Philippine bishops issue statement on medical marijuana

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Neither endorsing nor criticizing proposed legislation on the medical use of marijuana, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has issued a statement entitled “Pastoral Guidance on the Compassionate Use of Cannabis.”
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“There must be no doubt as to a fundamental principle: when the use of cannabis or any other narcotic or psychotropic substance is not medically indicated and where there are other forms of intervention and treatment possible that do not pose the same risks as does the use of these substances, it is morally irresponsible to make use of cannabis and other narcotic or psychotropic substances, and it is gravely wrong to make use of them for recreational or leisure purposes,” the bishops said in their statement.
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“The highest teaching authority of the Church allows for the palliative and compassionate use of narcotics particularly in the case of the terminally ill,” the bishops added, citing St. John Paul II, who wrote that “Pius XII affirmed that it is licit to relieve pain by narcotics even when the result is decreased consciousness and a shortening of life, ‘if no other means exist, and if, in the given circumstances, this does not prevent the carrying out of other religious and moral duties.’”
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catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=25860
 
I’ve never considered marijuana to be a narcotic. It’s not really a useful term since it can mean anything the law wants it to mean. In this context it makes it seem as if it’s in the same league as opiates which is incorrect. Weed’s not even in the same league as Tylenol which has killed many more people than marijuana ever will since every positive number is greater than zero and is way less effective than marijuana.
 
J_Peterson said:
I’ve never considered marijuana to be a narcotic. It’s not really a useful term since it can mean anything the law wants it to mean. In this context it makes it seem as if it’s in the same league as opiates which is incorrect. Weed’s not even in the same league as Tylenol which has killed many more people than marijuana ever will since every positive number is greater than zero and is way less effective than marijuana.
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But a cold beer is so much better after mowing the lawn !
 
TARRAT said:
Do you have facts to back that up.
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Here is an article on Tylenol. About 150 deaths per year.

propublica.org/article/tylenol-mcneil-fda-use-only-as-directed

There have been no recorded deaths from marijuana. It simply isn’t toxic enough to kill. You’d have to take an inhuman amount to die. You’d probably need to inject a very large amount of pure THC directly into your blood to die. I don’t think anyone has ever done that.
 
J_Peterson said:
Here is an article on Tylenol. About 150 deaths per year.

propublica.org/article/tylenol-mcneil-fda-use-only-as-directed

There have been no recorded deaths from marijuana. It simply isn’t toxic enough to kill. You’d have to take an inhuman amount to die. You’d probably need to inject a very large amount of pure THC directly into your blood to die. I don’t think anyone has ever done that.
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It’s not just about whether you die from taking a substance though is it, it is about the way it effects you. By the way, many people take pain killers because they have a medical issue, though some people do abuse them through addiction or otherwise. Some people take marijuana for medical issues, but many take it to get high.
 
_Abyssinia said:
It’s not just about whether you die from taking a substance though is it, it is about the way it effects you. By the way, many people take pain killers because they have a medical issue, though some people do abuse them through addiction or otherwise. Some people take marijuana for medical issues, but many take it to get high.
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:thumbsup:And how many die from the people who are effected by the drug…car accidents, industrial accidents, suicides. C’mon J let’s be honest about the dangers of MJ.
 
TARRAT said:
:thumbsup:And how many die from the people who are effected by the drug…car accidents, industrial accidents, suicides. C’mon J let’s be honest about the dangers of MJ.
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Haha far fewer than the number from alcohol; c’mon tarrat, let’s be honest of the overhyped fear of MJ.
 
_Abyssinia said:
It’s not just about whether you die from taking a substance though is it, it is about the way it effects you. By the way, many people take pain killers because they have a medical issue, though some people do abuse them through addiction or otherwise. Some people take marijuana for medical issues, but many take it to get high.
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I’m kinda curious now… do you drink coffee?
 
MTarcisius said:
I’m kinda curious now… do you drink coffee?
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I don’t drink it regularly. Have you seen video of people smoking marijuana? Do you think smoking a joint has the same effect on a person from a visual and behavioural perspective, typically (not everyone necessarily the same), that coffee does?
 
_Abyssinia said:
I don’t drink it regularly. Have you seen video of people smoking marijuana? Do you think smoking a joint has the same effect on a person from a visual and behavioural perspective, typically (not everyone necessarily the same), that coffee does?
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Haha yes I have seen Reefer Madness.

My opinion on this matter is not necessarily relevant. The important point is church teaching. The quote you provided stated “psychotropic substances”. By definition, coffee is a psychotropic substance.
CCC 2291 uses the broad term of “drug”. Once again coffee is a drug by definition. Thus church teaching states that all drugs (nutmeg, coffee, cannabis, LSD, heroin etc.) are only to be used on strictly therapeutic grounds.

If you apply CCC 2291 to cannabis but not to coffee then you are engaging in what is known as cafeteria Catholicism.

If this were a non-catholic social discussion, then all our opinions on the safety of various drugs would be relevant.
 
_Abyssinia said:
It’s not just about whether you die from taking a substance though is it, it is about the way it effects you.
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To help clarify my point…

Actually CCC 2291 states “the use of drugs inflicts grave damage on human health and life.” It makes no mention about “the way it effects you”. So whether or not you die from taking a substance is very relevant. Caffeine and Tylenol are both more lethal than cannabis.
 
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