what does the bible say about smoking cannabis? (Genesis 1:11-12)

[ihavefoundgod951]

My brother smokes weed, he is a full on stoner. He isn't a Christian, yesterday I was talking to him about weed, he claimed to me that the bible says it is OK to smoke weed,

I asked him " what you been smoking?"

he quoted this piece of scripture to me

Genesis 1:11-12
"
11[bless and do not curse]And God said,[bless and do not curse]h"Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants5[bless and do not curse]yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth." And it was so.[bless and do not curse]12[bless and do not curse]The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good."

This was both a funny and interesting conversation. His argument was why did God create weed?

He quoted "And God saw that it was good"

I said are you saying heroin is OK too, that comes from a plant, he replied "yes"

I told him the bible tells us not to get drunk, so I assume the same goes for getting stoned.

Personally I am of the opinion the bible doesn't condone people smoking weed.

What are thoughts?

 

[Targaryen]

Reading that verse as a "vindication" for imbibing marijuana is a favorite tool of some in the marijuana business, but it is a rather slanted viewpoint and one not at all consistent with the Bible.

 

[ihavefoundgod951]

Reading that verse as a "vindication" for imbibing marijuana is a favorite tool of some in the marijuana business, but it is a rather slanted viewpoint and one not at all consistent with the Bible.

I agree, hear here.

 

[ViaCrucis]

The Bible doesn't say anything about it.

So like many other things--tobacco, alcohol, coffee, fast food--it is morally neutral. Excepting of course that in most jurisdictions cannabis is still criminalized/illegal. Which is its own moral issue--namely obeying civil law.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ihavefoundgod951]

The Bible doesn't say anything about it.

So like many other things--tobacco, alcohol, coffee, fast food--it is morally neutral. Excepting of course that in most jurisdictions cannabis is still criminalized/illegal. Which is its own moral issue--namely obeying civil law.

-CryptoLutheran

That's a good point, I drink a lot of tea, I forget it has caffeine in it, I guess the bible does not forbid it.

St Paul tells us we should not get drunk, now cannabis gets you high, I guess the same message applies when talking about weed?

You are right when you say cannabis is illegal where I live in the UK, breaking civil law goes against what the bible says.
this is a clear reason why cannabis is forbidden for Christians, in states where it is outlawed.

God bless

 

[football5680]

The Bible doesn't address it directly so whether it is permissible or not would depend on the laws where you live. The Bible tells us to follow the laws where we live as long as they do not force you to do something that goes against Christian beliefs. Marijuana is neither supported or opposed directly in the Bible so it could go either way. Alcohol is permissible in moderation so we could possibly look at marijuana the same way. There is no clear command in the Bible regarding this issue so this is simply speculation.

 

[Targaryen]

The Bible doesn't address it directly so whether it is permissible or not would depend on the laws where you live. The Bible tells us to follow the laws where we live as long as they do not force you to do something that goes against Christian beliefs. Marijuana is neither supported or opposed directly in the Bible so it could go either way. Alcohol is permissible in moderation so we could possibly look at marijuana the same way. There is no clear command in the Bible regarding this issue so this is simply speculation.

Moderation would be an acceptable practise sure. But we should be vigilant that this type of thing doesn't become a slippery slope for harder drug use.

Marijuana is a softer drug, potentially less harmful then even alcohol. But that doesn't mean either that it doesn't carry it's own risks.

 

[GenemZ]

My brother smokes weed, he is a full on stoner. He isn't a Christian, yesterday I was talking to him about weed, he claimed to me that the bible says it is OK to smoke weed,

I asked him " what you been smoking?"

he quoted this piece of scripture to me

Genesis 1:11-12
"
11[bless and do not curse]And God said,[bless and do not curse]h"Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants5[bless and do not curse]yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth." And it was so.[bless and do not curse]12[bless and do not curse]The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good."

This was both a funny and interesting conversation. His argument was why did God create weed?

Your brother needs to get the complete picture.

As God created the world originally, is not the same world now.

Genesis 3:17-18

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife
and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you,
‘You must not eat from it,’

“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.

18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.

​

Before the fall of Adam there was no poison ivy. There were no poison berries. There were no poisonous snakes. There was no need to choose if something was good or bad. Your brother mentioning the creation's original state does no longer apply any longer in all cases. We now have plants that will hurt us if eaten.

I pray that your brother gets a wake up call.

 

[Radagast]

I told him the bible tells us not to get drunk, so I assume the same goes for getting stoned.

I agree. Biblical condemnations of drunkenness obviously extend to other forms of chemical intoxication.

 

[Radagast]

You are right when you say cannabis is illegal where I live in the UK, breaking civil law goes against what the bible says.
this is a clear reason why cannabis is forbidden for Christians, in states where it is outlawed.

That too.