Parenting in the Haze of Legalized Marijuana

[Andrew K.]

mmartin wrote:

So too much caffeine will make you a twitchy, neurotic monster?? Really? You are comparing caffeine with alcohol??

When was the last time you heard of anyone arrested for driving while under the influence (effects) of caffeine? When was the last time you heard of a children being bitter at their father because he was a Mt. Dew drunk? How many marriages have been broken because of the influence of too much coffee? How many secular laws do you see restricting the age of consumption of Red Bull or Rock Star?

You want the alcohol=bad side to change their language and stop talking about how these things have “effects” on a person? Of course we are going to talk about how it affects you because guess what, it does! The Bible doesn’t strongly teach against alcohol in my belief (or strongly discourage only excess to others) because it has no effect on a person. The Bible’s teaching/warnings about alcohol isn’t just filler material. It is there because . . yes, of how it affects a person.

And you are talking about sloppy categorization! (Y)!

So the consequences for over-consumption are worse for alcohol than caffeine (largely, provided you don’t die)… so? That hardly affects my point that people don’t suffer those kinds of consequences for drinking in moderation either.

As for caffeine, Jay, substances containing large amounts would have been unknown, so I think the point is moot.

And no, you can talk about how alcohol consumption “affects” people all you like, provided you clarify that you mean negative effects. But of course once you do that, I can simply point out that those negative effects are a result of substance abuse. Nobody beats his wife after a glass of wine with his meal. No homes are torn apart because I like a beer with my pizza.

James, my understanding is as follows: Alcohol in moderation is not harmful but rather beneficial to health and mental state, so it’s use is lawful; marijuana is not beneficial, except perhaps for medical usage. I know Alex and many others will argue this point, but I have done my own reading into the matter as well, and so I remain convinced of what I have stated.

Incidentally, I don’t believe I should ever be convinced that breathing in smoke of any sort is healthful, since the was not made to do so. See below.

Donald P. Tashkin, MD, Professor of Pulmonary Care at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), stated in a June 2005 article published in the Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease:
“The smoke of marijuana, like that of tobacco, consists of a toxic mixture of gases and particulates, many of which are known to be harmful to the lung….Whereas THC [primary active ingredient in marijuana] causes modest short-term bronchodilation [expansion of the air passages] , regular marijuana smoking produces a number of long-term pulmonary consequences, including chronic cough and sputum, [and] histopathologic evidence of widespread airway inflammation.”

Hi Andrew,

Though I do not advocate recreational use, I recognize some use it that way and I can’t really fault them from my understanding.

I agree on the effects on the lungs and would discourage the method in general. All things being equal though, if someone were suffering pain to a degree where the detrimental effects of smoking was inconsequential to the greater need for pain relief, then it would make sense to me.

Edible usage of Cannabis is a viable option and produces essentially the same results. It has good efficacy.

Alcohol is wrong, and marijuana is wrong. A wise, biblical Christian will stay away from both.

http://gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com/2014/01/why-marijuana-should-remain…

David R. Brumbelow

[David R. Brumbelow]

Alcohol is wrong, and marijuana is wrong. A wise, biblical Christian will stay away from both.

http://gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com/2014/01/why-marijuana-should-remain-…

David R. Brumbelow

Do you think alcoholic beverage sales should be illegal? Do you advocate a return to Prohibition?

I’m not worried about debating Prohibition of alcohol. But when we have a legal substance that is America’s number one drug problem (alcohol), why unleash another dangerous, addictive, mind-altering drug (marijuana) on our country?

Baptist Press has some good articles on marijuana.

http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41895

David R. Brumbelow

The article’s were good-if all the more alarming to the “new” day in which we live. (yet nothing is new). My heart is pierced for todays children, especially those without godly influences in their lives. My goodness..who’d have thought the smell of ganj might be a regular fixture in Anytown, USA? The youth are once again being targeted in a big big way, this whole pot legalization thing is yet another example of bringing down society 101—seems to have kicked into high gear of late.
I praise God for the local church and the wisdom of Godly leaders and teachers, and the fellowship of the saints. As the days grow darker we’re going to be relying more and more on each other.

Some of the above responses got me thinking..
Wine/alcohol is mentioned throughout scripture rather matter of factly; whether in warning about, enjoyment of, in description or prescription. Seems clearly evident that it was an acceptable aspect of biblical life, and properly self governed is still today. I take the to-each-their-own approach. (Rom. 2:15; 1Cor. 10:29-33 …)

Pot isn’t even in the same category as alcohol and no more belongs in the realm of Christian liberties as say, shrooms, cocaine, lsd, or sharing spouses for that matter. The fact that pot is even being “debated” in the evangelical world at all is a testament to the age we are in. I know from all too much experience that pot directly and adversely affects the psyche and what might (as such) be considered our “spiritual” side. And that’s just the start of it. You suck in that sweet smoke and you have no idea the spirits you have just opened yourself up to right along with your euphoria. Pot is a liar and deceiver disguised as an angel and the enemy cackles especially gleefully at the “Christian” toker. As the light has no place with the darkness a Christian has NO business playing around with nor condoning the use of marijuana……..Hellooo?!?

Yeeks.

(to be clear- I’m not talking about medicinal use)

[David R. Brumbelow]

I’m not worried about debating Prohibition of alcohol. But when we have a legal substance that is America’s number one drug problem (alcohol), why unleash another dangerous, addictive, mind-altering drug (marijuana) on our country?

You are inconsistent​

• You equate beverage alcohol and marijuana: “Alcohol is America’s number one drug problem. .. Alcohol and marijuana have been recognized as “gateway drugs​””
• You call for marijuana to remain Illegal (above link)
• But you do not call for beverage alcohol to be illegal.

