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PatriceA
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How do you know that you do? How do you know you have your wits about you when you smoke pot? Do you really stop smoking pot after only one or two hits?
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Thoughtfulone
Guest
I am speaking specifically about other methods of using marijuana, not smoking it, per se, and people have been using marijuana for thousands of years.
Besides, the Church does not condemn smoking cigarettes in moderation.
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Thoughtfulone
Guest
Well, marijuana has never been know to directly kill a single person in the history of the world. The same cannot be said for alcohol. You cannot even overdose on marijuana, unlike alcohol.
Marijuana can be grown organically and used straight from the ground, with no added chemicals or sugars or anything.
In fact, no such thing as “marijuana intoxication” exists, because marijuana is NOT a toxic substance, unlike alcohol.
In a study, users of marijuana were LESS likely to drive their cars or engage in other high-risk behavior after smoking than their alcohol-drinking counterparts.
Marijuana also does not make people aggressive and prone to fighting or arguing as is common with alcohol use.
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Thoughtfulone
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A quote from the above article:
- It is not drugs that are in question, but the human, psychological and existential issues implicit in this kind of behaviour. All too often we do not want to understand these issues and forget that it is not the product that creates the addiction, but the person who feels the need for it. Products may differ but the basic reasons remain the same. Thus the distinction between “hard drugs” and “soft drugs” is irrelevant.
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Thoughtfulone
Guest
I’ve done it enough to know when I have my wits about me. The only time I have ever had a slight problem was when using it in conjunction with other things (such as lots of alcohol or other drugs), which isn’t too bright
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stringbeanduck
Guest
I think what people fail to see is that the “intoxication” from marijuana isn’t like alcohol where one can’t make rational decisions. Intoxication, in general, is viewed as not being able to use reason, being a harm to one self or others, and/or poisoned. Thus, since people use marijuana to obtain obtain its effects, it’s liken to —> being high —> stoned—> intoxicated. In other words it’s equivocated to intoxication simply because the person is under the influence of marijuana.
This whole “all people use marijuana to become intoxicated” argument doesn’t work. Let’s take cigarettes. They are harmful as all get out, and the whole of point of smoking them is to catch a buzz, an altered state of feeling, a little euphoria—> intoxication. However, despite their nature, a person could in good conscience a cigarette and have not sinned.
Although a person may smoke marijuana to obtain its effects, this reason does not mean they are using it to become intoxicated. If a person can have used marijuana, retain the use of his reason and not jeopardize his safety or that of others, there can be no sin involved in using it.
There are people out in this world who choose to smoke marijuana to a point where they do present the signs of intoxication, however, just like alcohol that is dependent on the person and why they are using it in the first place.
I have seen many arguments against marijuana, but none of have ever indicated how occasional, conscientious of marijuana is a sin. That is if the intent of smoking marijuana, is to provide relaxation, not intoxication.
Key word here is intoxication, and when talking about marijuana it is incorrect to say that a person having smoked it, is without a doubt intoxicated.
This whole “all people use marijuana to become intoxicated” argument doesn’t work. Let’s take cigarettes. They are harmful as all get out, and the whole of point of smoking them is to catch a buzz, an altered state of feeling, a little euphoria—> intoxication. However, despite their nature, a person could in good conscience a cigarette and have not sinned.
Although a person may smoke marijuana to obtain its effects, this reason does not mean they are using it to become intoxicated. If a person can have used marijuana, retain the use of his reason and not jeopardize his safety or that of others, there can be no sin involved in using it.
There are people out in this world who choose to smoke marijuana to a point where they do present the signs of intoxication, however, just like alcohol that is dependent on the person and why they are using it in the first place.
I have seen many arguments against marijuana, but none of have ever indicated how occasional, conscientious of marijuana is a sin. That is if the intent of smoking marijuana, is to provide relaxation, not intoxication.
Key word here is intoxication, and when talking about marijuana it is incorrect to say that a person having smoked it, is without a doubt intoxicated.
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Thoughtfulone
Guest
The voice of reason!
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edwest2
Guest
Have you called a marijuana rehab center?
rehabinfo.net/marijuana-rehab/
Please see Fact 3 in this Drug Enforcement Agency paper:
justice.gov/dea/demand/speakout/index.html
I suggest you contact the Michigan State Police and ask them about their proposed road side marijuana drug testing.
mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/09/proposed_legislation_could_all.html
Peace,
Ed
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LCMS_No_More
Guest
As a caveat, I use weed under a doctor’s recommendation.
Because weed doesn’t cause one to loose one’s memories like alcohol can.
Because one remembers everything that happened unless they were blind drunk, too.
Sometimes. If I’m smoking something strong like Mendocino Purple, yes I’ll take two hits and see where I am after a short time (about 10 minutes, which is the approximate time it takes for the full effects of smoked or vaped weed to take effect). If I need more, I’ll take a little more. If I’m where I need to be, then I stop. That’s it.
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OpenSource
Guest
This is an accurate assessment: “when talking about marijuana it is incorrect to say that a person having smoked it, is without a doubt intoxicated.”
To the OP: I think the problem you’re having is that I assume that most people that come to this forum has been pretty clean all their lives and have a lot of pre-conceived notions about drug use and their effects.
I think as long as most things are done in moderation it builds temperance.
