Unholy Hashish

Since the recreational use and sale of cannabis, aka marijuana, was legalized by the state of Colorado in 2012, eight additional states have followed suit. Its use has also been decriminalized in 13 other states going as far back as 1973. Decriminalization means an individual is free to possess some small amount for personal use. Only three states remain in the Union that have not legalized or decriminalized weed for medical or recreational use.

Currently, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning it has no current FEDERALLY accepted medical use. If we read and watch the news, op-eds, and social media we find a huge push, however, to legalize marijuana nationwide, especially riding on the back of the fact that some studies report it to be of medicinal use for certain conditions and diseases.

Wikipedia reports,
As of June 2016, 25 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized the use of medical marijuana.[4] In August 2016 the DEA reaffirmed its position and refused to remove Schedule I classification.[6] 

So, federally, those studies aren’t substantial enough to justify reclassification. Meanwhile, some STATES have downplayed the classification by not only making cannabis legal for medical use, but also recreational use and sales.

Our society is changing and making a number of socially related issues acceptable and legal contrary to biblical instruction. Sexuality, gender ID, marriage...

What are we as Christians to make of these changes specifically related to marijuana? The Bible is clear on the abuse of alcohol and abuse of sex, but how do we know what should or should not be used or consumed if it is not dealt with directly in the Bible?

Three questions might be asked to help us come to a wise answer.

Is it unhealthy?
Is it unsafe?
Does it affect my ability to reason?

Tobacco, like marijuana, is a substance that is not mentioned in the Bible, either, yet the Church determined many decades ago, Christians should not use tobacco. Though Tobacco use can heighten alertness, and though it does not appear to be a significant safety risk, it has been proven without a doubt to be a carcinogen, besides the fact that it significantly damages the lungs with regular use.

From the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute (ADAI) at the University of Washington we find a comparison of unfiltered marijuana smoke with unfiltered tobacco smoke...

“Marijuana smoke contains a similar range of harmful chemicals to that of tobacco smoke (including bronchial irritants, tumor promoters and carcinogens). As inhaled smoke comes into contact with airway and lung before being absorbed into the bloodstream, it is likely to affect the respiratory system.

Risk of respiratory effects from inhaling marijuana smoke are heightened by the more intensive way in which marijuana is smoked -- when smoking marijuana compared to tobacco, there is a prolonged and deeper inhalation and it is smoked to a shorter butt length and at a higher combustion temperature. This results in approximately 5 times the carbon monoxide concentration, 3 times the tar, and the retention of one-third more tar in the respiratory tract. Higher levels of ammonia and hydrogen cyanide have also been found in marijuana smoke, compared to tobacco.”

They go further to report...

“Lung biopsies from habitual marijuana-only users have revealed widespread alterations to the tissue, some of which are recognized as precursors to the subsequent development of cancer.”

We can see from these facts that smoking marijuana is more unhealthy puff for puff than tobacco smoke, so that criteria alone, it being unhealthy, is enough reason for a Christian not to smoke marijuana.

They go further to report that an overdose “can trigger acute anxiety or panic, increased heart rate, low blood pressure, and additional problems.”

This leads to a question of personal safety, so let’s look into another aspect of safety, driving. Does marijuana use encourage car accidents? We can get a good idea of the possibility by looking at car accident reports in the states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use, because they have statistics, both pre- and post-legalization, the most data being... available from the state of Colorado, because they have legalized the drug the longest.

According to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI)...

After crunching the numbers, the institute said collision claimssince marijuana was legalized are up 16 percent in Colorado...

Concerning marijuana, I have discussed so far the questions, “Is it unhealthy,” and “Is it unsafe?” if we use sound reasoning not influenced by personal urge or disposition, in comparison to tobacco, marijuana is without a doubt more unhealthy and much more unsafe.

