Why Marijuana Should Remain Illegal
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Washington State has become the second state to legalize marijuana. Christians need to be prepared to speak to this issue. Reasons to oppose marijuana are here given in the form of Questions and Answers.
1. Marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol, and alcohol is legal.
Alcohol is America’s number one drug problem. Why should we now unleash another harmful drug on America? When marijuana has been legalized, it has led to an increase in crime and societal problems.
Alcohol and marijuana have been classified as “gateway drugs,” drugs that often lead to harder drugs. Isn’t one legal gateway drug enough?
2. We have not won the war against drugs, including marijuana. So why not legalize it?
We haven’t won the war against murder either. Should we therefore legalize murder? Should we just tax murder? Of course not. Passing a law against a harmful practice does not eliminate the practice. But it does limit it, stigmatize it, and punish the abusers.
3. Medical marijuana should be legalized.
The argument for medical marijuana usually is just a way of opening the door to the recreational use of marijuana. When a state legalizes smoking marijuana for pain, you can expect the next push to be for legalizing recreational marijuana. Christian abstainers, however, do accept the use of drugs for medicinal necessity, rather than recreational purposes.
For some the pain-relieving aspects of marijuana loses appeal when you take away the idea of smoking a joint and getting high. Marijuana is already available in drug form that does not get you high, yet can be used for pain or other medical conditions.
Barrett Duke of the ERLC explains, “Marijuana’s pain-relieving ingredient has been available by prescription for years. A person can purchase Marinol—right now—with a doctor’s prescription. The plain fact of the matter is that there are better and safer drugs [for pain]” (bpnews.net; 8-6-2012).
4. People have a right to smoke marijuana if they choose.
Our rights must sometimes end when a practice or substance becomes too harmful to ourselves and others. I know there is a fine line that sometimes has to be drawn, but dangerous drugs that harm the user and innocent others should be severely limited. Isn’t it strange that just as society is turning against smoking tobacco, it is now moving toward sanctioning smoking marijuana?
5. We can get taxes from the legal sales of marijuana.
We could also get taxes from legalizing other harmful practices. Invariably, when we allow and tax a practice that is harmful to society, we end up paying more to control it and deal with its consequences than we receive in taxes. Government would do better to get their taxes up front and honestly, not by legalizing destructive behavior.
6. You can’t legislate morality.
Yes you can. Our laws against murder and theft legislate morality. The question is where you draw the line. Some things need to be criminalized, limited, and stigmatized.
7. Penalties for marijuana should change.
Perhaps this is true. Barrett Duke has suggested, “A system of increasing fines, penalties and requirements, like substance-abuse counseling, can be developed. Penalties even could include the loss of one’s driver’s license. Jail could be a last resort for habitual offenders” (-BP).
8. Marijuana is not that bad.
Rather, when marijuana has been legalized, it has magnified an existing problem. Marijuana has multiple toxic chemicals and gives a higher risk for cancer, psychosis, strokes, respiratory damage and heart attack. It causes impaired memory, difficulty concentrating, impairs driving and reaction time. It lowers the I.Q. of teenage smokers.
Acceptance of another mind-altering recreational drug always changes things for the worse.
Biblical reasons to oppose marijuana
Every biblical injunction against alcohol is also a condemnation of marijuana and other recreational drugs.
- Scripture describes in detail the dangerous effects of alcoholic wine and says not to even look at it (Proverbs 23:29-35). It’s not much of a leap to take the same low view of other dangerous drugs.
- Scripture directly says wine is a mocker (Proverbs 20:1).
- Scripture commands us to be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, 1 Peter 5:8, etc.).
- Kings are commanded not to drink wine lest they pervert justice (Proverbs 31:4-5). Believers are called kings and priests (Revelation 1:6; 5:10) and neither should we take drugs that would cause us to do things we’d never do in our right minds.
- A Christian is to honor God with his mind and body (Matthew 22:37, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Both are adversely affected by alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs.
- Drinking hurts your Christian influence and leads others astray (1 Corinthians 8:9, 10:23).
One very big problem Christian social drinkers have is if they are justified in taking one mind-altering recreational drug (alcohol), then they have no legitimate argument against another legal mind-altering recreational drug (marijuana). The wise thing for Christians is to have nothing to do with either drug.
It should also be remembered that legal and moral are not synonymous. Whether alcohol, marijuana, or other harmful drugs are legal, a Christian answers to a higher standard.
Let’s not legalize another destructive drug.
David Brumbelow Bio
David R. Brumbelow is pastor of Northside Baptist Church, Highlands, Texas and a graduate of ETBU and SWBTS. David is the author of “Ancient Wine and the Bible” and “The Wit and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow.” He writes at gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com.
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“I hope they will be full of spirit against evil spirits, stout against stout, and hale against ale.” -Charles H. Spurgeon, letter to temperance society, March 19, 1884.
http://gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com/2010/04/charles-h-spurgeon-on-alcoh…
“A man who is a drinker has no place in the ministry.” -John MacArthur; 1 Timothy.
I might add they would also be considered competent Bible scholars.
Many other examples could be given of Calvinist and non-Calvinist / Moderate Calvinist Bible scholars who oppose alcohol.
