If Marijuana Were Legal Would You Consider It A Sin To Use It ?

[CatherineM]

I've had more than one person in my life explain that a sin is anything that gets between you and your relationship with God. If it interferes with your relationships with the people in your life, that is also probably a sin, but not necessarily.

I guess I don't understand why anyone would say you needed alcohol or pot in order to relax. I can think of several dozen ways to relax that don't involve either one. Culturally alcohol was from a time of there not being clean enough water to drink. We have clean water now. Saying I drink because it is a part of my culture, is like saying that I have to always walk on my husband's right hand side and behind because men used to have to draw swords occasionally.

[dairygirl4u2c]

[quote name='Deb' post='1609909' date='Jul 27 2008, 11:52 AM']The bottom line with marijuana is that it is just another way to attempt to escape or take a break from you life, same as with alcohol.

Unless you grow your own pot and it is total croutons, you are going to get stoned smoking it and as it may have different effects on a person than alchohol, you are still removing yourself from God when you smoke it. So, if it were legal, smoking it would probably constitute a sin just as getting drunk does.

Before anyone jumps all over me on this, let me state for those of you who don't know me, that I smoked marijuana every day of my life from the age of 17 until October 4th, 2007 at the age of 51. I know what I speak of. If you can come up with a valid reason why you HAVE to smoke dope or why you HAVE to get drunk, let me know. It is so you can loosen up yourself which ultimately loosens up your morals and your beliefs and ultimately turns your face from God.[/quote]

would you say there's something inherently psycodelic about using it, even moderate to low?
i sincerely, as much as i've smoked it, can't really say. i'm pretty sure that being stoned is probably worse than being drunk, even if assumed both are sinful, cause pot at least for me is pretty psychodelic ish.
not like, i see hallucinatios etc, but... hard to describe. but not so sure at the moderate to low
just curious from someone that's done it so much.

[goldenchild17]

[quote name='Deb' post='1609909' date='Jul 27 2008, 11:52 AM']The bottom line with marijuana is that it is just another way to attempt to escape or take a break from you life, same as with alcohol.

Unless you grow your own pot and it is total croutons, you are going to get stoned smoking it and as it may have different effects on a person than alchohol, you are still removing yourself from God when you smoke it. So, if it were legal, smoking it would probably constitute a sin just as getting drunk does.

Before anyone jumps all over me on this, let me state for those of you who don't know me, that I smoked marijuana every day of my life from the age of 17 until October 4th, 2007 at the age of 51. I know what I speak of. If you can come up with a valid reason why you HAVE to smoke dope or why you HAVE to get drunk, let me know. It is so you can loosen up yourself which ultimately loosens up your morals and your beliefs and ultimately turns your face from God.[/quote]

The Church says otherwise. I don't doubt your personal experiences. But the Church allows for it. That's all I need to know.

[Aloysius]

if anyone said they needed alcohol, I'd call them an alcoholic. no one has to have it, but people want to have it as part of their culture. the fact that it was the cleanest way to drink was definitely not the only reason people drank alcohol in oldentimes... and it definitely wasn't anywhere near the top 5 reasons it was being served at the Wedding of Cana where, after all the wine had run out, Jesus gave them more so that they could enjoy their hilarity and good will.

drink to hilarity, but not to drunkenness. it can be a really great thing for social interactions... it can also be a very terrible thing which is why caution is necessary and you need to know who you can trust to drink with and who you can't, and what your limit is so you don't go over it and mortally sin.

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='goldenchild17' post='1610386' date='Jul 27 2008, 11:32 PM']The Church says otherwise. I don't doubt your personal experiences. But the Church allows for it. That's all I need to know.[/quote]


I want to clarify that marijuana is NOT referred to as "dope". On the streets, "dope" is the hard stuff. I have done volunteer work with junkies and addicts and those recovering from addictions. I know what I'm talking about. I have been around people who smoke pot and never, ever was it referred to as "dope". I noticed that a poster whose replies I can see, referred to marijuana as dope. That is grossly inaccurate.

When considering addiction, each individual person needs to know their own threshhold. It is not necessarily the fault of the substance that a person gets addicted and has to use it every day of their lives. It's the threshhold of the person. I have smoked a fair amout of marijuana, but never every day, never "needed it", never became addicted, and was able to stop just as casually as I started. This lasted for one summer of college. It's different for everyone.

