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Recently, I asked people [via social media] to give me their opinions regarding marijuana. Those who commented on my posts offered a defense of marijuana and argued for its harmless and beneficial nature. In fact, the vast majority of everyone who argues in favor of legalizing marijuana uses the argument that it is natural and beneficial. The isolated advocates who participated in my poll are not alone in their desire to defend marijuana. As of April 20, 2018, recreational marijuana is legal in 9 states and medical marijuana is legal in 29 states. According to a 2017 Gallup poll, 64% of Americans favor legalization of marijuana and that numbers seems to be even higher in 2018.
What does this mean for Christians? If our society not only accepts the use of marijuana but also legalizes it, does that mean it is good or right? Should Christians use marijuana? There are four main arguments for the acceptance and legalization of marijuana:
- GOD made the natural world; marijuana is natural; therefore, pot/weed is acceptable/good.
- Marijuana produces health benefits for users; having good health is good; therefore, marijuana is good.
- Marijuana is becoming legal and will eventually be legal; therefore, when it becomes legal, it will no longer be wrong.
- Marijuana is not as bad as other things such as cocaine, heroin, or meth; therefore, who cares?
Because it is important that Christians hold themselves to a higher standard and live righteous lives (Leviticus 19:2), this topic of marijuana warrants serious investigation and consideration. Let’s examine the four main arguments for marijuana:
(1) Is marijuana good because it’s natural?
In Genesis 1:31, GOD called everything He made “very good.” So, does this mean we can use the earth and its resources however we choose? We must recognize the fact that GOD proclaimed creation good before the curse of sin. The rebellion of Adam and Eve brought sin into the world; this resulted in negative consequences ranging from the entry of death to the rise of thorns (Genesis 3:6-24). GOD’s good works have been considerably tainted due to the Fall (Romans 8:19-22).
Is it true that just because something is natural it is also good? A quick assessment of the natural world will help us realize that all natural things are not always good. All berries are natural; however, some natural berries are poisonous and will kill you if you consume them – even tree huggers will tell you this much. All plants are natural; however, some natural plants will kill you if you consume them. Thus, the goodness of marijuana cannot be determined by its naturalness.
Some people justify the recreational use of pot/weed on the basis that marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) is a herb GOD made. The plant from which the drug is obtained is a variety of hemp. Hemp is a useful plant that can still be called “good” in many ways. Its fiber is one of the strongest in the plant kingdom and is often used to make fabric and rope. Hemp is a hardy plant that can grow in many different climates; it’s good for the soil; and it’s easy for farmers to grow and harvest. Hemp seeds have tremendous nutritional value and only contain trace amounts of the chemical tetrahydroccanabinol (THC) that can cause one to get high should a person consume the chemical in abundance. Hemp seeds are used in dozens of food and personal hygiene products. Furthermore, THC itself has potential as a medicine to benefit people with ailments ranging from glaucoma to cancer to AIDS. Clearly, hemp itself can be considered to be good, but like many good things on this planet cursed by sin, the plant gets misused and abused.
When marijuana is ingested or smoked, it can impair users’ minds, leading to foolish and reckless actions. Such use may even prove toxic, and it can have several negative consequences:
- As of now, marijuana is still illegal in many places according to the law. Christians should not break the law unless that law is inconsistent and contradictory with GOD’s Word (Romans 13:1; Acts 5:29).
- Getting high on any psychoactive drug, including marijuana, may impair one’s judgment. Christians should remain sober-minded and alert at all times in order to avoid spiritual landmines (Romans 12:2; 1Peter 1:13; 5:8-9).
- According to the Journal of Neuroscience, marijuana can negatively affect the brain and cause an unnecessary disconnect.
- Simple logic and an examination of physiology informs us that smoke does not belong in our lungs; therefore, smoking marijuana is not good.
- The abuse of pot/weed is known to keep people from reaching their full potential. We should give our best to GOD; we exist for His glory (1Corinthians 10:31).
- Many people claim that marijuana is not physically addictive, but it definitely affects the brain. According to Psychology Today, marijuana is addictive due to the psychological interaction with the brain and formation of habits.
- Though marijuana is not always a gateway drug, it is for many people. Why stand next to that slippery slope that’s so easy to slide down?
- Ultimately, it’s important to realize that using drugs will not make your problems disappear; in fact, doing so will often add more problems to the ones you already have. We need to remember that no problem is too great for GOD to handle. Christ is our help (Matthew 11:28-30). Wise is the individual who faces his/her problems and gives his/her problems to the Lord.
(2) Is Marijuana good because it benefits some people?
Some studies have revealed that marijuana has provided many people with relief from pain and suffering. For example, Epilepsy Foundation states that “cannabis can be helpful in controlling seizures, especially for difficult to control conditions like Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in children and adults and Dravet syndrome in children.”
