Genesis 1:29

[MonstersvsMartyrs]

I'm sorry I posted a Vice article. I just thought they did a good job of explaining why nobody has ever died from cannabis use. I didn't think it would be a big deal considering this was easily disproved by common sense.

Oops, looks like I did provide a link from medicalmarijuana.com. I didn't realize that. However, the links I provided are articles about peer-reviewed studies. I don't ever visit Norml or any of those sites, and I didn't realize ProCon was medicalmarijuana.com. Here are the links...

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161219084641.htm

Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse

Marijuana Compound Treats Schizophrenia with Few Side Effects: Clinical Trial

Neuroscientists found 'no evidence' that smoking pot damages an important brain region

60 Peer-Reviewed Studies on Medical Marijuana - Medical Marijuana - ProCon.org (this is the medicalmarijuana.com link, and here are the PubMed articles that it's referencing...

Cognitive and clinical outcomes associated with cannabis use in patients with bipolar I disorder

The use of cannabis as a mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder: anecdotal evidence and the need for clinical research. - PubMed - NCBI

I'm not trying to diagnose anyone. Those articles are from the National Institute of Health, and they say cannabis can help people that are bipolar.

Let's look at the Vice article you provided. This man smoked cannabis for a year without any psychotic episodes. When he turned 19, which is a very common age for schizophrenia symptoms to develop, he had a psychotic episode. He stopped and was put on medication. He didn't like the medication and began using cannabis again. Without having any other problems, he stopped using cannabis because he feared it would cause him to have another episode.

The man had a schizophrenic episode because he's schizophrenic. This in no way proves that cannabis had anything to do with that, and the two doctors that are quoted did not evaluate Fuentes.

Regardless of this debate, I am sorry that this has affected you on a personal level. I hope the best for you and your brother. God bless you as well.

I dont want to get into an argument here because I think that if people want to smoke pot, they are going to smoke it, and nothing anybody says is going to make any difference. They will believe what they want to believe.

But I have to say that its easy to dismiss this as just a correlation and not a cause, unless youve personally observed it yourself. We always knew when my brother had smoked pot, because it would always trigger an episode for him.

I must explain something. Bipolar is a mood disorder. Anything that alters mood can possibly cause mood instability and trigger an episode, worsening bipolar. Weed, alcohol, even caffeine or too much sugar. Yes, caffeine is a drug, its a stimulant, and just like all drugs, it can have bad side effects for some people. My brother doesnt smoke pot, drink alcohol, or even coffee anymore. He learned the hard way through trial and error what affected him. Like the man in the article, when he first started smoking pot, it didnt have this effect on him. But over time, he became more and more susceptible to relapses. First he had to give up weed. Then alcohol. And finally, even a cup of coffee was enough to trigger an episode and had to go.The psychiatrist told him to not take anything that might cause any instability in mood: including drugs, weed, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, or certain herbs. Now that hes finally listened and cut these things out, he hasnt had an episode in years.

Its not that doctors say not to smoke weed because they have a bias against marijuana, its because they have observed how patients are affected by it and other substances. They tell these patients to avoid things like caffeine, alcohol, and sugar too, which is legal and ok for most people to eat.

Being so zealous for marijuana that you dismiss all evidence for potential dangerous side effects in some people and recommend it as a cure all is just misguided. Sure, some people might be OK using marijuana, and some people might actually be better on it. But for some people, it might cause a severe reaction akin to psychological allergies. Everybody reacts differently. You may love desserts and dont want sugar taken away from you, but you wouldnt recommend it to a diabetic, would you? Please exercise the same amount of caution when it comes to this matter.

For every study you cite saying theres no "proof" there are plenty of others that do suggest a causal link, and even if its not proven yet beyond any doubt we have every reason to at least be cautious about something we still dont fully understand. I just need to emphasize how important this is, especially for those who might be struggling with mental health problems, to not sugarcoat the situation. Bottomline: please, listen to your doctors. It might save your life.

Peace everyone.

 

[Meowzltov]

Those are the very first words that God spoke to mankind. He told us that He Himself made every herb, and He has given us every single one of them.

Would that include hemlock? It's an herb too.

 

[anonymouswho]

Would that include hemlock? It's an herb too.

Hello Open Heart. MonstervsMartyrs mentioned hemlock on page 2, and we've been having a very nice conversation if you'd like to read through everything. Thanks.