But, again, neither tobacco nor cannabis are found anywhere in scripture. As a Spirit filled assembly of believers who follow Christ Jesus, we determined long ago that, due to undeniable scientific proof, tobacco and marijuana are both unhealthy bringing harm to the body, and this is good enough reason to avoid using either.

I know I’ve taken a good bit of your time already without going to the Bible for some reference, so let’s turn to First Corinthians for a moment to learn how we are to treat our minds and bodies.

1 Cor 3:16  Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Cor 3:17  If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

1 Cor 6:17  But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
1 Cor 6:18  Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
1 Cor 6:19  Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God, and you are not your own?
1 Cor 6:20  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

Eph 5:28  So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.
Eph 5:29  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
Eph 5:30  For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

These passages are not about substance abuse, but are about the body and mind. There’s a physical and spiritual element to maintaining healthy body and mind.

I believe from this concept of taking care of our minds and bodies, it’s easier to understand why the church would determine tobacco or cannabis for recreational use to be off limits to a sincere Christian seeking the Kingdom of God.

But we do also have a powerful example of substance abuse using alcohol in scripture, which further establishes the wisdom to avoid any substance that might alter our ability to reason and function properly, dealing with our third question.

In the Bible, when we are taught not to become intoxicated, we are not warned about health and safety so much as about the detriment to our ability to function and reason properly as well as have the proper life priorities, and we are clearly shown what God defines as drunkenness.

Turning to Isaiah 5...

Isa 5:11  Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them!

Here we find that the body feels hot when too much alcohol is consumed. It can also relate to the fact that our minds and bodies are more easily drawn into sinful behavior.

Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits' end.

Here we learn that a drunken man is not steady on his feet.

Turning to Jeremiah 25:27...

Jer 25:27  "Therefore you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Drink, be drunk, and vomit! Fall and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you." '

Extreme drunkenness can cause vomiting and collapse.

So, defining drunkenness from the Bible is no mystery. We could have also visited a number of stories, and will reference one in a moment, where, because of drunkenness bad things happened.

Because we know God teaches us not to get drunk lets do a comparison between alcohol and cannabis related to dependency.

National Institutes of Health

In 2013, 17.3 million Americans (6.6 percent of the population) were dependent on alcohol or had problems related to their alcohol use (abuse).

After alcohol, marijuana has the highest rate of dependence or abuse among all drugs.In 2013, 4.2 million Americans met clinical criteria for dependence or abuse of marijuana in the past year—more than twice the number for dependence/abuse of prescription pain relievers (1.9 million) and nearly five times the number for dependence/abuse of cocaine (855,000).

So, if it is okay to drink alcohol in moderation as is also exemplified in the Bible (we’ve not really discussed that, today, but there are plenty of references) but not okay to abuse it, why can’t we follow this same principle with marijuana?

First and foremost, we need to remember what we already discussed. Any use of tobacco or marijuana provides immediate risks to health, and in the case of marijuana, additionally, safety. So, moderation is not easily applied to the use of marijuana.

Let me explain...

According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, a 200 lb. male needs to drink 4 servings of alcohol within the space of one hour to become legally drunk, meaning it would be illegal for them to drive a car due to impairment. If one is not bent on drinking for drinking’s sake, it’s a bit of an effort to consume 4 servings of alcohol in one hour. To drink less than this would be to practice moderation, at least in terms of U.S. law. Meanwhile, how much quality marijuana does it take to get high?

According to weedsthatplease.com, there are three levels of mind/body alteration that can be gained smoking high potency weed. First, is the “buzz”. This can be achieved in as few as two hits (or inhales), a high in as few as four hits, and becoming stoned at any point beyond that.

It’s an important thing to note here the warning they give for those attaining a “high”.

“People have reported witnessing uncontrollable laughter at nothing or anything at all. Having them explain the source of their laughter is futile. Laughing to tears is possible when paying attention to deep, meaningless conversation and humor.  

