Marijuana – How a Christian Should Think

On October 17, the government of Canada legalized marijuana for recreational use. My purpose in this post is not to argue the political issue but to present Christian guidance under the new regime. I understand that marijuana is illegal federally in the United States, but it is legal in some states. Christians and churches need to think Biblically about it.

Obviously, the Bible doesn’t mention marijuana. According to one article, the plant was in the Middle East and Europe by about 2000 BC, so those who lived during Bible times possibly knew about it. Other drugs and their plants were also available; the Bible doesn’t mention them either. Our conclusions must rest on solid interpretation and application of the Scriptures.

We should note that God wrote the Bible with the intention that succeeding generations would apply it authoritatively to their generation, and that the Old and New Testaments provide example after example of believing men making authoritative applications from previous revelation to their present generation. This expectation and the Bible examples provide guidance to our own Scriptural interpretation and application.

Another thing to note at the outset is the fact we can point to numerous dangers and risks associated with marijuana use. A paper that appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine is here. The National Institute on Drug Abuse lists similar findings here. From these pages and others like them, a humanistic argument against marijuana use is possible. The risks and dangers of use point to the foolishness of anyone who ignores them.

What I am after is a Biblical rationale for abstaining. I can only survey the main arguments I found, but offer them as a start for your further study.

To start with, we acknowledge that everything God made is good. (Gen 1.31) Even if we don’t know every good use for the marijuana plant, we acknowledge that even now some tout its use medicinally. It may well be that these uses are effective, research on medical use is legitimate, and it may be good to use marijuana in that way. I’m not making that argument here, just acknowledging the reality.

What are Bible reasons against marijuana use?

First, we have one master (1 Cor 6.12, Mt 6.24, Rm 8.4-8). In some ways, the argument from God’s mastery of us is the supreme argument against use of any substance that can master us. Some will say, “But I’m not addicted,” or “Marijuana isn’t addictive.” The sites cited earlier argue to the contrary. In any case, some who aren’t “addicted” nevertheless find themselves drawn to marijuana compulsively. They can “take it or leave it” they say, except they never leave it for long. To me, that’s addiction. Addiction makes a substance your master – Christ should be your master.

Second, we have one source of peace: the God who saved us (Rm 14.17, Gal 5.22, Phil 4.4-7, Jer 2.13). Some use marijuana for “relaxation” or “stress relief” (ironically one risk of marijuana use is depression and anxiety!). Even if marijuana provides some “mellowing out,” the Christian needs to find his peace in God. Satisfaction found in a substance is a cheap substitute for the satisfaction found in the Lord. We can also call that “idolatry.”

Third, we don’t have authority over our bodies; God is our authority (1 Cor 6.19-20, Rm 12.1, Phil 1.20, 1 Pt 1.17-19). Marijuana affects users physically and that effect is negative. For a Christian to deliberately damage his body ignores two truths. First, you are made in the image of God. You don’t have authority to deface the body God gave you. And secondly, as the passages cited indicate, your body belongs to God, not you. Your purpose now is to glorify God in your body. You are not your own, you are bought with a price.

Fourth, God calls us to sobriety (1 Pt 5.8, 1 Thess 5.2, 6, Rm 6.19, Gal 5.16, 1 Cor 9.27). Sobriety means unimpaired thinking and wise decision making. Anything that impairs judgement violates the command of sobriety. You are useless to God if you aren’t sober. You are useful to the devil, however.

Fifth, the Bible prohibits drunkenness (Eph 5.18, Gal 5.21, 1 Cor 6.10). Now, please note, I am not going after alcohol in this post, the use of which I also completely oppose. However, note that the Bible clearly prohibits drunkenness. No Christians dispute that point. What is drunkenness? A debate rages, but the state gives a standard for impaired driving. In Canada, driving is prohibited when you reach .08% blood alcohol content. I understand that in the USA, the standard is slightly higher. In any case, with alcohol, I am told that about three drinks in an hour will push the average person past the limit. According to this article in the Edmonton Journal, one puff of marijuana will put you past the legal limit. In my view, if you are too impaired to drive, you are drunk. On that basis, no use of marijuana is legitimate for a Christian. Other Christians agree on this point.

What should Christians do? The Bible calls us to wisdom (see the whole book of Proverbs). We are to walk in the light, walk with the wise, turn away from the world, avoid foolishness, instability and self-indulgence. We are to live in submission to the Lord and his righteousness, turning from the evil to the good. Marijuana use is no way for a wise man to live. It will cause untold grief and stumbling. No Christian should have anything to do with it.

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Don Johnson is the pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.