Why Marijuana in itself is NOT sinful

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John92 said:
I have, I know about that, that obedience to government is part of the 4th commandment.

What I’m more confused about is grave matter.

I’ve heard it said like this: if you are breaking a commandment, it is grave matter, while if you’re doing something that’s not breaking a commandment but not helpful either (i.e. “immoderate laughter”), that’s a venial sin. But can’t ALL sins be seen as a violation of the ten commandments?

This sucks 😦 I’m not some spoiled brat with indulgent parents, I try to direct my actions towards loving my parents and siblings (and others depending on the situation, though I’m with family more often than not), I clean the house all the time without being asked, I do my schoolwork, I don’t ask my parents to buy me things and when they offer to I tell them not to (unless sometimes if it’s a book), I comfort people in the house when they’re having trouble, etc, I am a bit gluttonous with food, I think, but I’m working on that, and I’m going to hell because I like to have a beer?

Like I said, I’m just looking for more information. I understand the fourth commandment. What I don’t understand is Grave Matter, because I’ve seen and heard lots of priests (including, if I remember some things right, pre-VII priests) who definitely didn’t take such a vigorous definition of “grave matter” as you seem to. I don’t smoke pot because that would be directly disobeying the Church, but disobeying the government on a fairly minor piece of legislation, and most importantly with the consent of my parents, not going to some damned party and getting all messed up but having a beer with my dad because I enjoy the taste (and maybe I’ll get a very subtle feeling of relaxation) and like to sit on the front porch and talk about life . . .

If you can offer more proof that what I’m doing really is a mortal sin I’ll stop. Though I don’t want to. But then again I didn’t want to quit smoking weed either 😊
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I don’t know what the drinking laws are in your state, but in Ohio, no law was being broken. You are having alcohol, with the consent of a parent, in the presence of a parent, in your parents home
 
CWBetts said:
I don’t know what the drinking laws are in your state, but in Ohio, no law was being broken. You are having alcohol, with the consent of a parent, in the presence of a parent, in your parents home
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What a relief. I just checked the laws in my state. What I’m doing is 100% legal 🙂
Consumption is prohibited WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION(S):
• private residence AND EITHER
• - parent/guardian presence and consent OR
• - spouse
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I’m still curious about grave matter though, and how we define it.
 
John92 said:
What a relief. I just checked the laws in my state. What I’m doing is 100% legal 🙂

I’m still curious about grave matter though, and how we define it.
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The way I understand it is that grave matter is in violation of the ten commandments
 
As of 1/1/09 Ohio doesn’t have any specific law against underage drinking providing said minor is with a legal care person of parent. In other words go ahead and have that beer with your dad. If ask me though beer tastes terrible, but that’s just my opinion. I can handle and enjoy 80proof vodka better that that stuff. Even so, don’t let every little legal thing hold you up. I live in Tn which doesn’t have parent guardian exception, but I don’t let the fact that I’m underage stop me from having few drinks with the family. Do I do it with friends, absoultly not. If my parents are fine with me having a few drinks that’s all that matters. No different than doing 60 in 55mph zone.
 
stringbeanduck said:
As of 1/1/09 Ohio doesn’t have any specific law against underage drinking providing said minor is with a legal care person of parent. In other words go ahead and have that beer with your dad. If ask me though beer tastes terrible, but that’s just my opinion. I can handle and enjoy 80proof vodka better that that stuff. Even so, don’t let every little legal thing hold you up. I live in Tn which doesn’t have parent guardian exception, but I don’t let the fact that I’m underage stop me from having few drinks with the family. Do I do it with friends, absoultly not. If my parents are fine with me having a few drinks that’s all that matters. No different than doing 60 in 55mph zone.
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When people start deciding for themselves what is right and wrong, irregardless of chat the Church teaches we get into moral relativism. If you want to know what moral relativeism gets you, read Judges 17-21
 
CWBetts said:
When people start deciding for themselves what is right and wrong, irregardless of chat the Church teaches we get into moral relativism. If you want to know what moral relativeism gets you, read Judges 17-21
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Do you mean regardless of what the church says? The prefex “ir” means the opposite which confuses me when you put it in front of regardless. :o

I talked to a priest durring confession about this issue and he assured me that many parents allow thier minor children to have some alcohol. He said although there can be a sin in underage drinking, it more so has to deal with the intent for drinking.
 
stringbeanduck said:
Do you mean regardless of what the church says? The prefex “ir” means the opposite which confuses me when you put it in front of regardless. :o

I talked to a priest durring confession about this issue and he assured me that many parents allow thier minor children to have some alcohol. He said although there can be a sin in underage drinking, it more so has to deal with the intent for drinking.
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This is true, but if there are laws against it, it is a violation of the 4th commandment.
 