Existing addictions like video games, alcohol, sex or adrenaline rushes of any type seem magnified and craved for, when high.”

Needless to say, intelligent conversation is unlikely while toking on marijuana. Worse, any weaknesses already being battled against can become all the more something to crave.

Considering the maximum effect can possibly be reached within as little as 5 tokes, it would be much harder to practice moderation with this substance, even if we ignored the immediate health and safety risks.
Unlike with alcohol, the mind and body develop resistance to marijuana over time, so this requires the consumption of more to achieve the same amount of high. The body’s and brain’s reaction to alcohol is a direct measurement of the proportion of alcohol in the blood, but because the body can develop a resistance to marijuana over time, I speculate this is why it is also known as a gateway drug, likely to lead to the use of elicit drugs more effective at providing a high. 

As an aside, and to explain our personal responsibility to say no to alcohol at certain times, even in the Bible, occasions are such that alcohol should not be consumed at all. When Nadab and Abihu got drunk and used profane fire in the tabernacle, God struck them dead. As a result of this experience, the LORD gave their father, Aaron, a new rule to follow:

Lev 10:8  Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying:
Lev 10:9  "Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations,
Lev 10:10  that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean,
Lev 10:11  and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them by the hand of Moses."

We are expected to obey God’s laws, and in the OT, in the case of tabernacle service, to a “T”, so to avoid this type of mistake again, God commanded that the Levites abstain completely from alcohol when doing tabernacle service. This way no risk of profaning what is holy would be due to intoxication.

Proverbs builds on this with advice to those who are in a position of grave responsibility, where their every judgment can be the difference between a people who are blessed or who are cursed. (Proverbs 31:4-5)

Pro 31:4  It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
Pro 31:5  Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.

If you will remember from a previous quote, one of the first side-effects of consuming cannabis is to become silly, contrary to sound judgment.

And, finally, we can know without a doubt from the Bible that practicing drunkenness will keep you and me from the first resurrection.

Luk 21:34  "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

1 Cor 6:9  Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
1 Cor 6:10  nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Paul even commands that if one who claims to be a brother in Christ is doing any of these things he should be shunned completely, not tolerated.

1 Cor 5:11  But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person.

How do we sum up all of this? How do we, and our teenagers, discern what to do if the place we live in makes marijuana use legal? What should our teens discern when their public school begins to teach them how to use marijuana “responsibly”? Scientists may find medicinal value for it. It may have great qualities for making rope (hemp). But none of these issues justify using marijuana to get high.

Again, I ask the questions, “Is it unhealthy,” “Is it unsafe,” and/or “Does it affect my ability to reason?”

Our biblical example of drug abuse is found with alcohol. It’s our one and only example for what to do or not to do with a potentially intoxicating substance. In the case of alcohol, due to its chemistry, science agrees with the Bible that it is a substance that, with moderation can be enjoyed with God’s blessing.

Water to wine, John chapter 2?

Science and experience show us clearly that alcohol can also be abused, in agreement with the Bible, and if abuse is practiced, the Bible explains in no uncertain terms that a person will be disqualified from entering into God’s Holy Kingdom.

We know from scripture that our mind and body is a temple, a sanctuary, for God’s very own Holy Spirit, and we are admonished to take care of it, so we must avoid sexual and substance abuse at all costs and guard our minds, always distinguishing between what is holy and what is profane.

For every modern-day question, whether related to cigarettes or drugs, God gives us the answer through His holy word. Our answer for marijuana is most appropriately found in the Bible’s descriptions of proper and improper use of alcohol, and in any activity that causes us to lack discernment between righteous behavior and unrighteous behavior.

Marijuana is unhealthy, unsafe, and affects the mind’s ability to reason properly. Science and statistics prove this, so we can turn to the word of God for answering even modern-day questions related to substance abuse.

I will end, today, by reading some advice from Proverbs...

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Pro 3:6  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Pro 3:7  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
Pro 3:8  It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.