No matter how you feel about it, Marijuana is here to stay. I predict that it will only continue to gain popularity (and use) as the years roll on.
I suppose that there are two main reasons why people use this psychoactive drug: Recreational; and Medicinal. (Social pressure from peers falls under “recreational” use. Being actually forced to use it falls under “abuse” from others and is not on the conscience of the victim.)
We should all know that Marijuana was created when everything else was created. It isn’t an invention of mankind, but of God. Of course, the same Creator also made poisonous mushrooms, something that I would not recommend for human consumption.
About Marijuana
To begin with, “Marijuana” is not the formal name of this herbal substance. Its real name is Cannabis.
According to Britannica, “Cannabaceae, the hemp family (order Rosales), containing about 11 genera and about 170 species of plants. Its members are distributed nearly worldwide, many occurring throughout temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Older authorities included the two genera Cannabis and Humulus in the mulberry family (Moraceae), but these and the former hackberry family (Celtidaceae) are now included in Cannabaceae.” (https://www.britannica.com/plant/Cannabaceae)
Okay, probably not that helpful of a quote. But you can see that there are many plants that are similar to Cannabis. Here’s what I understand about this plant.
Cannabis has three subspecies that have different properties about them. This can get a bit complicated to give a simple overview, but I’m going to try. The three subspecies of Cannabis are: Sativa, Indica, and Ruderalis. Each one has different properties than the others, but since these are living organisms that can be crossbred by people, there are many, many offshoots from these three main subspecies.
Very simply put, Sativa affects your mood with an upbeat feeling. It can help people be creative, in a way. It can bring a happy mood to the one under its influence. Indica, on the other hand, affects the body in a way that brings a calming, sedating affect. It helps people fall asleep, calm down, and just generally relax when upset. Ruderalis has little to no affect on the body or mind. But because of its growth characteristics, it is sometimes crossbred with the others to affect how they grow. And there are nearly countless ways that growers of this herb have combined them to achieve all sorts of variations on these main effects. When two or more plants are combined, we call the result a “Hybrid“. This is where people fine-tune the drug to achieve a particular result.
But wait, there’s more (much more than I care to discuss here, really). The US Government has classified Cannabis into two main classes: Marijuana; and Hemp. You see, this plant has a multitude of compounds (natural chemicals) in it that all have different functions and effects when consumed. THC is a main component that has a psychotropic affect on humans. “Psychotropic” means that it affects your mind in some way. It’s because of THC (short for tetrahydrocannabinol) that the government stepped in to regulate this substance. That’s why the US government makes a distinction between “Hemp” and “Marijuana”. If a plant has something like .3% or less of THC in it, it is classified as Hemp. If it has or more than .3% THC, it’s called Marijuana. This number was used in the legal definition of hemp, as specified in the Agricultural Act of 2018 and other laws in the United States.
Another important compound found in Cannabis is CBD (short for Cannabinodiol). This substance, by itself, does not affect people’s mood or mental state (at least to the point of being psychotropic). Instead, it helps to relieve pain, anxiety, and restlessness (so you can fall asleep, for example) among other things. CBD is completely legal in the United States. It is used in creams, ointments, oils, drinks, and a plethora of products designed for specific purposes.
Obviously, entire papers could be written on this complex plant and all of the derivatives, products, and uses of it. And I’ve already gone on too long about it here. What I want to discuss is how using this is either a biblical or unbiblical thing to do.
Is Using Marijuana Biblical
In full disclosure, this subheading is more for the Search Engines than the actual meat of the content. The real question is should those of the Christian faith use this stuff or not? Is it ethical and moral from a Christian perspective?
For me, this is not an easy question to answer. Firstly, it isn’t directly addressed in the Bible the way that alcohol use is. We know that believers can drink wine, for instance. Jesus did it. His followers did it. And Paul recommended red wine to Timothy for his stomach issue, whatever it was. We even know that we will drink wine with our Lord at His great banquet. But Cannabis use is another issue, isn’t it?
Let me start by saying that cannabis is a drug. It’s a drug that affects your mind and body. Is it good or bad that it affects your mind and body? The short answer is “yes, it’s both good and bad”. To really get a grip on this topic, you need to do some serious research of your own into this subject. Just reading my little post here is not going to be enough to formulate a position on this hot topic.