David R. Brumbelow
The argument for the legalization of medical marijuana has mostly to do with the fact that certain medical treatments make it really difficult to keep food down, and somehow smoked or eaten (brownies, etc..) marijuana does this better than Marinol. Dope has also been found useful for those who have suffered concussions, for some reason. So the medical argument does appear to be legitimate, though certainly a lot of people want it to be a prelude to full legalization.
So really I’d argue the question is whether one puff, or one joint, gets a person “intoxicated” by Bible standards, and whether the usual user can, or can not, cease using the drug if he so desires. From what I’ve seen, the answers are “no” and “no.” A person does not get falling down drunk (this is the Bible definition) with one joint, and many users walk away from it. So it’s really failing the public health test for banning it. If you wanted to ban something that really is deadly, that would be the “American diet and lifestyle” that kills something like 700 thousand of us annually.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
Quick correction; the answers are “no, the person is not flat out stoned” and “yes, the person can stop using it without withdrawal symptoms”.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
John MacArthur is not a scholar but a “popular-level” preacher and writer. He is wrong on some things and right on some things.
My contention stands: godly Israelites and Jesus used intoxicating beverages responsibly from the record of the scriptures. To construe the record in any other way is false teaching in my book.
For those who are unaware of alcohol: the one drink of wine I have daily is not really noticed as I have my meal with it. Alcohol’s effects are not static: every breath expels alcohol from the system. In one hour, through breathing, all alcohol of one drink is removed from the body. So, if at a celebration where there is feasting and dancing, there would be a need for large quantities of wine which Jesus produced at the wedding in Cana.
"Our faith itself... is not our saviour. We have but one Saviour; and that one Saviour is Jesus Christ our Lord. B.B. Warfield
The Bible says Jesus turned water to wine (John 2), not alcohol.
For an excellent article on this by Mark Creech, see:
http://gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com/2013/04/jesus-turned-water-to-wine-…
David R. Brumbelow
For more information on the damaging effects of marijuana:
http://gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com/2014/01/gleanings-on-damaging-effec…
David R. Brumbelow
It’s worth noting that Creech’s “excellent article” about wine predominantly uses Brumbelow as a source, and Brumbelow’s writing about marijuana simply cites a Southern Baptist lobbyist, Barrett Duke, without proper citation or any peer reviewed work. When you take a look at the real data, you quickly find that marijuana is well behind legal things like the U.S. diet in terms of negative influence.
It’s also worth noting that the “addictive” nature of marijuana is not a physical addiction like that for opiates, painkillers, alcohol and nicotine, but rather is more of a compulsive behavior—like my trips to the coffee pot throughout the day.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/almost-addicted/201311/is-marijuana…
Now given that lots of things are compulsive behaviors—eating, washing, drinking, smoking, sex, coffee, and even marijuana—I’ve got to wonder whether we do better to ban the substance, or to address the reasons for the compulsive behavior. Given that I’m not about to give up eating, bathing, and coffee, I’m leaning towards the latter.
Lots of great reasons not to use marijuana—I start with being allergic tot he stuff and not particularly feeling the need to get “high”—but those do not automatically translate to a reason to ban it. Really, a lot of the “keep it illegal” faction are more or less recycling “Reefer Madness”, and we do not honor God by doing this any more than if we recycle Carrie Nation’s WCTU rhetoric in the face of contrary evidence.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
You’ll note that the people who endorsed recreational alcohol have no problem with toking a joint! At least they are consistent.
What is a scholar alex o. If John MacArthur is not one, is any pastor? What makes one a scholar?
Also, you say you drink one glass of wine nightly. Why? Health reasons? You say you hardly notice it, so there must not be much joy in it.
Not everyone who enjoys a moderate amount of alcohol consumes marijuana. In fact, I would imagine that most moderationists when it comes to alcohol abstain from marijuana. For me, it comes down to a simple reason. Most marijuana users seek a high. Many people who enjoy alcohol in moderation drink for the enjoyment of the flavor. I’ve done a lot of reading from all angles on marijuana and have yet to hear people talking about the nuances of flavor. It’s all about the experience of being high. Being high isn’t acceptable for a Christian anymore than being drunk. Now is it possible to enjoy marijuana in moderation and without getting high? I don’t know, but I’m not going to be the guinea pig. I certainly haven’t found documentation on it.
Having said this, my original point has not been addressed in this thread. Just because an activity is not suitable for a believer, does that give us a right to forbid unbelievers from doing it? Especially when we don’t have a “Thus says the Lord” on the matter. Even more so when we consider that marijuana users rarely harm people besides themselves. What marijuana users need is the Gospel, not jail time. Putting them in jail seems like it would make them harder to reach with the Gospel.
[Mark_Smith]What is a scholar alex o. If John MacArthur is not one, is any pastor? What makes one a scholar?
Also, you say you drink one glass of wine nightly. Why? Health reasons? You say you hardly notice it, so there must not be much joy in it.
