The Truth About Marijuana

Argument: You should have the right to do what you want with your own body

The argument is applied inconsistently. The same people arguing for marijuana legalization will also say that the government ought to control sugary drinks and tobacco use.

The argument is false for Christians because our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. What we do to ourselves reflects on how people perceive God. "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (I Corinthians 6:18-20).

Argument: It doesn't cause harm or it is no more harmful than alcohol

See:

• Marijuana Permanently Lowers IQ
• Marijuana Use Linked to Testicular Cancer
• Medical Marijuana in Psychiatry by Dr. Phyllis Boniface

The problem is that while alcohol does cause harm (Proverbs 23:29-35), the body is able to process and eliminate alcohol from the body in a matter of a few hours. Repairs can then take place over the next few months if alcohol usage stops. Marijuana remains in the body for many months, causing continued damage.

Argument: Legalizing marijuana would reduce the prison population

This argument is stated without proof. The fact is that less than 0.1% of the current state prison population is serving time for crimes involving first-time marijuana possession charges. For crimes involving only marijuana, the state prison population is just 1.4%. Legalizing marijuana would not free up a significant amount of space.

Worse, what is being ignored is that marijuana use is frequently tied to other crimes. Where marijuana use rises, crime rises. Legalizing marijuana will naturally raise the crime rate and thus increase the prison population.

Argument: Legalizing marijuana would not cause an increase in the use

This is basically wishful thinking as study after study shows that as people perceive something to be harmless, the rate of use increases. [Marijuana: Trends in Annual Use, Risk, Disapproval, and Availability].

Argument: Legalizing marijuana will reduce the drug cartels

The fact is that people who make money through crime will merely find other avenues in which to make money through crime.

Argument: Traffic accidents are not caused by marijuana use

The reality is that it is harder for officers to find out if someone has been using marijuana, so the statistics are naturally under-reported. That marijuana impairs driving ability is a known fact, so traffic accidents and motor vehicle deaths would be expected to be higher among marijuana users [Marijuana Impaired Drivers].