I mention this because:

• It seems most consider prohibition to have been an epic failure (I personally do)
• And many (I have not finalized my own views on this) consider the so-called “war of drugs” to have likewise been a failure

Jim,

I would encourage you to read the first article I reference above.

On Prohibition:

“One of the clear lessons of Prohibition is that when we had laws against alcohol there was less consumption, less alcohol-related disease, fewer drunken brawls, and a lot less drunkenness. And contrary to myth, there is no evidence that Prohibition caused any big increases in crime.”

-William Bennett, a graduate of Williams College, has a doctorate in political philosophy from the University of Texas, and a law degree from Harvard. He was director of the National Drug Control Policy under President George H. W. Bush, and Secretary of Education under President Reagan. Quoted in “Ancient Wine and the Bible.”

Christians need to speak up against some of the myths about Prohibition.

On losing the war on drugs:

We could also say we have lost the war on murder. After all, we have had laws against murder for centuries, yet murder still happens. In great numbers. So, should we admit failure? Should we legalize murder? Should we tax murder? Of course not.

A law against a harmful practice does not eliminate the practice. But making something illegal does limit it, stigmatize it, and punish those who abuse the law.

Legalize marijuana, and you are guaranteed to get more, much more, marijuana use. And more of the harmful effects that go with marijuana.

David R. Brumbelow

Generally speaking, when you legalize something, you will get more of it. I wonder if some cities in America will become similar to Amsterdam which legalizes many inebriating drugs and prostitution. Is that the kind of America we really want? The pushers and cartels will simply concentrate their efforts on other drugs such as cocaine and heroin, once marijuana is legalized throughout the country. Last night I spoke with a young man who is taking “medical marijuana” for back pain. Really? Are there no other remedies or more effective remedies? Sounds like a ruse to me. I am a firm opponent to the recreational use of alcohol. Nevertheless, Michael Medved and others have commented recently that alcohol is water dissoluble whereas marijuana (THC) stays in the body much longer with longer term effects. In a day where modern invention enables us to free ourselves from inebriating drugs, many are using modern techniques to increase the mind altering, mind numbing effects of inebriating drugs by increasing the alcohol content in beverages and strengthening marijuana to the point that some brands are nearly as potent as LSD. It’s all so tragic and pagan. By the way, Dr. Randy Jaeggli is coming out with the second edition of his book on the Christian and drinking. The title is “The Christian and Drinking: The Scriptural Case for Abstinence”. The book is longer than the first edition and addresses a number of issues not previously dealt with in the first edition. Randy is a chemical engineer. He also has his M.Div. and Ph.D. in OT interpretation. The book should be available in about two months.

[Mike Harding] Last night I spoke with a young man who is taking “medical marijuana” for back pain. Really? Are there no other remedies or more effective remedies? Sounds like a ruse to me.

So you have greater knowledge about the man’s medical needs than the MD that prescribed it to him?

Medical Marijuana
“Don’t be taken in. Marijuana is a dangerous drug with countless negative effects. The rush to decriminalization in the name of pain control or mental health cannot be justified.
Most people who use marijuana to relieve severe pain combine it with stronger pain relievers because marijuana is not effective enough by itself. Furthermore, 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]. Marijuana is not the solution. It merely adds more problems.” -Barrett Duke, BP; 8-6-2012

http://gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com/2014/01/gleanings-on-damaging-effec…

David R. Brumbelow

Pastors Brumbelow and Harding … cutting to the chase here:

Presuming that medical marijuana is legal in your arena of ministry:

• Church member (of your church) discloses that he/she takes medical marijuana for [whatever medically prescribed reason]
• You would do what? And why?
• Could that same one continue in your church’s membership they continued to take medically prescribed marijuana?

Were I a pastor … I would not be concerned (since I asked your view … only fair that I provide mine!)

So my answers: If legal in my state (and it is not in Minnesota): Answers: Nothing & Yes

Jim,

I have been in consultation with several doctors in my church and a Christian medical doctor who is an addiction specialist. All of them seriously question the use of medical marijuana and all of them insist there are more effective treatments. It is my personal opinion that the medical marijuana push in ten of our states is the door to legalization of recreational marijuana. My son-in-law is the head of Orthopedic Surgery in his hospital and he told me that no competent physician would ever prescribe medical marijuana for back pain. I would not personally interfere with a doctor’s prescription; nevertheless, I would encourage anyone to get several expert opinions before smoking a joint in order to get healthy.

Jim,

I believe most legal medicinal marijuana use is a ruse to enjoy it and get stoned.

But if a church member was under strict care of a competent, reliable medical doctor who proscribed medical marijuana, while I would be suspicious, I would tolerate it. After all, we have all types of mind-altering prescription drugs that we accept. The key here is strictly medicinal vs. recreational use.

By the way, I just read Pastor Mike Harding’s comment, and agree.

Another quote on Medical Marijuana:

Trojan Horse

“Part of the reason we have not had more success ending rampant illicit drug abuse in our nation is the fact that so many states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Such counterproductive policies are the equivalent of drilling holes in the bottom of your boat while you are frantically trying to bail water.
In fact, if you take a closer look, you will see that most states currently debating legalizing the use of marijuana for recreation first legalized it for medicinal use. Medical marijuana is the Trojan horse of recreational marijuana.” -Barrett Duke, BP; 8-6-2012

David R. Brumbelow

I think you are correct.

I do think that some of the momentum to legalize is backlash against the perceived harsh sentences for marijuana infractions and the billions spent on the so-called “war on drugs”

An observation about the medical marijuana angle: There are a lot of non-standard treatments that society is open too, especially in the areas of aid for those in chemotherapy and also treatments for chronic pain. I myself have chronic pain but in most cases NSAIDs, heat, rest and time are effective.