 

[Meowzltov]

Hello Open Heart. MonstervsMartyrs mentioned hemlock on page 2, and we've been having a very nice conversation if you'd like to read through everything. Thanks.

I'm actually not against the legalization of pot. I think it is much less harmful than alcohol. I just find the "Scripture says all the herbs are ours" argument to be utterly fallacious.

Many people, I'll call them "Normies," are able to smoke pot occasionally or for medicinal purposes and it doesn't harm them, and they don't drive in that state, and it doesn't lead to other drugs.

Then there are people like me who have addictive personalities. We have to stay away from things like alcohol and pot, because they are gateways to harder stuff for us. We become dependent on them, use them for all the wrong reasons, and end up with our lives in a mess. But just like alcohol is legal and we have to control ourselves, the same will be true with pot.

 

[anonymouswho]

I dont want to get into an argument here because I think that if people want to smoke pot, they are going to smoke it, and nothing anybody says is going to make any difference. They will believe what they want to believe.

But I have to say that its easy to dismiss this as just a correlation and not a cause, unless youve personally observed it yourself. We always knew when my brother had smoked pot, because it would always trigger an episode for him.

I must explain something. Bipolar is a mood disorder. Anything that alters mood can possibly cause mood instability and trigger an episode, worsening bipolar. Weed, alcohol, even caffeine or too much sugar. Yes, caffeine is a drug, its a stimulant, and just like all drugs, it can have bad side effects for some people. My brother doesnt smoke pot, drink alcohol, or even coffee anymore. He learned the hard way through trial and error what affected him. Like the man in the article, when he first started smoking pot, it didnt have this effect on him. But over time, he became more and more susceptible to relapses. First he had to give up weed. Then alcohol. And finally, even a cup of coffee was enough to trigger an episode and had to go.The psychiatrist told him to not take anything that might cause any instability in mood: including drugs, weed, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, or certain herbs. Now that hes finally listened and cut these things out, he hasnt had an episode in years.

Its not that doctors say not to smoke weed because they have a bias against marijuana, its because they have observed how patients are affected by it and other substances. They tell these patients to avoid things like caffeine, alcohol, and sugar too, which is legal and ok for most people to eat.

Being so zealous for marijuana that you dismiss all evidence for potential dangerous side effects in some people and recommend it as a cure all is just misguided. Sure, some people might be OK using marijuana, and some people might actually be better on it. But for some people, it might cause a severe reaction akin to psychological allergies. Everybody reacts differently. You may love desserts and dont want sugar taken away from you, but you wouldnt recommend it to a diabetic, would you? Please exercise the same amount of caution when it comes to this matter.

For every study you cite saying theres no "proof" there are plenty of others that do suggest a causal link, and even if its not proven yet beyond any doubt we have every reason to at least be cautious about something we still dont fully understand. I just need to emphasize how important this is, especially for those who might be struggling with mental health problems, to not sugarcoat the situation. Bottomline: please, listen to your doctors. It might save your life.

Peace everyone.

This sounds very reasonable. I'm glad you brought up alcohol, coffee, and sugar. I'm not going to argue anymore that the cannabis didn't cause issues for your brother, but I'm glad we've recognized other factors were definitely involved. And who knows, maybe it was the coffee all along, and your brother could look at the studies from the NIH about cannabis and bipolar disorder. But if I would have made this whole post about how coffee is a herb and beneficial (which it is), I doubt anyone would have chimed in. Even if I wrote about sugar, how many people would have said "I'm diabetic and the churches should be warning christians about the dangers of sugar"?

Like Big Drew was saying, some people are allergic to detergent. Some people are allergic to peanuts, but that doesn't mean we should be sending law enforcement to chop down peanut plants all over the world, firing people from their jobs because they used peanuts two weeks ago, or spying on citizens to make sure they're not "manufacturing" peanut plants. And if the government chose to do this, the churches definitely shouldn't be supporting them, because that is ridiculous.

 

[anonymouswho]

I began smoking pot when I was 15, I smoked it as often as I could get it. I literally stayed high for at least a year once because I never went a day that I didn't get high. At age 21 I entered a rehab for alcoholism and cocaine addiction. I've been clean and sober now for 31 years.

