Lil Red Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 since i don't know if my question in the q & a phorum is going to get answered: okay, here's a question that was posed to me by one of my kids. so marijuana is legal in Canada and other countries in the world... if it is legal, is it a sin to smoke it? it's basically like smoking cigarettes here in the US, it's legal, with side effects, but not necessarily a sin. and if it's a sin because of the mood-altering effects...then why isn't cigarettes or alcohol also a sin because of the effects that they can have an the body? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironmonk Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 [quote name='Lil Red' date='Dec 1 2004, 01:52 PM'] since i don't know if my question in the q & a phorum is going to get answered: okay, here's a question that was posed to me by one of my kids. so marijuana is legal in Canada and other countries in the world... if it is legal, is it a sin to smoke it? it's basically like smoking cigarettes here in the US, it's legal, with side effects, but not necessarily a sin. and if it's a sin because of the mood-altering effects...then why isn't cigarettes or alcohol also a sin because of the effects that they can have an the body? [/quote] It's a sin to smoke it here because we must obey the law as long as the law does not go against the faith. It would be a sin to smoke it even if it was legal if it put someone in a "drunken" state where they loose their wits and would do things they normally wouldn't do. God Bless, ironmonk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amarkich Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 It is a mortal sin because it is drunkenness. Drunkenness is a mortal sin because it removes our inhibitions and limits our free will. Saint Thomas Aquinas says that our closest relation to God is our intellect, but drunkenness removes our intellect (at least partially) from decision-making. This is one of the reasons that drunkenness is so evil. Read from the Summa: [url="http://www.newadvent.org/summa/315000.htm"]http://www.newadvent.org/summa/315000.htm[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironmonk Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 [quote name='amarkich' date='Dec 1 2004, 03:03 PM'] It is a mortal sin because it is drunkenness. Drunkenness is a mortal sin because it removes our inhibitions and limits our free will. Saint Thomas Aquinas says that our closest relation to God is our intellect, but drunkenness removes our intellect (at least partially) from decision-making. This is one of the reasons that drunkenness is so evil. Read from the Summa: [url="http://www.newadvent.org/summa/315000.htm"]http://www.newadvent.org/summa/315000.htm[/url] [/quote] It's not always drunkeness. Over indulgence would lead to drunkeness... but moderate use where the person does not reach drunkeness, is not a sin. God Bless, ironmonk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted December 1, 2004 Author Share Posted December 1, 2004 what if someone didn't use it to be "over the top" ie to just relax and relieve stress (yes i know there are better ways, i'm just trying to play devil's advocate here) and it was legal here...would it be a sin? for example, i might have a glass of wine at the end of the day to unwind...if a person smoked a joint at the end of a stressful day, would that be sinful? so iron, would moderate use (providing it wasn't against the law) not be sinful? i'm trying to cover all bases of questions that i might get asked when i discuss this with my kids. thanks for your responses so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicCrusader Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 [quote name='ironmonk' date='Dec 1 2004, 02:17 PM'] It's not always drunkeness. Over indulgence would lead to drunkeness... but moderate use where the person does not reach drunkeness, is not a sin. God Bless, ironmonk [/quote] Are you saying it is moral to use marijuana?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don John of Austria Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 Maraijuana is a mutagen it modifies a persons DNA and can directly cause birth defects its use is always wrong legal or not. Frankl;y it is far worse than cocaine or opiates they can't affect your childrens children marijuana can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
God Conquers Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 First off: MARIJUANA IS NOT LEGAL IN CANADA!!!!! There will soon be legislation to decriminalize it... this is not the same as legalization: instead of having to cart off a kid with a couple grams to jail and dig 1000's of dollars out of taxpayer pockets, a police officer will be able to fine him a few hundred bucks for his idiotic choice, thereby contributing to public welfare. Sellers will still be criminals. Second: There is no "just relieving stress" when it comes to pot. You are High OR you are not high. You can't just have a couple tokes like you would have a couple of drinks. It doesn't work that way, it's a narcotic. There's no middle ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aloha918 Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 i would say yes because it messes with your mind and puts you out of control of yourself......but then again so does alcohol...which i think is a worse thing..................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burnsspivey Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 [quote name='Don John of Austria' date='Dec 1 2004, 01:35 PM'] Maraijuana is a mutagen it modifies a persons DNA and can directly cause birth defects its use is always wrong legal or not. Frankl;y it is far worse than cocaine or opiates they can't affect your childrens children marijuana can. [/quote] Your sources? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironmonk Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 [quote name='Don John of Austria' date='Dec 1 2004, 03:35 PM'] Maraijuana is a mutagen it modifies a persons DNA and can directly cause birth defects its use is always wrong legal or not. Frankl;y it is far worse than cocaine or opiates they can't affect your childrens children marijuana can. [/quote] I've never heard of marijuana as a mutagen affecting DNA. I would be interested in knowing where you heard this from. I know it has many carcinogens in it (429 last I heard). I believe that marijuana is comparable to alcohol and tabacco as far as sinfulness goes, as long as it's not against the law. I am totally anti-marijuana, so don't think I'm promoting it... I simply call them as I see them from the teachings of the Church. If someone offered me marijuana, I would smack them around, take their marijuana and flush it down the toilet. God Bless, ironmonk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironmonk Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 [quote name='God Conquers' date='Dec 1 2004, 03:42 PM'] You are High OR you are not high. You can't just have a couple tokes like you would have a couple of drinks. It doesn't work that way, it's a narcotic. There's no middle ground [/quote] Sorry, but you are wrong... there are levels of high. God Bless, ironmonk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
point5 Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 from my personal experience (pre Christian) there is no middle ground... you are either high or not high. It is that simple...and if you are not high...you smoke till you are. And one joint normally will get you high Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don John of Austria Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 [quote]I've never heard of marijuana as a mutagen affecting DNA. I would be interested in knowing where you heard this from. [/quote] I heard it from the CDC we have been through this before but I'll see what I can find for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted December 1, 2004 Author Share Posted December 1, 2004 btw, guys, i'm not promoting it, like i said, i was asked this by one of my students and i sincerely don't know an answer. thanks again for the replies.... god conquers...sorry i did find out that it wasn't legal in Canada, i forgot to edit my question though...thanks for the clarification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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