My personal opinion on the matter of medicinal marijuana (not recreational) is that it is acceptable so long as it is only used for legitimate medicinal purposes and never abused. So, if medicinal use ever transitions into recreational use, that is abuse. The argument here is much like the statement regarding alcohol found in Proverbs:
“It is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.”
(Proverbs 31:4-7) -ESV
The lessening of pain and suffering is for the terminally ill. The vast majority of all people are completely capable of enduring and overcoming the typical problems of life without the need for an ‘escape.’ Having a “bad day” does not warrant the use of a drug.
(3) Do laws created by humanity trump GOD’s commands?
Marijuana is slowly becoming legal in more and more states. There is a good chance that marijuana will eventually become legal in all of the United States. But even if this were to happen, would it make marijuana good or right? I could be an alcoholic, adulterous, deceitful, prescription-abusing, manipulative, hate-filled connoisseur of the pervasive plague known as pornography and still be within lawful limits both legally and socially. But does that make it good or right? Does the government’s stamp of approval mean I should partake? No. Because our collective society typically pursues pleasure and happiness over purpose, our collective society will always permit things that are not right or beneficial in order to appease the masses for their perceived purpose of pleasure. But our society has never and will never determine what is morally right. GOD is the absolute moral standard. We must obey GOD rather than humanity (Acts 4:19-20; 5:29).
” ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything.”
(1Corinthians 6:12) -ESV
Something being considered legal does not make it right. Consider the fact that abortion is allowed yet abortion is also abhorrent.
” ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor…. So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
(1Corinthians 6:23-24,31) -ESV
Many people have become slaves to what they have been allowed to do by their own free will. Cigarettes, alcohol, and pornography are all legal. But how many people are slaves to their own desires? Many people claim to be free while they are chained to their addictions.
(4) Does “not as bad” equate to “good” or even good enough?
The argument that marijuana isn’t as bad as other drugs is not a sufficient argument for deeming marijuana use as something “good.” In fact, stating that it’s “not as bad” is to admit that it is bad, just not as much as the something else used for a comparison. But by what standard is bad even known? For one cannot know what is bad unless the standard of good is known. In fact, the absolute standard of good is GOD because GOD is holy and perfect. And because GOD is the definition of good, we need to know how GOD desires us to live in order to know if we are doing good. So, how does GOD desire for us all to live our lives? Jesus says it best:
” ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And [Jesus] said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’ “
(Matthew 22:36-40) -ESV
So, are you loving GOD and glorifying GOD by your actions? Are you loving others by your actions? The real question is this: Why do you do what you do? Your motives matter. Proverbs 16:2 says, “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.” Because the human heart is very deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), we can easily fool ourselves about our own motives. We can pretend that we are choosing certain actions for GOD or the benefit of others, when in reality we have selfish reasons. GOD is not fooled by the masks we wear; GOD sees the motive behind every decision and is “a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). So, why do you do what you do? Any motivation that originates in our sinful flesh is not pleasing to GOD (Romans 8:8).
What is love? To love, we must be selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. To love others, we must place others before ourselves.
“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?…. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
(1Corinthians 6:15,19-20) -ESV
We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and love for others, not filled with drugs, alcohol, or anything else without benefit such as hatred or lust. The Christian disciplines his/her body and keeps it under control (1Corinthians 9:27) so that he/she is able to set his/her mind on the greater things above (Colossians 3:2). As a Christian, we are called to avoid not only sin, but also any activity that may cause our brothers and sisters to fall into temptation and sin (1Corinthians 8:9-13). In fact, we are all called to be as pure as possible.
Conclusion:
The argument against marijuana is much like my argument against alcohol. I will openly admit that the issue of marijuana is not an essential doctrine that needs to be defended. I don’t need to convene another council to attain clarity on the matter, nor could another council enforce the right decision. For this decision is not a matter of the head but of the heart. The decision to abstain from marijuana must be a decision made from love for GOD and for others. So… why do you do what you do? What are you going to do? Or not do? GOD has given you the greatest gift of free will.
The bottom line: The question isn’t “Can a Christian use marijuana?”; rather, the question is “Should a Christian use marijuana?” Just because something can be done doesn’t mean that it ought to be done. You’re allowed to use marijuana, but is it beneficial? Beneficial to whom? Does it enhance or advance your life in any way? How will your use of marijuana affect everyone around you? How does it affect how others view Christianity and Christ Jesus? Are you an accurate reflection of Christ’s sacrificial love? Is your reflection going to send people in the right direction?
“My brothers and sisters, you were chosen to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to live under the power of sin. Instead, serve one another in love.”
(Galatians 5:13) -NIRV
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