My daughter is now 21, she lives near a pot farm in southern California where her babies dad works. They grow for legal dispensaries in LA. From age 13 until she graduated from a long term treatment program, her life was an unbelievable hell of all kinds of trouble! She still chooses to use but she is an attentive mother to her 2 year old.

Every day in America on average 28 people die from drunk driving and 211 from alcoholism, those are the ones we know for sure. Alcohol abuse cost a staggering $240 billion annually! If one of those were Ebola we would know about it, but those deaths are accepted now as a byproduct of our so called freedoms so its not national news.

If people want to use worldly standards as an example of what constitutes "success" then staying high all of your life and owning a business, 2 cars in the garage etc. will do. The children whose lives will be irrevocably altered because we are now legitimizing weed will be the ones that truly lose this debate!!!

It seems to as though you are blaming your alcoholism and cocain addiction on your cannabis use, and fear that other children will try cannabis and become drug addicts. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but that is how I interpret what you're saying here.

I'm not sure if you're aware of this or not, but the National Institute of Drug Abuse no longer says cannabis is a "gateway drug", and the DEA has pulled that from their list of "marijuana dangers". I don't expect to change your mind on this, but there are several factors that lead to hard drug abuse. If the DEA could still call cannabis a gateway drug, you know they would.

It seems your daughter is doing perfectly fine, and you even called her a good mother despite her cannabis use. I don't know if you've ever seen the show Intervention, but many parents struggle with alcoholism and hard drug use, and their children really do suffer. This show has covered everything from alcohol to obesity, but there has never been an episode about cannabis.

You are correct about alcohol, but cannabis is not addictive. Again, The National Institute of Drug Abuse cannot say cannabis is addictive because science has refuted that time and time again. Instead, they made up a term called "marijuana use disorder" to supplement their need to show cannabis as a hardcore and dangerous drug.

Actually, not only is cannabis not addictive, but legal alcohol and legal prescription drugs such as Xanex are very addictive, and if an addict stops use, the act of stopping can actually kill them. Pair this with cannabis, which has never killed anyone, ever...

https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/drug_data_sheets/Marijuana.pdf

If the governments care about us and they make "drugs" illegal to protect us; if "drugs are illegal because they are destructive and addictive", why is hemp still a Schedule 1 substance? And why did the DEA recently add CBD oil, which has been proven to be the most effective medicine for epilepsy and is endorsed by the Epilepsy Foundation, a Schedule 1 substance?

 

[anonymouswho]

Absolutely outstanding that you have been sober for 31 years! So many try and don't succeed. I had a problem with pain pills when I was younger, so I understand the struggle...but for the grace of God...

I've never been one to enjoy the effects of smoking pot...and if it was legal in my state for recreational use, I wouldn't even consider partaking...just not my thing. And that's just personal choice, nothing to do with anything else...

There do seem to be many medical benefits though, and while it may not help everything...nothing does. We wouldn't expect an antibiotic to treat insomnia...or an antidepressant to cure cancer.

And in regards to side effects of marijuana use...have we never watched a commercial for a new prescription medication and then at the end heard a long list of, contact your doctor immediately if...........

Everything has side effects, for some people...my wife can't eat crab, my dad was lactose intolerant, one of my daughters has such sensitive skin that if we don't use a certain type of laundry detergent she breaks out...but none of these things affect me. And none of these things are bad.

My issue with the whole pot debate, in general, is our dependence on the government...people should be able to make up their own minds in regards to what they put in their own bodies...and, even if we approach it from a biblical standpoint, then we can say it's the Church's job to preach abstinence from mind altering substances...but, it's not the government's...we live in a democratic republic...not a theocracy.

This is a great point. Everything has side effects, and people react differently to many things. We don't see the churches coming together for an all out ban on Tide detergent because a few people have allergic reactions!

I just want to say that what you're doing is very honorable to me. As a non-user, this issue doesn't even really effect you (although unfortunately other non-users cannot say the same), so thanks for joining the conversation and I look forward to reading more from you.

 

[anonymouswho]

I'm actually not against the legalization of pot. I think it is much less harmful than alcohol. I just find the "Scripture says all the herbs are ours" argument to be utterly fallacious.

Many people, I'll call them "Normies," are able to smoke pot occasionally or for medicinal purposes and it doesn't harm them, and they don't drive in that state, and it doesn't lead to other drugs.