Marijuana (Cannabis) is just one of many psychoactive substances known to man. For this reason, I believe that this topic needs to be understood in the big picture. What are some other psychoactive substances that Christians partake of on a regular basis? Caffeine is one. Yep, caffeine is considered psychoactive. Anyone who can’t wake up without their cup of Joe in the morning is keenly aware of this. Tobacco is another. Its calming effect is absolutely necessary to most of those who are under its grip. Alcohol, obviously, is psychoactive. In fact, it’s about the most dangerous thing to become dependent upon. Did you know that alcohol, not heroine, morphine, or any other psychotropic drug, can actually kill the addict if detoxification is not done properly? That’s right. Alcohol is one of the most dangerous substances that can latch on to man.
Some psychotropics have been long used in occultic and religious rites and ceremonies. Some examples are: Peyote (used by North American Natives), Ayahuasca (used by South American Natives), Psilocybin (a kind of mushroom, used by many peoples around the world), and to a lesser extent, Coca plants (used to make Cocaine). When people are under the influence of such intoxicating substances, they can have all kinds of visions and other experiences that can open them up to intense manipulation from spiritual forces that have very devious intentions toward mankind.
Unfortunately, we don’t even need to be under the influence of a psychoactive drug to be vulnerable to demonic attack. So putting ourselves under such influence is only making us even more vulnerable. It’s almost like extending an invitation to those spiritual forces to “come on in” and do what they may. For this reason, I think that we need to be extremely vigilant in how we interact with such things.
Now, what about those who need something to help them overcome mental issues that are already present in their minds? Do we treat all forms of medicine as the Jehovah’s Witnesses do, and say that none of it is acceptable? Do we avoid any effort of man to alleviate our mental or physical state? Is a blood transfusion biblical? What about pharmaceuticals prescribed by physicians and psychiatrists? From firsthand knowledge, I can say that some of those drugs are worse than the condition they are supposed to treat.
Here’s how I look at this issue. If someone has a condition, like anxiety, and the drugs that were prescribed to them aren’t working (or even making their condition worse), why not give Cannabis a shot? If someone is under chronic pain, why not allow a more natural solution than Vicodin (for example) have a try? The same could be said of all of the conditions that afflict those who use Cannabis for medical treatment. I can say with confidence that many Christians in the world use Cannabis for a large range of conditions. So for those people, I say go for it. Try to use the administration method (edible, drinkable, inhalable) that works best for you and is the least detrimental to your health.
For those who do not need this substance to fight an ailment, I say don’t do it. Taking any medication that is not needed is a grave mistake. Hydrocodone and other pain relievers are being abused at an alarming rate around the world (especially in the USA). Cannabis, when used strictly for recreational purposes is no different. It is not as bad as those heavily regulated drugs. It isn’t even as bad as alcohol, IN SOME WAYS. But it can be very detrimental all the same.
Harmful effects of Marijuana (THC) can be very harmful. Memory loss, stunted cognition, lung damage, slowing of motor skills and the like are just the main ones. Definitely, driving should not be attempted while under the influence of this drug. And not just the effects on the body and mind should be considered. What about potential problems with other people as a result of such use? Teenagers, do you want mom and dad to see you while you’re high? What about your teachers? Professionals, do you want your clients to know that you are a user? Would you like your doctors, nurses, cab drivers, attorneys, pastors, police, firefighters, or even cooks and servers to be under the influence while using their services?
On the one hand, we don’t need to be Pharisaical in our approach to this substance and tell everyone that it is anathema in all circumstances. On the other hand, we don’t need to be foolishly allowing an anything goes mentality to take over our lives. Why don’t we use the brains that God gave us and handle this substance like anything else that can affect our body and mind? We don’t need to fear it to the degree that it is completely demonic; and we don’t need to embrace it as a totally harmless thing that is just another one of the many plants that God gave us for our pleasure. Be smart. If you don’t need it, don’t take it. If you need it, make sure that you really need it. And if this is the case, then do it as unto the Lord, with prayer and thanksgiving. Ask Him if it’s right for you. And whatever you do, LEARN ALL YOU CAN before you jump into this world of psychoactive substances.
In His love,
Gary
