Hello everyone, I am a new member, and would like your input with regards to marijuana use. I read other threads, but they haven't exactly answered my questions. I am not looking for personal opinions, but facts based on scripture and only input from those willing to read my entire post before commenting. If you have experience using marijuana, bonus, because then you may have greater understanding of what I'm talking about. I can't stress enough that I have done my research on this issue but find myself being led in circles with various discussions and arguments by other people.
God's Word tells us to submit to the governing authorities (except where it conflicts with God's Word). As such, marijuana use would seemingly become illegal in most countries as it is essentially outlawed by every government/jurisdiction. Bare with me as I reference Genesis 1:29, which is often used by pro-pot activists:
"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."
This verse and others indicate that God has given us dominion over all plants and animals. Marijuana is included here, plain and simple. The question becomes whether or not Marijuana is to be used for smoking. Clearly, our bodies are a temple to the Lord, and we are not to intentionally harm ourselves with inhaled smoke or other harmful means of getting "high". However, it can be consumed in food or inhaled using a vaporizer which can eliminate virtually all toxic aspects of smoking marijuana, by not actually combusting the plant, but heating it enough to inhale the THC from the plant. So, the specific argument that says we should not consume it because it damages the lungs and body is negated. I'll address the other health concerns ahead.
Those opposed to marijuana, who say that we must submit to the governing authority and not consume it, forget the implications of the verse I just referenced. While God is not commanding us to use marijuana, by definition it appears that its use is permitted (in moderation, such as with wine). It is a green plant bearing seed, given to us for meat. Not just to make rope or paper, but to consume as MEAT.
It seems God is not against the use of some stimulants, unless they are abused. For example, God condemns drunkenness from wine, but does not condemn its use in moderation. A glass of wine or beer a day has health benefits and many Christians partake, but an untold number of people die each year from alcohol-related deaths when it is abused.
Marijuana use has not been proven to lead to anyone's death. All the time people repeat what the government has influenced them to believe - that even moderate marijuana use kills brain cells, causes brain damage, will ruin your life and lead to cancer, etc. If you do research on this, you will find that many of the studies upheld by the government are outdated (60's/70's and earlier) and the methods/validity of such studies are highly questionable. Even recent studies are tainted to support this facade to demonize the plant. And that is not my opinion, but the opinion of a growing number of real professionals who have experience studying the effects of marijuana.
Meanwhile, cigarettes and alcohol deaths are rampant and cost society billions of dollars and various social problems. The Christian cop that arrests you for using marijuana, who says it's against the law and a sin, will willingly light up a mind-altering cigarette and drink a mind-altering rum and coke at the bar, maybe even to the point of drunkenness. Modern medicine is full of mind-altering drugs that lead to suicide and have truly horrible effects on people, way worse than pot. But it's apparently fine because man has made it legal.
Meanwhile, you have marijuana, which can sometimes replace these drugs for people who require them due to medical conditions such as AIDS, cancer and MS. It is not some man-made cocktail of chemicals, but a plant that God has created for the benefit of mankind. And it does not have to be smoked.
Now, for those who have actually smoked marijuana in moderation, I'm curious if you would consider it to be "drunkenness". As an occasional marijuana user, I know that being "high" doesn't make me irrational or do things I normally wouldn't. Those who have used marijuana in moderation know that it actually makes one feel more peaceful, sober-minded, thoughtful, caring, and so on. There are many adjectives you could use that are positive. You want to do the opposite of anything that you perceive to be evil. Unless you are already an unrepentant sinner with no concern for God, you will never be compelled to hurt anyone, murder, or otherwise do evil to your fellow man. I think you'd all be surprised at how many users enjoy studying the Bible while under the effects. This garbage people talk about it being a gateway drug is only true if you are the type of person that allows yourself to try other drugs. I've never had the slightest temptation to try herion or cocaine or any other garbage substance in existence. I don't even drink or smoke cigarettes. I know many Christians (not just in name) who use marijuana on occasion, and they have told me the same thing. It may be a gateway drug if you are already open to trying other drugs, or just stupid, case closed.
I apologize for jumping all over the place. For those replying, I will sum this up with a few questions:
1) How can we submit to the argument that marijuana use is a sin because we are supposed to obey our governing authorities, when its use as meat is clearly permitted in Genesis 1:29? Each individual is given dominion over plants, so what gives Man the right to outlaw its use? To me, that's simply the government overstepping its boundaries. If God DIDNT include that verse in Genesis, and it was against man's law, then yes, it would be a sin, but that does not appear to be the case as it is clearly permitted.
2) How can moderate marijuana use be considered "drunkenness" when the effect is actually the opposite and it is not comparable to being drunk or to a high from a drug such as heroin or cocaine? I hear this argument all the time by people, that using marijuana is equal to drunkenness, meanwhile they have never used marijuana and do not know the reality of what it feels like. Yes, it is a mind altering drug, just as alcohol is, but being a mind altering drug doesn't necessarily mean God is against it, as wine is permitted in moderation. Nor does it mean that you are in a drunken state if you are the slightest bit "high", as this is clearly not the case from my perspective.