Then there are people like me who have addictive personalities. We have to stay away from things like alcohol and pot, because they are gateways to harder stuff for us. We become dependent on them, use them for all the wrong reasons, and end up with our lives in a mess. But just like alcohol is legal and we have to control ourselves, the same will be true with pot.

I can see where fallacies can arise by using Genesis 1:29, but my point is not that you "should" use cannabis. My point is that nobody has the right to tell you that you can't, because God gave it to you. If somebody wants to eat a bunch of hemlock without first learning about it or preparing it properly, nobody has the right to say that they can't.

My intentions are to get rid of 90 years of government propaganda against cannabis. Even if the schizophrenic thing was found to be true, for 99% of the world's population, cannabis is completely harmless. Hemp and CBD oil are also completely harmless, non-psychoactive, and Schedule 1 substances along with heroin. Something is very wrong.

 

[Big Drew]

This is a great point. Everything has side effects, and people react differently to many things. We don't see the churches coming together for an all out ban on Tide detergent because a few people have allergic reactions!

I just want to say that what you're doing is very honorable to me. As a non-user, this issue doesn't even really effect you (although unfortunately other non-users cannot say the same), so thanks for joining the conversation and I look forward to reading more from you.

Thanks.

This subject appeals to my libertarian side. I see no need for the government of a country founded on liberty to strip away said liberty from its people. So long as what someone chooses to do does not put anyone else in harm, then they should be free to do it. Be it smoking weed, drinking, consensual adult sex, or even doing harder drugs...that's their right, who are we to tell someone no you can't do that? Simply given the fact that prohibition was repealed in the 1930s for alcohol...it's unconstitutional to ban any mind altering substance, IMO. If I can have a glass of whiskey in my house, or out in public for that matter, and do so freely...there's no reason you shouldn't be able to have the same right to toke up without fear of suffering legal consequences. Now, where the government should step in is if our use of substance of choice puts another person in danger...driving under the influence, domestic violence, child endangerment, and things like this...but as long as the only one affected is the individual, then no harm no foul.

From a Christian standpoint, we are told to be of sober mind in the Bible...so, as I mentioned earlier, if we want to minister to those dependent on drugs or alcohol then that is our right to do so...it would also be the right of the church to say that its members cannot partake. And, with that I have no issue.

There's also the medical side...and you've done a great job of providing references on this...there's so many people that can be helped by marijuana...cancer patients, epileptics, those with other mental disorders...if this can help them, then why not make it easier for them to obtain it? And this appeals to both the libertarian and the Christian in me...help the sick by giving them their freedom.

 

[MonstersvsMartyrs]

This sounds very reasonable. I'm glad you brought up alcohol, coffee, and sugar. I'm not going to argue anymore that the cannabis didn't cause issues for your brother, but I'm glad we've recognized other factors were definitely involved. And who knows, maybe it was the coffee all along, and your brother could look at the studies from the NIH about cannabis and bipolar disorder. But if I would have made this whole post about how coffee is a herb and beneficial (which it is), I doubt anyone would have chimed in. Even if I wrote about sugar, how many people would have said "I'm diabetic and the churches should be warning christians about the dangers of sugar"?

Like Big Drew was saying, some people are allergic to detergent. Some people are allergic to peanuts, but that doesn't mean we should be sending law enforcement to chop down peanut plants all over the world, firing people from their jobs because they used peanuts two weeks ago, or spying on citizens to make sure they're not "manufacturing" peanut plants. And if the government chose to do this, the churches definitely shouldn't be supporting them, because that is ridiculous.

... I have been saying a long time that people should also beware of the health problems associated with too much sugar. There are over 100 things that too much sugar can cause, and America is suffering from many of them. 70% of Americans are obese. People can make their own decisions, but we need to be informed about the good AND the bad. It is sort of your responsibility to mention possible risks whenever you promote something. Otherwise people dont know what they are getting into. So yeah, if I was writing about how great something is for you-whether its coffee or whatever-id add a warning that says there are some possible side effects and some people should not take it. What does that hurt?

No, we dont outlaw peanuts... but we ARE required by law to put a warning on all products that contain peanuts, because some people could be seriously hurt by them. Im not now nor ever was suggesting that we should keep marijuana illegal. Im for legalization, we are America afterall. But when we do legalize it, we need to regulate it like we do all foods, and make sure people are educated on how to properly use it and how to recognize potential side effects and risks, like we do with virtually every other legal drug and food thats on the market. We dont just pretend these side effects dont exist.

