Is Smoking Marijuana Biblically Permissible? A Response to "Marijuana: A Theology"

Recently, some friends and bloggers that I follow on Twitter posted about a recent article written in the Huffington Post. The title of the article was "Marijuana: A Theology" which immediately caught my attention. After reading the article I was compelled to respond. I found it necessary that I personally respond for three reasons.

First, I am a Theology teacher and have years of graduate work in Theology. So,  when people use the term "Theology" it indeed catches my eye, and I feel like I have the theological knowledge to give reasoned response. 

Secondly, before I was following Christ I saw and experienced first hand the damaging effects of recreational marijuana. 

Thirdly, I work with students, and sadly students are often the ones that are confronted with the peer pressure to try/use this drug. 

The article in the Huffington Post was written by Rev. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, a professor of Theology at Chicago Theological Seminary and an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. 

In the article Thislwthwaite first argues positively for the legalization of marijuana and calls for continued decriminalization for drugs. Personally, I will not respond to this. I don't consider my self an expert on government policy or law and therefore will pass over this. The part that follows is what I find particularly concerning.

Thistlethwaite, after her political thesis, continues into the realm she calls "theology of the body" concluding that marijuana use is fine and healthy (even Spiritual!) in moderation. 

For these arguments, Thistlethwaite states that Jesus and his disciples drank wine in moderation and that wine has been used in moderation by the church for centuries. On this point I do not disagree. Although I do not personally drink alcohol, I do believe that alcohol can be biblically used in moderation, and can actually be healthy even according to the bible (1 Timothy 5:23, Psalm 104:15). Also, Scientific studies have shown that alcohol, particularly red wine, can be healthy in moderation (1). 

However, where Thistlethwaite particularly fails is when she compares this to marijuana use. She states that marijuana might not be good for the body, but it's not necessarily bad either. However I have to strongly disagree for several reasons.

First, marijuana is not like "having a drink" at all, and it does not honor the body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). marijuana, particular the active ingredient THC, is known to have harmful effects on both the body and the brain. The list is huge and cannot be compared to alcohol. Everything from lung disease, cancer, brain impairment, impaired memory, impaired cognitive function, mental illness including psychotic episodes and neurosis episodes, a-motivational behavior, addiction, impaired immune system, and increased heart disease (2). Therefore, recreational marijuana use is clearly in disobedience to the command to "honor The Lord with your body", contrary to the claims of Thislwthwaite. Of course, with medicinal drugs, there is always a benefit/risk ratio that should be examined. With recreational marijuana use, however, there is no benefit, long term or short. marijuana has been tested as a use for nausea and other ailments; in that case, the benefit/risk ratio should be assessed, and in that case medicinal marijuana use could be biblically permissible. But, this is not what Thistlethwaite is talking about. She is talking about marijuana use for recreational or spiritual purposes.

Secondly, Scriptures condemns alcohol use to the point of intoxication (Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:21, Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 31:6-7), and marijuana is just as strong, if not stronger, than intoxication. One can have a drink (or two) and still be perfectly in their right mind. marijuana, on the other hand, does not have this progressive effect; a small amount of marijuana can produce effects equal to and more powerful than being intoxicated. Also, studies have shown from police reports that's there has been at least a 15% increase in the amount of THC in recreational marijuana from an average of 4mg THC in the 80's to 15mg today and climbing (3). Therefore, marijuana cannot be used in moderation as Thistlethwaite claims. It is far too strong of a drug, and any use of marijuana violates the command to "be filled with the spirit" and "be sober minded" (1 Peter  5:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8). 

Thirdly, Thistlethwaite argues that marijuana is not the gateway drug people think it is. But, studies are mixed on this. Just from a small search there are at least two large scale studies done in the last couples of years that clearly affirm the link between marijuana and other drugs and affirm that it is indeed a gateway drug. So, this claim cannot just be written off. Even the website that Thislethwaite quotes claims that it might not be a gateway drug, not that it is not a gateway drug.  Therefore the use of marijuana is not wise, as it could lead to more sin, addiction, and worse drug use (4) (5) (6). This is especially prevalent for those that have addiction in their family (7). 

Lastly, Thistlethwaite argues that marijuana can be used religiously because other religions have used/use marijuana. But let's be clear, religions that have used marijuana, say, Hinduism (her example) is a monistic, polytheistic, pantheistic, religion that does not follow the God of Christianity. The bible condemns regularly the use of pagan worship forms, like drug use (Deuteronomy 18:9-12, Galatians 5:20). Sadly, however, Thistlethwaite compares marijuana use in false religions to wine use by the Jews to say that it is okay for a Christian to use marijuana for recreational or religious purposes. But, again, Thistlethwaite is drawing a false comparison. The Jews and early Christians never used wine in the Passover or in the Eucharist for the purpose of spiritual mind alteration, but instead as a symbol. Hindus and other pantheistic religions like those found in Native America, on the other hand, clearly used/use narcotics, opiates, and stimulates in order to alter the mind for religious purposes. This is very different then the way Christians have used wine. 

Therefore, in conclusion, "Marijuana: A Theology" as far from a biblical view on marijuana. Sadly, because of recent legalization, the use of this harmful drug amongst Christians might increase, so it is now more important than ever that pastors and teachers make their flock aware of the bible's view on the use of marijuana and the overall danger of the use of this recreational drug.  


Footnotes
[1] http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/wine-how-much-is-good-for-you. Particular studies like this show that the biblical view of alcohol is coherent with scientific studies. Most studies suggest that wine use in moderation is beneficial, yet excessive wine use, or using wine to get drunk is not beneficial.  However, this same thing is not shown to be true with the recreational use of marijuana, which has no known benefits for the average person. 

[2] http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana. Just a small review of this website will show the damaging effects long and short term from marijuana use. 

[3]http://adai.uw.edu/marijuana/factsheets/potency.htm

[4]http://www.jsad.com/jsad/article/Stages_of_Progression_in_Drug_Involvement_from_Adolescence_to_Adulthood_Fu/1830.html,

[5] http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09595230500126698.

[6] There are some studies that indicate there might not be a gateway effect. But for just as many studies that say there might not be an effect, there are just as many that indicate that there probably is. So, the issue isn't as simple as Thistlethwaite makes it out to be. It has not be concluded that "marijuana seems not to be the feared gateway drug to becoming an addict" as stated in her article.

[7] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460398000380