Do YOU think marijuana use is wrong?

[cynic]

Many conservatives in America think the war on pot is pointless and out of scale with the dangers of this drug. If getting a mild high from smoking a joint is immoral, then so is getting the warm fuzzies from having a beer on a Sunday afternoon. It's use should not be promoted, it still has a detrimental effect on cognitive function for long term heavy users, but I think it's one of those substances that should never have been made illegal in the first place (then we wouln't have to deal with the issue of "sending the wrong message" by legalising it).

[THurifer2]

Alcohol is imbibed in for taste...Does anyone smoke Mary Jane for its taste only? Also People can get relaxed by Wine. But the only way Mary Jane works is if you get stoned...It is sorta like an all or none situation with POT.

[rayne89]

Yes I think marijuana use is wrong. Drinking alcohol with the intent of getting drunk is wrong - a sin and needs to be confessed. Pot is used to get high (unless it's used medically which in that case is different). Getting high is wrong -again a sin that needs to be confessed. I have never heard any one say lets all smoke a joint so we can sleep better.
Your comment about having surgery done by doctor who had smoked pot making him more careful is hysterical -it reminds me of a friend back when I was in my twenties that said he drove better when he had been drinking because he would then try to be extra cautious and aware.
Hippie since you know so many pot smokers how many of those pot smokers have never tried any other illegal drug? All the pot smokers I knew back in the day eventually went on to "bigger and better" things.

[setter]

[quote]

Originally Posted by Hippie4Peace

I will tell you that like alcohol, the more marijuana you consume, the more effects you are going to feel.

You speak as if all MAC's (mood altering chemicals) are created equally.

Same goes with alcohol...you can have a good time with 1-3 beers for example, but the second you pass that up, you're in for something else. Not to mention, unilke pot, you will be dealing with a hangover and or throwup.

The detriment is always determined by the hangover.

With that being said, whenever I indulge in pot, I don't get this drunkeness effect, or anything. It's almost like caffeine in a way, but it's a burst of energy, followed by a very relaxing state, which makes marijuana a popular sleep aid. If you sleep after taking pot, you will sleep almost instantly, and you are sure to get a good nights rest.

Many alcoholics say the same about alcohol.

[setter]

Originally Posted by tcay584

Just out of curiosity, Hippie...on what date were you born?

This is a trick question, right? ...one of the "cool" effects of marijuana use is that it warps sense of time.

[fix]

Originally Posted by TimOliv

Okay, but the same claims can be made against alcohol. Yet the church permits responsible use of alcohol.

I would say the main moral issue of marijuana is its legality.

I have never seen a theological explanation but I have seen this from the last Pope:

"It is true that there is a distinct difference between the use of drugs and the use of alcohol: while a moderate use of the latter as a drink does not offend moral principles, only its abuse can be condemned; instead, the use of drugs is always unlawful because it implies an unjustified and unreasonable renunciation of thinking, desiring and acting as a free person" (<Dolentium Hominum>, 19, VII, 1992, n. 1).

SHOULD 'SOFT' DRUGS BE LEGALIZED?Pontifical Council for the Family

[childofmary1143]

If you want to know why marijuana is wrong read this article:

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/hea...cle2368994.ece

[Bennie P]

Originally Posted by childofmary1143

If you want to know why marijuana is wrong read this article:

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/hea...cle2368994.ece

WOW, a quote from that article: "He said: "The link between cannabis and psychosis is quite clear now; it wasn't 10 years ago."
Many medical specialists agree that the debate has changed. Robin Murray, professor of psychiatry at London's Institute of Psychiatry, estimates that at least 25,000 of the 250,000 schizophrenics in the UK could have avoided the illness if they had not used cannabis."

[exoflare]

Originally Posted by Hippie4Peace

...

Ted Turner,

...

Are they not intelligent enough?

[Rach620]

Originally Posted by fix

I have never seen a theological explanation but I have seen this from the last Pope:

Thanks for that, fix! Great reference to have.