No. It wasnt the coffee. This is not like he was drinking loads of coffee and alcohol and smoking pot all at once. This is like where he would be doing OK for a year and then smoke pot again and immediately have an episode. It was obvious what it was, there was always a clear cause.

I have a question though. Why are you and certain other people who are pro marijuana so concerned about how other people see marijuana? Like you really really want people to believe its such a good thing. Why does it matter to you what people think of it?

 

[anonymouswho]

... I have been saying a long time that people should also beware of the health problems associated with too much sugar. There are over 100 things that too much sugar can cause, and America is suffering from many of them. 70% of Americans are obese. People can make their own decisions, but we need to be informed about the good AND the bad. It is sort of your responsibility to mention possible risks whenever you promote something. Otherwise people dont know what they are getting into. So yeah, if I was writing about how great something is for you-whether its coffee or whatever-id add a warning that says there are some possible side effects and some people should not take it. What does that hurt?

No, we dont outlaw peanuts... but we ARE required by law to put a warning on all products that contain peanuts, because some people could be seriously hurt by them. Im not now nor ever was suggesting that we should keep marijuana illegal. Im for legalization, we are America afterall. But when we do legalize it, we need to regulate it like we do all foods, and make sure people are educated on how to properly use it and how to recognize potential side effects and risks, like we do with virtually every other legal drug and food thats on the market. We dont just pretend these side effects dont exist.

No. It wasnt the coffee. This is not like he was drinking loads of coffee and alcohol and smoking pot all at once. This is like where he would be doing OK for a year and then smoke pot again and immediately have an episode. It was obvious what it was, there was always a clear cause.

I have a question though. Why are you and certain other people who are pro marijuana so concerned about how other people see marijuana? Like you really really want people to believe its such a good thing. Why does it matter to you what people think of it?

Honestly, I think it's ridiculous that I feel the need to show cannabis in such a high status. The fact is, people have been lied to for so long, one tiny irrelevant thing about cannabis is enough for them to say "see, keep it illegal". And we all have to admit the government is lying. Cannabis, and especially hemp, is just as dangerous as heroin? As Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently said about the fact that cannabis helps opioid addiction, "Give me a break!"

Let's take the schizophrenic thing for example. One percent of the world's population has schizophrenia. Let's pretend that it's true to say cannabis "might" cause a schizophrenic to have an episode. That is a far cry from saying cannabis will make you schizophrenic, but the people believe this because they have been lied to. When a million lies have been told, it takes a million refutations to get rid of those lies.

It matters to us because people are going to prison, parents are losing their jobs and having their children ripped from their homes, kids with epilepsy cannot get the best and safest medicine for themselves, people with cancer and other terrible diseases are suffering. Men who fight overseas and come back with PTSD are given opioids and other medications that can, and have, ruined their lives. But if they use cannabis, they risk losing their benefits that they risked their lives for. The government wastes about 20 billion (with a b) dollars yearly to cut down a plant that will grow regardless of mankind's intervention. This article is about Wall Street, but 20 billion dollars could end world hunger.

Now mix all this with the fact that I, and millions of other people, are going to use it regardless. That means not only is all this money wasted, but it's ineffective, which makes it an even bigger waste.

So lies, wasted money and resources, and inhumane policies is why it matters what people think. This doesn't just affect the "potheads". This affects everyone.

 

[anonymouswho]

Thanks.

This subject appeals to my libertarian side. I see no need for the government of a country founded on liberty to strip away said liberty from its people. So long as what someone chooses to do does not put anyone else in harm, then they should be free to do it. Be it smoking weed, drinking, consensual adult sex, or even doing harder drugs...that's their right, who are we to tell someone no you can't do that? Simply given the fact that prohibition was repealed in the 1930s for alcohol...it's unconstitutional to ban any mind altering substance, IMO. If I can have a glass of whiskey in my house, or out in public for that matter, and do so freely...there's no reason you shouldn't be able to have the same right to toke up without fear of suffering legal consequences. Now, where the government should step in is if our use of substance of choice puts another person in danger...driving under the influence, domestic violence, child endangerment, and things like this...but as long as the only one affected is the individual, then no harm no foul.