I'm sure there are more questions I'd like to ask, but I'm getting tired and it's late. I appreciate your input and thank you in advance!
God's Word tells us to submit to the governing authorities (except where it conflicts with God's Word). As such, marijuana use would seemingly become illegal in most countries as it is essentially outlawed by every government/jurisdiction. Bare with me as I reference Genesis 1:29, which is often used by pro-pot activists:
"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."
This verse and others indicate that God has given us dominion over all plants and animals. Marijuana is included here, plain and simple. The question becomes whether or not Marijuana is to be used for smoking. Clearly, our bodies are a temple to the Lord, and we are not to intentionally harm ourselves with inhaled smoke or other harmful means of getting "high". However, it can be consumed in food or inhaled using a vaporizer which can eliminate virtually all toxic aspects of smoking marijuana, by not actually combusting the plant, but heating it enough to inhale the THC from the plant. So, the specific argument that says we should not consume it because it damages the lungs and body is negated. I'll address the other health concerns ahead.
Those opposed to marijuana, who say that we must submit to the governing authority and not consume it, forget the implications of the verse I just referenced. While God is not commanding us to use marijuana, by definition it appears that its use is permitted (in moderation, such as with wine). It is a green plant bearing seed, given to us for meat. Not just to make rope or paper, but to consume as MEAT.
It seems God is not against the use of some stimulants, unless they are abused. For example, God condemns drunkenness from wine, but does not condemn its use in moderation. A glass of wine or beer a day has health benefits and many Christians partake, but an untold number of people die each year from alcohol-related deaths when it is abused.
Marijuana use has not been proven to lead to anyone's death. All the time people repeat what the government has influenced them to believe - that even moderate marijuana use kills brain cells, causes brain damage, will ruin your life and lead to cancer, etc. If you do research on this, you will find that many of the studies upheld by the government are outdated (60's/70's and earlier) and the methods/validity of such studies are highly questionable. Even recent studies are tainted to support this facade to demonize the plant. And that is not my opinion, but the opinion of a growing number of real professionals who have experience studying the effects of marijuana.
Meanwhile, cigarettes and alcohol deaths are rampant and cost society billions of dollars and various social problems. The Christian cop that arrests you for using marijuana, who says it's against the law and a sin, will willingly light up a mind-altering cigarette and drink a mind-altering rum and coke at the bar, maybe even to the point of drunkenness. Modern medicine is full of mind-altering drugs that lead to suicide and have truly horrible effects on people, way worse than pot. But it's apparently fine because man has made it legal.
Meanwhile, you have marijuana, which can sometimes replace these drugs for people who require them due to medical conditions such as AIDS, cancer and MS. It is not some man-made cocktail of chemicals, but a plant that God has created for the benefit of mankind. And it does not have to be smoked.
Now, for those who have actually smoked marijuana in moderation, I'm curious if you would consider it to be "drunkenness". As an occasional marijuana user, I know that being "high" doesn't make me irrational or do things I normally wouldn't. Those who have used marijuana in moderation know that it actually makes one feel more peaceful, sober-minded, thoughtful, caring, and so on. There are many adjectives you could use that are positive. You want to do the opposite of anything that you perceive to be evil. Unless you are already an unrepentant sinner with no concern for God, you will never be compelled to hurt anyone, murder, or otherwise do evil to your fellow man. I think you'd all be surprised at how many users enjoy studying the Bible while under the effects. This garbage people talk about it being a gateway drug is only true if you are the type of person that allows yourself to try other drugs. I've never had the slightest temptation to try herion or cocaine or any other garbage substance in existence. I don't even drink or smoke cigarettes. I know many Christians (not just in name) who use marijuana on occasion, and they have told me the same thing. It may be a gateway drug if you are already open to trying other drugs, or just stupid, case closed.
I apologize for jumping all over the place. For those replying, I will sum this up with a few questions:
1) How can we submit to the argument that marijuana use is a sin because we are supposed to obey our governing authorities, when its use as meat is clearly permitted in Genesis 1:29? Each individual is given dominion over plants, so what gives Man the right to outlaw its use? To me, that's simply the government overstepping its boundaries. If God DIDNT include that verse in Genesis, and it was against man's law, then yes, it would be a sin, but that does not appear to be the case as it is clearly permitted.
2) How can moderate marijuana use be considered "drunkenness" when the effect is actually the opposite and it is not comparable to being drunk or to a high from a drug such as heroin or cocaine? I hear this argument all the time by people, that using marijuana is equal to drunkenness, meanwhile they have never used marijuana and do not know the reality of what it feels like. Yes, it is a mind altering drug, just as alcohol is, but being a mind altering drug doesn't necessarily mean God is against it, as wine is permitted in moderation. Nor does it mean that you are in a drunken state if you are the slightest bit "high", as this is clearly not the case from my perspective.
I'm sure there are more questions I'd like to ask, but I'm getting tired and it's late. I appreciate your input and thank you in advance!