CWBetts said:
This is true, but if there are laws against it, it is a violation of the 4th commandment.
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While keeping mind 2199 of CCC how did honor thy father and mother become honor thy goverment?
 
stringbeanduck said:
While keeping mind 2199 of CCC how did honor thy father and mother become honor thy goverment?
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The family is the basic building block of society. The first society in history was Adam and Eve. If you look at God’s plan for families, they are actually society in miniature. The parents are the rulers and the children are subjects. The 4th commandment is taken to honor anyone in a legitimate position of authority
 
CWBetts said:
This is true, but if there are laws against it, it is a violation of the 4th commandment.
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so if one smokes in cali, its not sinful, if one steps over the line into nevada, it is? i simply dont think that is a reasonable interpretation. it may fit a technical and demanding definition, but is that really the sprit of the CCC? that means when it is legal in the state of your choice it is then ok. ive never bought the strict interpretation that geography can create immorality.
 
warpspeedpetey said:
so if one smokes in cali, its not sinful, if one steps over the line into nevada, it is? i simply dont think that is a reasonable interpretation. it may fit a technical and demanding definition, but is that really the sprit of the CCC? that means when it is legal in the state of your choice it is then ok. ive never bought the strict interpretation that geography can create immorality.
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The immorality is not in the smoking, but in the refusal to submit to legitimate authority
 
CWBetts said:
The family is the basic building block of society. The first society in history was Adam and Eve. If you look at God’s plan for families, they are actually society in miniature. The parents are the rulers and the children are subjects. The 4th commandment is taken to honor anyone in a legitimate position of authority
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I mean, I’ll believe it because it’s in the CCC, but that’s still a big jump to me. See my problem with obeying every little law is that our goverment and nation do not rule in just and godly way. Granted there are laws that we must follow and if I can clearly see that they are just laws then I am willing to obey, such as taxes. However, If I am going to pledge full obediance to sombody they first must show me that they are obediant to God and that their laws are in line with God.

2238
Those subject to authority should regard those in authority as representatives of God, who has made them stewards of his gifts:43 "Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution. . . . Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God."44 Their loyal collaboration includes the right, and at times the duty, to voice their just criticisms of that which seems harmful to the dignity of persons and to the good of the community.
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I hardly believe Obama and many other lawmakers are representatives of God. If anything they represent the opposite of God. As you can 2238 says that we are fine to live as free men so long as we don’t use our freedom to promote evil. Not too sure where the evil is in having a few drinks with the fam.
 
stringbeanduck said:
I mean, I’ll believe it because it’s in the CCC, but that’s still a big jump to me. See my problem with obeying every little law is that our goverment and nation do not rule in just and godly way. Granted there are laws that we must follow and if I can clearly see that they are just laws then I am willing to obey, such as taxes. If I am going to pledge full obediance to sombody they first must show me that they are obediant to God and that their laws are in line with God.

2238

I hardly believe Obama and many other lawmakers are representatives of God. If anything they represent the opposite of God. As you can 2238 says that we are fine to live as free men so long as we don’t use our freedom to promote evil. Not too sure where the evil is in having a few drinks with the fam.
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We are not bound to obey laws that go directly against teaching. Look at it this way. The Caesars of Rome were not Godly men, yet Jesus still exhorted people to obey the law. “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” Translation–give the government what it is entitled to: taxes, civil obedience, but much like the civil rights era, we can use civil disobedience to correct a grave wrong (like racism)
 
I believe marijuana should be completely legal for users over the age of 18 or 21. Tax it and use it to make hemp ethanol to get us off of foreign oil which has been proven to be one of the best fuel sources around. Its not nearly as physically dangerous as alcohol or tobacco. However I have heard it can lead to psychological problems such as anxiety. But I’m a small government guy and would prefer not to have Washington wasting money on a drug war that can’t be won and is targeted at minority groups. It should definitely be legal for the adult population and entrepreneurs to develop into products that could save lives and the environment… not to mention the national debt…

I’ve smoked it a couple times… I definitely felt more relaxed and spiritual. Its not nearly as severe as being drunk…Time just goes by real slowly. I’ve never been angry smoking pot… I’ve been vicious when drunk.

But is it sinful? I would say not intrinsically. God made it therefore it is good with proper use. It can be abused just like anything else… When you enter in the realm of abusing it, then it would be sinful. Smoking two joints and then smoking two joints…and then smoking two more… thats probably sinful. Heaving a bowl on the weekend if you have no obligations… Probably not.
 
CWBetts said:
The immorality is not in the smoking, but in the refusal to submit to legitimate authority
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Well then of course comes definition. For example I’m sure you would agree that smoking crack, even if it is legal somewhre, is indeed sinful. I think people need to understand why MJ is not an intrinsic evil, but crack and drugs of the like are.
 
stringbeanduck said:
Well then of course comes definition. For example I’m sure you would agree that smoking crack, even if it is legal somewhre, is indeed sinful. I think people need to understand why MJ is not an intrinsic evil, but crack is.
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Some would say that marijuana is
 
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