From a Christian standpoint, we are told to be of sober mind in the Bible...so, as I mentioned earlier, if we want to minister to those dependent on drugs or alcohol then that is our right to do so...it would also be the right of the church to say that its members cannot partake. And, with that I have no issue.

There's also the medical side...and you've done a great job of providing references on this...there's so many people that can be helped by marijuana...cancer patients, epileptics, those with other mental disorders...if this can help them, then why not make it easier for them to obtain it? And this appeals to both the libertarian and the Christian in me...help the sick by giving them their freedom.

I agree.. separation of church and state, because "christians" shouldn't need the government to tell them how to be a good person. We have the Scriptures and the holy spirit.

I'm not going to argue with you about what I think "sober-minded" means, but I think Sproul Jr. wrote a pretty decent article, besides the fact that we have a very different theology.

Being a libertarian, I'm wondering if you've ever read any of the works of Joseph Priestley. He had a major influence on Thomas Jefferson, and although my theology is closer to Jefferson's, Priestley is still very much worth reading. You may not agree with him, and I don't agree with everything, but if you enjoy a challenge, very few surviving works can compare.

 

[Alithis]

It says, for food, not for smoking.

I think it would be better to avoid using drugs. But I think people should also be free.

I agree .plants for food ,,not burnt and it's toxic fume inhaled.(yes I was a heavy user)
But it does not make people free so they are not free by using it. It enslaved them by its use

 

[Colter]

It seems to as though you are blaming your alcoholism and cocain addiction on your cannabis use, and fear that other children will try cannabis and become drug addicts. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but that is how I interpret what you're saying here.

I'm not sure if you're aware of this or not, but the National Institute of Drug Abuse no longer says cannabis is a "gateway drug", and the DEA has pulled that from their list of "marijuana dangers". I don't expect to change your mind on this, but there are several factors that lead to hard drug abuse. If the DEA could still call cannabis a gateway drug, you know they would.

It seems your daughter is doing perfectly fine, and you even called her a good mother despite her cannabis use. I don't know if you've ever seen the show Intervention, but many parents struggle with alcoholism and hard drug use, and their children really do suffer. This show has covered everything from alcohol to obesity, but there has never been an episode about cannabis.

You are correct about alcohol, but cannabis is not addictive. Again, The National Institute of Drug Abuse cannot say cannabis is addictive because science has refuted that time and time again. Instead, they made up a term called "marijuana use disorder" to supplement their need to show cannabis as a hardcore and dangerous drug.

Actually, not only is cannabis not addictive, but legal alcohol and legal prescription drugs such as Xanex are very addictive, and if an addict stops use, the act of stopping can actually kill them. Pair this with cannabis, which has never killed anyone, ever...

https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/drug_data_sheets/Marijuana.pdf

If the governments care about us and they make "drugs" illegal to protect us; if "drugs are illegal because they are destructive and addictive", why is hemp still a Schedule 1 substance? And why did the DEA recently add CBD oil, which has been proven to be the most effective medicine for epilepsy and is endorsed by the Epilepsy Foundation, a Schedule 1 substance?

The outstanding characteristic of addiction it that it tells you that you don't have it. Addiction is denial of dependency.





Using weed to help with illness is fine. Use only as directed.

There are Marijuana addiction treatment centers all over America. I've been in a 12 program all of my life wherein their are many people who are recovering from weed addiction, one day at a time, like any other chemical dependency. You are woefully ignorant of THC dependency. And today the weed farmers are producing a product that is 40 times more potent then the Columbian Gold of my childhood.

Some sort of science may refute marijuana addiction but for THC addicts that is meaningless. I still remember when all the leaders of the tobacco industry stood up before congress and, one by one, denied that nicotine is addictive. For me, getting off of nicotine was the hardest of all my addictions!!!


I was clean and sober for 10 years before we had 3 children. They were provided with a good, stable home life. Out of politeness I'm giving my daughter credit where she is in life. There are ongoing issues.

But lets get down to a deeper truth, for a person with an addictive personality, many substances or practices can be an addiction, a form of reality avoidance. The term "gateway" and pot just means that, if a person is willing to try some weed with his neighborhood friends, he may also be willing to try some other stuff later on. Gateway doesn't mean a guarantee.