To the OP: I think the problem you’re having is that I assume that most people that come to this forum has been pretty clean all their lives and have a lot of pre-conceived notions about drug use and their effects.
I think as long as most things are done in moderation it builds temperance.
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DJgang
Guest
one thing not mentioned, that really stops me from smoking up the most is…where did it come from? could there have been people I’ll treated during the growing and harvesting process? Think about Columbia and possibility of someone being killed while trafficking. I realize lots of pot is grown in California, etc, but I do not want to take a chance of my 40 bag or is it 60 dollars now…to have been the reason for anyone being harmed.
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Thoughtfulone
Guest
I completely agree. One should really know the exact source and be certain that it is not morally objectionable,
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Thoughtfulone
Guest
True…this site can really start to eat at you after awhile if you take every opinion to heart. I don’t know a single person who has used marijuana who thinks that it is worse than alcohol…quite the opposite.
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davidv
Guest
Whether it is worse is really irrelevant to the question of its use. I nearly all cases in the US it is illegal to use. As such, disobeying a legitimate law is a sin (immoral). So, whether occasional, regularly or intermittent, any use is an offense against God.
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Cecilianus
Guest
My opinion, Thoughtfulone, is that it is best to simply obey your spiritual director because God placed him in charge of your soul - even if you think he might be overly strict in this case. I’ve got mixed feelings about it myself - I’m a curious 21-year-old at a campus where a bunch of people I know don’t mind an occasional joint - but I’ve never heard of a priest giving anyone the ok in confession.
If we get lucky and it becomes legal in California, then will it be okay? I suppose that depends on what the altered state of mind it puts you into is like, and what your intentions are in doing it. (I’ve never tried it, so I don’t really know what I’m talking about.) The criterion I was given for alcohol use (coming from St. Thomas Aquinas, via the mouth of a rather Chestertonian-minded monk) is that one can drink to the point of merriment, but not to the point of losing your reason (that is, not to the point of not knowing or not caring about the difference between right and wrong, of doing things one would not do if he were sober, or of not having perfect control over one’s will). IF marijuana were to become legal, the same ethical criterion should probably apply there.
As it is, the law - and most college campuses - treat drug use as being a pretty serious offense. The law’s taken seriously enough to be a sin.
If we get lucky and it becomes legal in California, then will it be okay? I suppose that depends on what the altered state of mind it puts you into is like, and what your intentions are in doing it. (I’ve never tried it, so I don’t really know what I’m talking about.) The criterion I was given for alcohol use (coming from St. Thomas Aquinas, via the mouth of a rather Chestertonian-minded monk) is that one can drink to the point of merriment, but not to the point of losing your reason (that is, not to the point of not knowing or not caring about the difference between right and wrong, of doing things one would not do if he were sober, or of not having perfect control over one’s will). IF marijuana were to become legal, the same ethical criterion should probably apply there.
As it is, the law - and most college campuses - treat drug use as being a pretty serious offense. The law’s taken seriously enough to be a sin.
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PatriceA
Guest
For all of you justifying your habit of smoking pot, perhaps you should explain your use to the husband and father in this case when he has to explain to his children why their mother will not be around to see them grow up:
post-gazette.com/pg/10267/1090039-100.stm
post-gazette.com/pg/10267/1090039-100.stm
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Thoughtfulone
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This is why you don’t drive under the influence of anything, be it cough syrup, alcohol or pot. This is not responsible use. The question here is about the moderate, responsible use of marijuana. A vivid example of some moron getting high and driving into a jogging stroller is no different than a moron who drinks and drives and plows into a school bus. Just because some people cannot use these substances responsibly does not indicate that they should all be illegal.
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LCMS_No_More
Guest
Very well said!
And to the person who posted about “drinking to merriment but not to the loss of reason” is actually what smoking weed is about for most who do so. The effects of too much weed are very unpleasant (at least for me), so one learns when to stop.
In certain states, for those who are using weed under a doctor’s recommendation, I don’t believe there is sin involved.
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Thoughtfulone
Guest
Thank you
Truly, it IS actually easier to moderate the use of marijuana (IMO) than alcohol, simply because of the fact that alcohol REALLY lowers one’s inhibitions, whereas (in my experience at least) the use of marijuana makes one very aware of what is happening to one’s body, and so it is just a natural inclination to “just say NO” when one feels that any more would be excessive. With alcohol, it seems that the more one consumes, the more one WANTS to consume. The “paranoia factor” with marijuana sort of prevents this kind of excess by default. Anyone who has never partaken of marijuana would of course not understand this phenomenon.
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edwest2
Guest
Opinions should not guide anyone.Thank you
Truly, it IS actually easier to moderate the use of marijuana (IMO) than alcohol, simply because of the fact that alcohol REALLY lowers one’s inhibitions, whereas (in my experience at least) the use of marijuana makes one very aware of what is happening to one’s body, and so it is just a natural inclination to “just say NO” when one feels that any more would be excessive. With alcohol, it seems that the more one consumes, the more one WANTS to consume. The “paranoia factor” with marijuana sort of prevents this kind of excess by default. Anyone who has never partaken of marijuana would of course not understand this phenomenon.
Please see Fact 3 in this DEA fact sheet:
justice.gov/dea/demand/speakout/index.html
Marijuana is harmful and should not be used.
Peace,
Ed
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