Can I Support Marijuana Legalization Without Violating The Word Of Wisdom?

[Mark Beesley]

There is a new petition on We the People, the feature on WhiteHouse.gov where people go to ask the President to let them quit being Americans. This particular petition, however, is not about that. It asks the Obama administration to decline prosecution of federal marijuana laws that conflict with State laws.

While there are other petitions related to the legalization of marijuana being circulated on the website, this one is unique in that it asks the President to take an action which he can do without relying on the Congress to act. If the Attorney General will decline to prosecute marijuana laws in States that have chosen to legalize it, then medical marijuana dispensaries in California, for instance, can re-open without the threat of asset forfeiture and criminal prosecution.

While I personally do not use marijuana, i truly believe that the enforcement of marijuana laws is more destructive to families and personal lives that the use of it ever will be. Do I violate the spirit of the Word of Wisdom, or any other value that I should have as a Latter-day Saint by authoring and urging support for a petition like this?

Please let your Facebook and Twitter friends know that they can support a petition like this and still be a faithful Latter-day Saint.

http://wh.gov/IdjJ

[swfarnsworth]

To the best of my knowledge, the Church has never suggested that legislation to ban the consumption of tea and coffee would be a good idea. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

[RobertAC]

I feel the same way you do, Mark. I'm not a pot head, but I am concerned that the enforcement of these anti-marijuana laws are more destructive than legalizing the stuff, particularly if there is a medical reason for taking it.

I have a related question. Would a Mormon be violating the Word of Wisdom if he or she ingested marijuana that had been prescribed by a bona fide doctor to treat a medical condition?

[bluebell]

I support the legalization of marijuana as well. I think that trying to enforce the ban costs way to much money and takes up too many resources, especially considering that in my view, the substance is much less dangerous than alcohol.

[nosmelone]

I feel the same way you do, Mark. I'm not a pot head, but I am concerned that the enforcement of these anti-marijuana laws are more destructive than legalizing the stuff, particularly if there is a medical reason for taking it.

I have a related question. Would a Mormon be violating the Word of Wisdom if he or she ingested marijuana that had been prescribed by a bona fide doctor to treat a medical condition?

I feel that this is one that would be open to personal interpetation. If it is something that legitimatly helps your health situation (maybe if you had glaucoma) than it wouldn't be considered "against the word of wisdom" . I have ulcerative colitis and have been constantly working with my doctor to come up with a perscription combination that keeps my stomach somewhat regular and many of the perscriptions health wise only hurt me worse and the toll it took on my body while taking them were rediculious. So I guess what I'm saying is that marijuana that helps your health situation couldn't be considered worse than other perscription drugs that don't help (that you've been perscribed). But thats just my opinion.

[ERayR]

Along time ago China was having an enforcement problem with opium so they legalized it. That did away with the enforcement problem but a new problem arose. Now that it was legal consumption skyrocketed along with the problems to their society. Productivity plummeted. Men were spending their time in opium dens and neglecting their families. It wasn't until they made opium use a crime punishable by death and enforced it that they got control of the problem.

[bluebell]

Along time ago China was having an enforcement problem with opium so they legalized it. That did away with the enforcement problem but a new problem arose. Now that it was legal consumption skyrocketed along with the problems to their society. Productivity plummeted. Men were spending their time in opium dens and neglecting their families. It wasn't until they made opium use a crime punishable by death and enforced it that they got control of the problem.

I would never support the legalization of heroin, as i believe it's a very dangerous drug that is highly addictive. I don't consider marijuan and heroin (or opium) to be the same caliber of drug though.

[Duncan]

I don't want some one coming to my son's elementary school and trying to sell him MJ without some consequences

[ERayR]

I would never support the legalization of heroin, as i believe it's a very dangerous drug that is highly addictive. I don't consider marijuan and heroin (or opium) to be the same caliber of drug though.

All I can go by is my own observations. I have watched more than one of my co-workers become addicted to marijuana and their skills deteriorate as a result. It is my observation that marijuana is addictive and dangerous.

[BookofMormonLuvr]

All I can go by is my own observations. I have watched more than one of my co-workers become addicted to marijuana and their skills deteriorate as a result. It is my observation that marijuana is addictive and dangerous.

The same could be said for alcohol.

To be OK with alcohol being legal and not OK with weed being legal is hypocritical.

In my opinion alcohol is the more destructive of the two substances. Heck, there are many prescription drugs that are worse then weed.

In the grand scheme of things marijuana is insignificant.

[Mark Beesley]

I don't want some one coming to my son's elementary school and trying to sell him MJ without some consequences

Does someone come to your son's elementary school trying to sell him booze? Cigarettes?

[Duncan]

Does someone come to your son's elementary school trying to sell him booze? Cigarettes?

better not! or they'll have a meeting with my fists of fury! I teach him not to take those things but if MJ becomes legal what should I tell him? 'yeah sure why not? daddy's rich... he can support your drug use and your dealer's use, no problem...'

[BookofMormonLuvr]

better not! or they'll have a meeting with my fists of fury! I teach him not to take those things but if MJ becomes legal what should I tell him? 'yeah sure why not? daddy's rich... he can support your drug use and your dealer's use, no problem...'

Booze and cigs are legal... why is weed what gets you so bothered? Tell him the same thing you would about the other two.

[BookofMormonLuvr]

Theme song for this topic...

[Mark Beesley]

Along time ago China was having an enforcement problem with opium so they legalized it. That did away with the enforcement problem but a new problem arose. Now that it was legal consumption skyrocketed along with the problems to their society. Productivity plummeted. Men were spending their time in opium dens and neglecting their families. It wasn't until they made opium use a crime punishable by death and enforced it that they got control of the problem.