Of course, I'm referring to pot, alcohol and cigarettes, as well as even pain killers. I'm NOT referring to hard, synthetic stuff like cocaine (in all it's forms, especially crack which is instantly addictive) and heroin. These substances are DESIGNED for addiction.

Edited July 28, 2008 by Madame Vengier

[infinitelord1]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1607281' date='Jul 24 2008, 09:01 AM']IMO, marijuana SHOULD be legal and if it were, no I would not think it's a sin to use it. It's an herb that grows right up out of the ground and actually when used in moderation has many good effects.[/quote]

me and some friends were discussing whether or not marijuana should be legalized or not. my opinion at the time was that, if anything, marijuana should be legalized and alcohol should be illegal. my arguement was that people do not beat their wives or children when stoned, nor do they get in nearly as many fatal car accidents, and that the only thing that i could think of that was bad about marijuana was that it may cause society as a whole to be a little less motivated. we also discussed that alcohol can be consumed in moderation were as marijuana cannot. furthermore, most people who drink alcohol drink it to get at least a buzz, where as there is a minut percent who drink one becuase they think it is good for them. we all came to the conclusion that marijuana should be illegal because there is no way that you can properly consume marijuana and use it in moderation. the result is always that you get high off of it. you can drink a beer or a shot and not feel disoriented by any means (even though most people misuse alcohol).

[Deb]

I don't have a problem with marijuana being legal and I certainly think that it should be legal for the many medical benefits it has. Considering having used it for most of my adult life, I don't believe it is addictive but, it does affect everything you do in your life. I asked God to remove my desire from it at a healing mass, and he did. I just never saw a need to not smoke it. I used it to unwind after work at a very stressful job and it helped me sleep. I did not drink alcohol unless I was our at a bar or at a party.

I think that anything that turns your face from God is a sin. The argument that it is a plant God created and therefore okay is just a way to rationalize. (God created hemlock too) Ask yourself what you are doing when you are high? Usually nothing, sitting around watching tv, reading croutons or listening to music. I now prefer to spend that time in prayer or spiritual reading or adoration or at mass. There has never been a high from any drug that can match the high that the Lord can give you when he touches you with his Love. Nothing.

I have been a casual recreational user of just about every drug known out there and there just is nothing in any of them that helps one connect with God. Your body is a temple. Christ is within you. What do you want to put into him?

Edited July 28, 2008 by Deb

[saved by grace]

[quote name='Deb' post='1610677' date='Jul 28 2008, 01:24 PM']I don't have a problem with marijuana being legal and I certainly think that it should be legal for the many medical benefits it has. Considering having used it for most of my adult life, I don't believe it is addictive but, it does affect everything you do in your life. I asked God to remove my desire from it at a healing mass, and he did. I just never saw a need to not smoke it. I used it to unwind after work at a very stressful job and it helped me sleep. I did not drink alcohol unless I was our at a bar or at a party.

I think that anything that turns your face from God is a sin. The argument that it is a plant God created and therefore okay is just a way to rationalize. (God created hemlock too) Ask yourself what you are doing when you are high? Usually nothing, sitting around watching tv, reading croutons or listening to music. I now prefer to spend that time in prayer or spiritual reading or adoration or at mass. There has never been a high from any drug that can match the high that the Lord can give you when he touches you with his Love. Nothing.

I have been a casual recreational user of just about every drug known out there and there just is nothing in any of them that helps one connect with God. Your body is a temple. Christ is within you. What do you want to put into him?[/quote]

I agree with what your saying and think thats why it should come back to the christian person and wether they view it as a sin. If one were intakeing marijuana to escape from God or from reality then I agree it would be a sin. Although if a christian is useing it in a non destructive way I dont feel anyone can label that sin and judge them. Only God can judge and decide if it is sin in that persons life. I do very strongly think it should be illegal and in no way should anyone ever try to convince someone its ok to use marijuana when they think its not or they are unsure. I think it goes back to what Paul talked about when he said not to put a stumbling block before your brother.

Edited July 28, 2008 by saved by grace

[Deb]

[quote name='saved by grace' post='1610798' date='Jul 28 2008, 04:48 PM']I agree with what your saying and think thats why it should come back to the christian person and wether they view it as a sin. If one were intakeing marijuana to escape from God or from reality then I agree it would be a sin. Although if a christian is useing it in a non destructive way I dont feel anyone can label that sin and judge them. Only God can judge and decide if it is sin in that persons life. I do very strongly think it should be illegal and in no way should anyone ever try to convince someone its ok to use marijuana when they think its not or they are unsure. I think it goes back to what Paul talked about when he said not to put a stumbling block before your brother.[/quote]


Why would anyone smoke pot (if not for medicinal purposes) than to escape from reality? Every drug used, including alcohol, if not used for a medical purpose is used to change or escape the reality at that moment. If one needs to drink or smoke pot to socialize or relax, they are using it to alter their reality.