[Al Masetti]

Hey Dude, one nice thing is sort of the carryover effect, ya know like get enough of an edge and ya can sort of coast ya know just dontscratchyereyeball hurtslike crazy surgeryislikecool

[TimOliv]

Originally Posted by fix

I have never seen a theological explanation but I have seen this from the last Pope:

I think part of the problem is we are lumping all drugs together. The fact of the matter is that doing lines of coke differs from a person who smokes marijuana on occasion. I've known people who do just that (in areas where it is legal to do so) and their mental state is no more altered than a person who unwinds at the end of the day with a cocktail.

I suppose my main objection is in making blanket statements since a lot of this depends on A) The Drug being used B) The Effects of the Drug Being Used C) The Intent of the user

If altered state of mind, loss of individuality and time lapse are the only criteria we are going off of then gamers are facing a similar prohibition.

[Listener]

The person who started this post may have a point. I have never used marijuana in my entire life, but I think that the Federal Government has some really strange ideas about it. Marijuana has been approved by some states for medical use, especially for dying people to manage their pain. I think that this is a legimitate use, but the people who use it for this purpose get in trouble with the Federal Government. I know that my comment may be a bit off the subject, but after all, this is just another plant that God made. There has to be a middle ground somewhere between the two extremes. Of course, pregnant women shouldn't be using it! These days, pregnant women I know won't even drink coffee, have a glass of wine, or take an aspirin. We did all of these things back when I had my children, and my children turned out very healthy.

[HoBo30]

Here's my take:

I used to smoke all the time, I love pot. It doesn't make you sick like alcohol does and it's not nearly as dangerous as alcohol and tobacco are.

However, that whole "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" thing is a big hurdle to get over and I finally realized that puffing was not cool w/ JC.

Is smoking pot inherently wrong? If drinking alcohol isn't, then I don't think pot is either. But the fact remains the pot is illegal and alcohol isn't. Therefore, I must abstain.

However, if it were ever de-criminalized, I'd be all over it.

[Riley259]

Originally Posted by Hippie4Peace

I was using the search tool on this forum, and found numerous thread regarding how marijuana use (recreational) is wrong, and even a priest responded it is morally wrong because it is illegal.

My oh my. I pity those who condemn the use of marijuana. If it's the illegal aspect of it that makes you see it as being wrong, consider this: Getting a prostitute in Las Vegas is legal, so it that right?

Besides, we all know Holland has very liberal drug laws, and the statistics actually show it has among the lowest crime rates in all of Europe. The Dutch have gotten it right...they distinguish cannabis from harder drugs...which means there are significantly less dealers on the streets looking to push the drug.

What really comes to mind is the health aspect. Everyone knows 0 deaths have been directly linked to Marijuana...while millions die each year of tobacco and alcohol, which are obviously legal...such a shame.

While smoking pot has limited harm, it's no secret pure THC does wonders to the body...it widens the blood vessels (unlike tobacco, which constricts them), helps those of glaucoma, it's even been found it helps with memory, since it stimulates neurotransmitters...which is why many people often find themselves remembering things that happened a while ago, almost with a photographic description...and of course, it gives people a feeling of complete ecstasy, a super feeling which heightens the senses...

which is what brings me to post here. Believe it or not, Marijuana is actually a spiritual ritual to me...I use it at night, think about life, pray...it's an experience that I wouldn't trade for the world...it's very peaceful. I wish more fellow Catholics realized the truth about God's magical plant, and that it wasn't so wrongly viewed upon by corporate America.

God bless you all.

Marijuana is illegal and you'd be hard pressed to convince the Church that breaking the law in this case is justified. So, on that point alone I think smoking pot is a sin. Secondly, smoking pot is horrible on the lungs, even worse than cigarettes in terms of damage inflicted. Granted, you wouldn't probably be smoking as many marijuana cigs as regular cigarettes but it's still bad for you health-wise. I believe that long-term and heavy use of pot is damaging neurologically (ex., memory loss, etc.) and it may contribute to sterility. It clearly impairs your judgement (ex., increased paranoia, distorted feelings and inhibitions, etc.) and I believe that there's evidence that consistent use of pot will make it more likely that the person will experiment with harder drugs (correct me if I'm wrong on that last point). Finally, it makes you lazy and unmotivated and in general "deadens" you're mood and alertness of things in between periods of high. Eventually, you need more and more of it to experience the same highs. I'd personally only advocate a narrow use for marijuana legally and that would be for people with severe glaucoma and those with certain late stage cancers....otherwise, we should keep it illegal!!