I still remember the days when the government wasn't on board with alcohol being an addiction, it was political. If and when they finally did concede, meant disability status for government employees and veterans.

 

[Clintos]

The Bible also tells us to be sober minded and warns against intoxication.

Agreed

 

[Big Drew]

I agree.. separation of church and state, because "christians" shouldn't need the government to tell them how to be a good person. We have the Scriptures and the holy spirit.

I'm not going to argue with you about what I think "sober-minded" means, but I think Sproul Jr. wrote a pretty decent article, besides the fact that we have a very different theology.

Being a libertarian, I'm wondering if you've ever read any of the works of Joseph Priestley. He had a major influence on Thomas Jefferson, and although my theology is closer to Jefferson's, Priestley is still very much worth reading. You may not agree with him, and I don't agree with everything, but if you enjoy a challenge, very few surviving works can compare.

I have not read any of his works, I'll have to check him out. Thanks.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I have not read any of his works, I'll have to check him out. Thanks.

I too have heard good reports of RC Sproul but haven't read him myself.

 

[anonymouswho]

The outstanding characteristic of addiction it that it tells you that you don't have it. Addiction is denial of dependency.





Using weed to help with illness is fine. Use only as directed.

There are Marijuana addiction treatment centers all over America. I've been in a 12 program all of my life wherein their are many people who are recovering from weed addiction, one day at a time, like any other chemical dependency. You are woefully ignorant of THC dependency. And today the weed farmers are producing a product that is 40 times more potent then the Columbian Gold of my childhood.

Some sort of science may refute marijuana addiction but for THC addicts that is meaningless. I still remember when all the leaders of the tobacco industry stood up before congress and, one by one, denied that nicotine is addictive. For me, getting off of nicotine was the hardest of all my addictions!!!


I was clean and sober for 10 years before we had 3 children. They were provided with a good, stable home life. Out of politeness I'm giving my daughter credit where she is in life. There are ongoing issues.

But lets get down to a deeper truth, for a person with an addictive personality, many substances or practices can be an addiction, a form of reality avoidance. The term "gateway" and pot just means that, if a person is willing to try some weed with his neighborhood friends, he may also be willing to try some other stuff later on. Gateway doesn't mean a guarantee.

I still remember the days when the government wasn't on board with alcohol being an addiction, it was political. If and when they finally did concede, meant disability status for government employees and veterans.

Before I get into statistics, which I believe to be very revealing about cannabis users in treatment centers, I would like to quickly say that I find it highly unlikely that the science behind cannabis addiction is false.

Tobacco and alcohol are two legal industries, and the scientists behind their studies were paid a lot of money to attempt to prove their safety. The fact that the government tried to help the alcohol industry by backing their non-addiction claims is only further proof that the government does not have our best interest in mind.

Cannabis is illegal, and the federal government has tried for years to prove that it is addictive. The intentions have always been very different for cannabis, and they have failed through their own research to find any evidence of cannabis addiction.

It is true that some people have an addictive personality. They can get addicted to anything, whether it be shopping or playing checkers. Because this personally trait affects a small portion of the population, does this mean we should outlaw all things that have ever been shown to bring about addictive behavior? If we ban shopping, the world would not be able to function.

Now on to statistics. The Department of Health and Human Services released a research essay about substance abuse treatment in America. If you scroll down to page 21 (based on the page numbers at the bottom of each page) there are statistics for cannabis treatment. Let's keep in mind that cannabis is the most "widely used substance of abuse" in the country. This means millions of people have tried cannabis as opposed to any other "drug", with about 95 million people admitting to cannabis use in their life. However, cannabis only accounts for 17% of treatment admissions, which is 2% less than heroin and has been used by about 700,000 people.

If you continue reading the study, you will see that 52% of cannabis users who entered treatment were sent there by the criminal justice system. This means that half of those entering treatment did not enter by themselves or by individual referral. The study says:

• Primary marijuana admissions were less likely than all admissions combined to be self- or individually referred to treatment (18 vs. 37 percent). Primary marijuana admissions were most likely to be referred by a criminal justice source (52 percent) [Table 2.6].
  

So this equals to about 8.5% of all treatment admissions to be cannabis users. This doesn't mean 8.5% of the 95 million people who have tried cannabis entered treatment; it means that out of the 95 million people that have tried cannabis (much more than all illegal substances combined), it only accounts for 8.5% of self and individually referred admissions.