Interesting that you would choose Communist China as the example.

The Mao Zedong government is generally credited with eradicating both consumption and production of opium during the 1950s using unrestrained repression and social reform.

http://en.wikipedia....nflict_in_China

Anyway, to echo bluebell, marijuana is not opium regardless of your own anecdotal experiences.

[Mark Beesley]

better not! or they'll have a meeting with my fists of fury! I teach him not to take those things but if MJ becomes legal what should I tell him? 'yeah sure why not? daddy's rich... he can support your drug use and your dealer's use, no problem...'

I suppose you could teach him about marijuana the same way your are teaching him about alcohol and tobacco.

Fists of fury????

[Duncan]

I suppose you could teach him about marijuana the same way your are teaching him about alcohol and tobacco.

Fists of fury????

Why teach him about MJ if everyone is saying that there is no harm so why not legalize it? Fists of Fury are my hands!!! I would have become a boxer of world class status but my glasses got in the way....that and my parents ruined my life by signing me up to learn how to play the harpsichord

Edited November 28, 2012 by Duncan

[Nathair/|\]

Yes you can, but be careful who you tell in the Church. I got told I was in opposition to Heavenly Father for supporting decriminalization coupled with education about the dangers of recreational health use. I even cited Joseph Smith on "teach[ing] correct principles and let[ting] them govern themselves."

[BookofMormonLuvr]

Why teach him about MJ if everyone is saying that there is no ahrm so why not legalize it? Fists of Fury are my hands!!! I would have become a boxer of world class status but my glasses got in the way....that and my parents ruined my life by signing me up to play the harpsichord

Again, just like with tobacco and alcohol, you explain that some people think it is OK, so it is legal, but just because it's legal doesn't make it OK.

Again, what is it about weed that brings out such irrational thought?

[Duncan]

Again, just like with tobacco and alcohol, you explain that some people think it is OK, so it is legal, but just because it's legal doesn't make it OK.

Again, what is it about weed that brings out such irrational thought?

too many cheech and chong movies, sue me. I see your point though jokes aside, I can't stop the drug culture but I can stop it from coming into my house

[Darren10]

I support the legalization of marijuana as well. I think that trying to enforce the ban costs way to much money and takes up too many resources, especially considering that in my view, the substance is much less dangerous than alcohol.

I know it's a never-ending battle between which pro or anti marijuana studies are accurate or authentic but the following video does present something that makes perfect sense to me. The human body is natually made to process alcohol whearas it is not equipped to process the chemicals found in marijuana consumption. The chemicals are retained in the body long after the high affect receeds and it can cause psychological damage to the consumer. Also, the video points out something that ironically you're doing: making a pro-drug argument based on presemuptions as to the affects of the drug and not upon the constitutionality of fighting drugs. It is of my opinion that if marijuana is planted, harvested, processed, sold, and consumed entirely within a state than the federal government has no busieness cracking down upon it. It is a state issue. If a state legalizes / decriminalizes it, than so be it. If a state restricts its possession and distribution, than so be it. I'll worry about what my state does with it, not what others do unless, of course, I care to travel to that state.

Now, if marijuana crosses state lines at any point than, yes, the federal government does have the constitutional authority to deal with it. And I say keep it illegal. I for one am not for legalizing, nor decriminalizing marijuana since I think it will worsen the heavy cost on society. The criminals behind the drug trade will still be criminals and procure criminal activity, that consumption will *increase* if marijuana is legalized / decrinimalized, and that the cost will shift from a criminal problem to that of physchological / physiological problems.

No, Weed Isn't "Harmless"

Edited November 28, 2012 by Darren10

[bluebell]

All I can go by is my own observations. I have watched more than one of my co-workers become addicted to marijuana and their skills deteriorate as a result. It is my observation that marijuana is addictive and dangerous.

I'm certainly not saying it's good for anyone.

But is it more addictive and dangerous than alcohol or tobacco? I don't believe so and so logically, i haven't seen any good arguments against it's legalization that don't become unreasonable when compared to these drugs that are allowed.

[Darren10]

Does someone come to your son's elementary school trying to sell him booze? Cigarettes?

Mark;

During high school I know first hand that drugs are sold to minors. My friends would stop by "stoners alley" before school to smoke and / or buy some weed, and than enter school. One of my closest friends in band would sit next to me high or tripping on LDS . It did make for some interesting conversations. Anyway, alcohol, is harder to conceal since its smell is much harder to disguise and it's not like you can stuff a beer can inside a small "dug out" and carry it in your pocket. There was no need to sell cigarettes to kids in school since those who smoked already had plenty of access to cigarettes.

As for your openeing post, I say emphatically no to the question that if you support the legalization tof marijuana that you'll be violating the Word of Wisdom. I also emnphatically disagree with your notion that enforcing drug laws harms families more than not enforcing them would. Though I full agree with getting the federal government out of drug enforcement with drugs within a given state. The federal government should not be in the business of forcing states to comply with laws which are state issues to begin with.

[Darren10]

I'm certainly not saying it's good for anyone.

But is it more addictive and dangerous than alcohol or tobacco? I don't believe so and so logically, i haven't seen any good arguments against it's legalization that don't become unreasonable when compared to these drugs that are allowed.

I'd say that alcohol is more addicting than marijuana though marijuana destroys the body much more than does alcohol.

[Darren10]

too many cheech and chong movies, sue me.

I won't sue you but gently remind you to avoid R-rated movies.