Should it be legal to use marijuana?
Discussion question for September 10, 2010.
Recently the president of Mexico promoted the idea of legalizing marijuana in that country, and there are citizens of this country that have been fighting to legalize its use for medicinal and other purposes. Is there a “Christian position” on this? What does the Bible say that applies? Does it matter that it grows “naturally”? How would legalization affect your life?
Here’s my summary of our discussion.
There are many ways to approach the decision regarding the legalization of marijuana in this country: economical, medical, moral, cultural, and spiritual. We agreed that you can’t legislate morality, and we should focus our thinking toward a spiritual basis for building an opinion.
Marijuana affects the mind, but it is not a useful tool for obeying Romans 12:2, “be transformed by the renewing or your mind.” The mind altering affects do not lead to truth. Throughout the scripture we are called to be “clear minded” and “sober” and ready to work for the Kingdom. A parallel truth can be applied from Ephesians 5:18. Here Paul writes that you are not to get drunk for that is dissipation, but instead be filled with the Spirit. Dissipation means “wasted”, a word often associated with the use of marijuana. It is a failure in stewardship to waste the resources of God through dissipation.
A point can be made about the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, and supported by Paul’s word to Timothy that he drink a little wine for his stomach. That does not constitute a compelling argument for its legalization, however. Its use could be regulated much like other drugs available today for medicinal purposes.
The risk of marijuana use is similar to that of alcohol and other addictive substances. When they are used to create a sense of well being, peace and joy, they are a poor substitute of the real source of that inner peace, joy and sense of well being. This restates Paul’s admonition that you be filled with the Holy Spirit. No one complains about headaches or stupid decisions while under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
An argument was made for the legalization of marijuana based not on its merits but on the protection of individual rights, supported by limiting the scope of governmental control. However, the Christian role of government is to protect good and punish evil. We are commanded to be in obedience to rulers and government as Christians. In my opinion, legalizing marijuana would not cause a significant change in the amount or scope of governmental control overall.
My bottom line from our discussion is that I resist the legalization of marijuana. If law is able to keep even a few from building their dependence on a poor substitute for the Holy Spirit, then I support that law. On the other hand, I do not trust the law to do the job by itself. God wants our involvement as spiritual leaders.