There is no mention of marijuana in the Bible. Therefore, we can offer you no scriptures relating to marijuana or its use. The only drug we can relate it to in the Bible is alcohol (wine). The Scriptures urge us to be cautious. “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.” (Proverbs 23:20) “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) However, the scriptures do not say that we must totally abstain from wine. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy, “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” (1 Timothy 5:23) This statement leads us to believe that wine, when used in moderation or for medicinal purposes, was acceptable.
At the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11) Jesus provided between 120-160 gallons of wine. What kind of wine was being served at the wedding at Cana? Would Jesus have made wine that could have caused some to become intoxicated? Did the wine have a high alcoholic content or was it grape juice? The scriptures tell us that the wine that Jesus made was of high quality, not because of its alcohol content, but because it was ‘new wine, freshly created! It was not old, decayed wine, as it would have to be if it were intoxicating. Jesus’ first miracle thus was a fitting representation of His glory (John 2:11).
Although marijuana is a drug and is addictive, it does have some medical benefits. It is used to relieve pain, improve the well being of chemotherapy patients, help prevent some cancers from metastasizing, and, perhaps, slow the progress of Alzheimer’s, to name just a few. Medicinal marijuana is prescribed by a doctor and is usually in pill form. It is not to be smoked. Below is a summary we took off the Internet of the pros and cons of medical marijuana.
“Fifteen of 50 US states and Washington DC have legalized the medical use of marijuana.
“Proponents of medical marijuana (cannabis) argue that it can be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, and other conditions. They cite dozens of peer-reviewed studies, prominent medical organizations, major government reports, and the use of marijuana as medicine throughout world history.
“Opponents of medical marijuana argue that it is too dangerous to use, lacks FDA-approval, and that various legal drugs make marijuana use unnecessary. They say marijuana is addictive, leads to harder drug use, interferes with fertility, impairs driving ability, and injures the lungs, immune system, and brain. They say that medical marijuana is a front for drug legalization and recreational use.”
If a doctor recommends marijuana for medical conditions we feel, as Christians, that there should be no problem, providing the doctor monitors the patient. Marijuana is addictive and although initially helpful, as time goes on, its benefits wear off and the patient may require more of the drug to get the same positive results. Therefore, as Christians, we should tread very cautiously when using medicinal marijuana. Perhaps an alternative, non-addictive treatment would be advisable.
