Should Christians Smoke Marijuana?

In todays post I will be discussing on whether it's ok for a born again believer to smoke weed. Nowadays smoking weed has been legalized and it's use has been recommended by the medicinal establishment to treat a variety of illnesses. But just because something is legal doesn't make it moral, take slavery of the 1800's and abortion of today as prime examples of this. And just because a doctor prescribes something, this doesn't make the substance that is prescribed safe to use. For this article I am going to list seven reasons why I believe smoking weed is a sin.

1. It's Negative Impact on Our Cells

According to my source the use of  Marijuana results in a 41% drop in the birth of white blood cells. White blood cells defend against disease, this essentially weakens our immune system. The bible tells us that a wise man increases strength (Prov 24:5). We are to glorify God in what we do (1 Cor 10:31), my question to Christians who thinks it ok to smoke pot, how does this behavior glorify God?

2. Brain Damage

The use of Marijuana steadily over several years can cause structural change in brains cells and even irreversible brain damage. Rats that have been exposed to Marijuana have smaller brains. When an active ingredient of Marijuana is given to a nursing rat structural changes in the baby rats brain cells are detected.  People who had done Marijuana have reported a decreased ability to study and concentrate at the same levels they enjoyed before starting Marijuana. The bible tells us to love God with all our mind (Mat 22:37), and 2 Tim 2:15 tells us to study to shew ourselves approved unto God.

3. Reproductive Hazard

If someone smokes weed for 4x a week for six months it will cause a dramatic reduction in male hormones & sperm, it can even cause impotence if used more than that. It's use can even cause 3x more broken chromosomes, this can lead to genetic damage and deformed offspring.
There were experiments with Reese monkeys that were exposed to Marijuana smoke over a long period of time, this resulted in the death of 40% of babies either in the womb, at premature birth, or shortly after birth. The bible says to be fruitful and multiply (Gen 9:1), that God made them one so that he might seek a godly seed (Mal 2:15), the fruit of the womb is his reward (Psa 127:3), and women are told to love their children in Titus 2:4.

4. Lung Diseases

Just 1 year of using Marijuana may cause many kinds of respiratory diseases including Sinusitis, Pharyngitus, Bronchitis, and Emphysema. A study where rats were given an equivalent dose to human levels had sever lung irritation and changes in lung cells. In other words their lungs were not working at full capacity, plus they weren't exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide properly.

There is also this Fungus that is common to Marijuana that isn't destroyed by burning it, this fungus causes lung diseases and life threating infections. This fungus doesn't just inhibit the body's resistance to infection but actually has the infection in it. How is damaging your lungs glorifying God in your body (1 Cor 6:20)? Smoking weed sure seems like sowing to your flesh because it causes corruption in your flesh (Gal 6:7-8). See also Isa 65:5.

5. THC

This substance (Tetrahydrocannibinal) builds up in the body. 1/2 of it from just one Marijuana cig is still in the body 7 days after it was smoked. There was an experiment where this substance was made radioactive so that it could be detected in animals. If was found in their system 2 weeks after it was first introduced. In their brains, liver, sex glands, and lungs.

6. Impairs Mental Function

According to doctors and scientists people who use Marijuana regularly, exhibit signs of Apathy, tiredness, dullness, and problems with judgment, memory, and concentration. Continued use may permanently destroy a person's sense of reality and cause intellectual deterioration. A Marijuana users personality may also deteriorate as well. It can cause irritability, social isolation, a hostility to authority, and a loss of will to achieve. (Lev 19:18, Tit 3:8, 1Cor 2:15, 1 Cor 15:2, Ecc 7:9, Heb 10:25, 1 Sam 15:23, 1Cor 9:24).

7. Built Up Tolerance

The final point that I want to mention today is that Marijuana is considered a gateway to other drugs. People develop a tolerance to weed and have to do more and more of it to get the same high as before, they may also try other drugs as a result. The bible tells us that a little leaven leaveth the whole lump (1 Cor 5:6, Gal 5:9), and since we know that Marijuana is bad for you now the bible prescribes woe unto us is we call it good (Isa 5:20).

I sympathize with those who have serious and even terminal illness and they feel like they must take Marijuana to cope with the disease. However I refuse to believe that such a dangerous substance is the only option to alleviate a sick patients suffering. It is this authors firm opinion that prayer, eating healthy, and avoiding toxins like cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs is the best solution to being well. Surely there are other natural remedies for your ailments.

To conclude this article allow me to make two final points. In addition to all the known dangers of smoking Marijuana stated above the bible in numerous passages in the NT tells us to be sober (1 Thess 5:6, 1 Tim 3:2, 1 Tim 3:11,  Tit 2:2-6, 1 Pet 1:13, 1 Pet 4:7, 1 Pet 5:8), Marijuana is an intoxicant therefore it is forbidden to be used. The second point I want to make is that the bible tells us to not be brought under the power of any (1 Cor 6:12), addiction is a sin and must be repented of.

Refrence: Marijuana: A High Risk (1981)