[saved by grace]

[quote name='Deb' post='1610932' date='Jul 28 2008, 05:25 PM']Why would anyone smoke pot (if not for medicinal purposes) than to escape from reality? Every drug used, including alcohol, if not used for a medical purpose is used to change or escape the reality at that moment. If one needs to drink or smoke pot to socialize or relax, they are using it to alter their reality.[/quote]

Ok, but its not a sin to use alcohol in moderation. It is not a sin and if it is a sin for one christian that doesnt make it a sin for antoher. I have the same argument with marijuana. Just because its a sin in one christians eyes doenst make it a sin for antother christian. The christian who abstains is in no place to determine if its a sin for the christian who chooses not to abstain. The christian who chooses not to abstian though is not to put a stumbling block before his brother who abstains. Or he will cause him to sin since his brother views it as sin.

Edited July 28, 2008 by saved by grace

[Deb]

[quote name='saved by grace' post='1610941' date='Jul 28 2008, 06:36 PM']Ok, but its not a sin to use alcohol in moderation. It is not a sin and if it is a sin for one christian that doesnt make it a sin for antoher. I have the same argument with marijuana. Just because its a sin in one christians eyes doenst make it a sin for antother christian. The christian who abstains is in no place to determine if its a sin for the christian who chooses not to abstain. The christian who chooses not to abstian though is not to put a stumbling block before his brother who abstains. Or he will cause him to sin since his brother views it as sin.[/quote]


Oh Please. Hold the cause my brother to sin thing. You may as well just take that on over to every other argument. Some Christians think it okay to ordain a Bishop who is actively living in a homosexual relationship. Some Christians think it is okay to use birth control, sterilize yourself and have abortions. It all usually coming down to deciding what one themselves wants to allow so that they can do what they want and feel okay about it. I WILLl put a stumbling block in front of someone who wants an abortion and let God take it up with me later. So, smoking pot is not the same in effect or sinfulness. I could care less who drinks or smokes pot and I have never said anything to anyone who does either. How could I? I spent most of my life stoned. The question was, if marijuana was legal woul dit be considered a sin to use it. To me, yes. To you, no. I quit smoking pot not because it was illegal but, because I knew I was turning from God when I did. That is just me. Each person has to make up their own mind on this and many other issues.
I would bet however that if pot became legal world wide that the Church would issue directives to their clergy as to whether or not they would allow that to be something they use.

[Fixxxer]

I think it would be a sin and should just stay illegal. I'd rather spend my money on better things than ever waste it on weed.

[knightec]

The only thing weed leads to is late night runs to Taco Bell.


Or creating words like foshizzle.

[goldenchild17]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1610429' date='Jul 28 2008, 01:09 AM']I want to clarify that marijuana is NOT referred to as "dope". On the streets, "dope" is the hard stuff. I have done volunteer work with junkies and addicts and those recovering from addictions. I know what I'm talking about. I have been around people who smoke pot and never, ever was it referred to as "dope". I noticed that a poster whose replies I can see, referred to marijuana as dope. That is grossly inaccurate.[/quote]

If I mistakenly referred to it as such I apologize. I know the difference.

[quote]When considering addiction, each individual person needs to know their own threshhold. It is not necessarily the fault of the substance that a person gets addicted and has to use it every day of their lives. It's the threshhold of the person. I have smoked a fair amout of marijuana, but never every day, never "needed it", never became addicted, and was able to stop just as casually as I started. This lasted for one summer of college. It's different for everyone.

Of course, I'm referring to pot, alcohol and cigarettes, as well as even pain killers. I'm NOT referring to hard, synthetic stuff like cocaine (in all it's forms, especially crack which is instantly addictive) and heroin. These substances are DESIGNED for addiction.[/quote]

Sure, but just remember my reference also included cocaine as an example of an allowable narcotic in certain situations.

[corban711]

[quote name='knightec' post='1611217' date='Jul 28 2008, 11:56 PM']Or creating words like foshizzle.[/quote]


that alone is reason not to use it!