Johnnie Mac writes “popular” books, his readers are folks who barely know the bible. Do you think any college or seminary professor reads his books for insights? I do not believe I have disparaged him, his strength is dealing with a more general audience. If MacAurthur says a pastor is disqualified because they drink from 1Tim. 3, he gets it wrong. The idea is of “being beside the wine” having it next to oneself in order to partake more of it. A pastor needs more self-control than that.
The bible speaks against the wrong use of intoxicating drinks often but not against the nature of the drinks themselves. This is how Hosea needs to be read when the drunkards are renounced. Part of the sacrifices was pouring out wine next to the altar. When an Israelite brought freewill and peace offerings they ate part of the offering as an act of “eating with the Lord” thereby showing peace and fellowship. These products (grain, oil, wine, animals) were the staples of Israeli everyday fare. It is crazy to think the ancient Israelites reconstituted raisins into a beverage to pour out to the Lord. Actually a person would get sick doing so since the water would not be sanitized by raisins.
This discussion is really on the fringe of reality as I don’t know what some are smoking to come up with these crazy ideas. I won’t have discussions with KJV only types either as it is a waste of time. I am beginning to feel some in this discussion are hopelessly biased and not worth my time.
Why I enjoy wine? Certainly not for the effect alone but I do enjoy the relaxation alcohol provides sometimes. It is the whole package: the aroma, taste of a nice NZ Sauvignon Blanc (my current favorite) is really nice. Sometimes I notice the effects if I am not hurrying (like most Americans when they eat). At my age any more than one drink would hurt my body since it doesn’t digest alcohol very well after 60. One drink is good for digestion I would say and provides good components for health. I drink it more for enjoyment than trying to live longer because of it though (I believe it does provide long term benefits).
"Our faith itself... is not our saviour. We have but one Saviour; and that one Saviour is Jesus Christ our Lord. B.B. Warfield
No man should be made the pastor of a church who drinks intoxicating liquors as a beverage.” -B. H. Carroll, founding president of SWBTS
“The bishop (pastor) is to be free from wine (1 Timothy 3:3). One would presume that this admonition, at least in part, is for an example. If so, here again the ideal would be total abstinence for all who make up the body of Christ, i.e., the church.”
“Not only is it imperative that a preacher abstain from strong drink altogether, but in this day in which the liquor industry grips modern society with such violent tenacity, the preacher ought to take his stand firmly against the use and sale of beverage alcohol.” -Dr. Paige Patterson, current president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
David R. Brumbelow
John MacArthur’s comments on alcohol are something of a sidetrack here, but they do have the good purpose of illustrating how far afield mainstream evangelical and fundamental thought is on the subject. That is, if we are to take seriously his exegesis of the word “paroinos” (his comments on this can be Googled), we must assume that Christ, the apostles, and Timothy were not qualified to be in ministry because they were known to drink wine.
Unless we accept David’ hypothesis that Timothy was drinking raisin juice (which would have done nothing for his frequent illnesses), that cannot be true. And hence we need to go beyond mere prooftexting to understand wine in its ethical and unethical use—a merry heart and drunkenness as defined by the Scriptures. I think such wisdom would be welcome with marijuana, too.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
1 Timothy 5:23 has often been misused.
No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities. -1 Timothy 5:23
1. The wine referred to could have either been fermented or unfermented. The Bible and ancient writing often refer to unfermented wine by the name wine (Isaiah 65:8; Matthew 9:17; etc.).
Modern English translations do so as well.
Ancients knew and practiced multiple ways of preserving unfermented wine. It was available throughout the year.
Unfermented wine or grape juice has many, probably more, healthy properties than alcoholic wine; without the harmful side effects.
However, even if Paul was recommending alcoholic wine:
2. He said a little.
3. Strictly for medicinal purposes.
At most, this is only justifying a little alcohol for medicinal reasons.
It is also interesting that as a pastor, Timothy, for good reason, had been abstaining from wine.
David R. Brumbelow
[Bert Perry]John MacArthur’s comments on alcohol are something of a sidetrack here, but they do have the good purpose of illustrating how far afield mainstream evangelical and fundamental thought is on the subject. That is, if we are to take seriously his exegesis of the word “paroinos” (his comments on this can be Googled), we must assume that Christ, the apostles, and Timothy were not qualified to be in ministry because they were known to drink wine.
Unless we accept David’ hypothesis that Timothy was drinking raisin juice (which would have done nothing for his frequent illnesses), that cannot be true. And hence we need to go beyond mere prooftexting to understand wine in its ethical and unethical use—a merry heart and drunkenness as defined by the Scriptures. I think such wisdom would be welcome with marijuana, too.
What are you doing at SI?
Seriously, God created Cannabis. It should never be referred to as “the devil’s weed.” To proscribe substances is the height off folly and has ruined many lives. The laws against substances have ruined lives much more than the substances themselves. The mindset of prohibition of substances including alcohol is one of the major faults of America’s history (another one is racism). But all countries have their faults as do individuals. The idea should be to become better: an upward walk. What society is reflects what the government is to a large degree. As Christians we are to serve the Lord in our corner of influence.
With that I am done with this thread.
"Our faith itself... is not our saviour. We have but one Saviour; and that one Saviour is Jesus Christ our Lord. B.B. Warfield
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