far worse of an effect on my memory.

Why wouldn’t one be better off engaging in contemplative prayer?

I don’t have lots of information about marijuana, but am aware that sufferers from cancer can make use of it to alleviate their suffering.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Why wouldn’t one be better off engaging in contemplative prayer?

I don’t have lots of information about marijuana, but am aware that sufferers from cancer can make use of it to alleviate their suffering.

I should have said that one would be better off with Contemplative Prayer, but I find that I need them both. I tried eliminating pot several time, and I’m currently not using pot, but I find that my depression and anxiety have skyrocketed to the point that I just want to die. Contemplative Prayer keeps me hanging on.

 

[Dorothy]

I should have said that one would be better off with Contemplative Prayer, but I find that I need them both. I tried eliminating pot several time, and I’m currently not using pot, but I find that my depression and anxiety have skyrocketed to the point that I just want to die. Contemplative Prayer keeps me hanging on.

May our Lord Jesus Christ and our Holy Mother Mary be with all of us on our spiritual journey.