Compare these statistics to this article about shopping addiction.

Since we've been talking about personal experiences, I have been a daily user of cannabis for years. I recently had to stop because of drug testing at work. Since waking up one day and just not smoking, my symptoms have included a very strong annoyance of the criminal justice system, which probably accounted for about 99% of my mild irritability for the first few days, and a compulsive need to rant on the internet, to newspapers, and to government officials.

 

[ChristianFromKazakhstan]

Hello everyone. I'm curious to know how you feel about Cannabis use. I have written an essay that I'd like to share with you. Hope you enjoy!

"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." Genesis 1:29

Those are the very first words that God spoke to mankind. He told us that He Himself made every herb, and He has given us every single one of them.

Cannabis being legalized isn't just about the fact that the Controlled Substance Act is grossly unconstitutional, that mothers and fathers are going to prison and having their children ripped from their homes, that Congress abuses the Commerce Clause to tell us what we cannot have in our own homes and bodies, or the countless lives that have been destroyed because of the failed War on Drugs. Cannabis is a God given right.

The governments tell us God was wrong; that He made a mistake. Why should anyone, whether they support legalization or not, stand for such a thing? Cannabis laws have nothing to do with helping anyone, nor do they have to do with money. The government uses cannabis to invade the rights of everyone. The DEA has put GPS tracking devices on vehicles, they have intercepted millions of American's phone calls, they can open your mail, and they can search your home or car without a warrant by simply saying, "It smelled like marijuana".

The Commerce Clause of the Constitution says that Congress has the power "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes". From this single sentence, Congress created the Controlled Substance Act. This is how it works:

Congress has the authority to control "interstate commerce", or commerce between state lines. Commerce within state lines, or "intrastate commerce" is supposed to be regulated by the individual States. However, Congress says that it is not feasible for law enforcement to know whether cannabis is being sold or was obtained through interstate commerce, so they regulate the intrastate commerce as well.

In 2002, Angel Raich's home was invaded by DEA agents who destroyed her six medical cannabis plants. Raich took this to the Supreme Court, claiming that her plants were for personal use and obviously did not affect interstate commerce. The Court disagreed, stating that in Wickard vs. Filburn (1942), the Court had decided that growing wheat for one's personal use was within Congress's power to regulate. This essentially means that Congress has the authority to prohibit absolutely anything. If they wish to prohibit chairs, you cannot have a chair for personal use. They may also ban all materials used to "manufacture" chairs. This is not just about "drugs". This is about our rights and liberties as American citizens.

The Controlled Substance Act says cannabis, or "marihunana" as it's called in the Act, is a Scheduled 1 substance along with heroin and LSD, which means it has no acceptable medicinal value. However, Patent 6630507 is the U.S. Govenment's own patent on the various cannabinoids present in cannabis. The government is lying, and millions of people are forced to use prescription drugs which have rampaged Kentucky and the country.

Yet alcohol, which must be manufactured and has destroyed countless lives, is sold and celebrated all over the country. The Scriptures have plenty to say about alcohol and why it is wise to avoid it. When God made all the plants on the third day, before there was ever a man to till the ground, cannabis grew without any help. There is no need to "manufacture" cannabis. It's a plant!

Some will say "But it's against the law of the land!" Nonsense. The law of the land is that God made all plants and herbs, because the very first words that God said to man is "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed".

God made it, and He made it for you. He made it because He loves you. He made it to bring you health, wellbeing, and to supplement your endocannabinoid system, which He also made. Nobody has the right to tell you that you can't have that which God explicitly said is yours.

"He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth" Psalm 104:14

Thanks for reading.

I think it must be legalized but controlled because the fight against it has been lost and can never be won. Like tobacco or alcohol etc. But of course addiction to marihuana is a brain-killing disease. Again, same as tobacco or alcohol use. But humankind lives with those two deadly destructory substances.

 

[John Hyperspace]

I believe all drugs should be legal. It's a part of the whole "pursuit of happiness"; if drugs make you happy, no one should be able to enforce legislation denying you what you wish in order to be happy. Making drugs illegal doesn't seem to do anything positive, and seems to me contrary to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". Not to mention the blatant hypocrisy with pharmaceuticals.