{"id":44413,"date":"2014-03-07T21:20:00","date_gmt":"2014-03-08T03:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=44413"},"modified":"2022-03-08T09:42:38","modified_gmt":"2022-03-08T15:42:38","slug":"the-truth-about-marijuana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-truth-about-marijuana\/","title":{"rendered":"The Truth About Marijuana"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t<p>by Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n<p>I run into so many people who argue that there is nothing harmful about marijuana that I thought it best to share this video about the actual facts.<\/p>\n\t<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Dv4x2pRMamE?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe>\n\t<h3>Argument: You should have the right to do what you want with your own body<\/h3>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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. &#8220;<em>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&#8217;s<\/em>&#8221; (I Corinthians 6:18-20).<\/p>\n<h3>Argument: It doesn&#8217;t cause harm or it is no more harmful than alcohol<\/h3>\n<p>See:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/marijuana-permanently-lowers-iq\/\">Marijuana Permanently Lowers IQ<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/marijuana-use-linked-to-testicular-cancer\/\">Marijuana Use Linked to Testicular Cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130524190428\/http:\/\/www.srslychelsea.org\/resources_and_links_files\/Dr.%20Boniface%20-%20Medical%20Marijuana%20in%20Psychiatry.pdf\">Medical Marijuana in Psychiatry<\/a>\u00a0by Dr. Phyllis Boniface<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h3>Argument: Legalizing marijuana would reduce the prison population<\/h3>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h3>Argument: Legalizing marijuana would not cause an increase in the use<\/h3>\n<p>This is basically wishful thinking as study after study shows that as people perceive something to be harmless, the rate of use increases. [<a href=\"http:\/\/www.monitoringthefuture.org\/data\/11data\/fig11_1.pdf\">Marijuana: Trends in Annual Use, Risk, Disapproval, and Availability<\/a>].<\/p>\n<h3>Argument: Legalizing marijuana will reduce the drug cartels<\/h3>\n<p>The fact is that people who make money through crime will merely find other avenues in which to make money through crime.<\/p>\n<h3>Argument: Traffic accidents are not caused by marijuana use<\/h3>\n<p>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 [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/marijuana-impaired-drivers\/\">Marijuana Impaired Drivers<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I run into so many people who argue that there is nothing harmful about marijuana that I thought it best to share this video about the actual facts. Argument: You should have the right to do what you want with your own body The argument is applied inconsistently. The same people&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[372,540],"class_list":["post-44413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-drugs","tag-marijuana"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":37207,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-christians-support-the-legalization-of-marijuana-for-medical-use\/","url_meta":{"origin":44413,"position":0},"title":"Should Christians support the legalization of marijuana for medical use?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I am a Christian, and I do not imbibe alcohol or any other drugs for recreational purposes. I have in the past (my youth) partaken in sinful inebriation, but have been sober for several years and have since been baptized. My question is whether or not you think\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Answer&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35907,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/marijuana-impaired-drivers\/","url_meta":{"origin":44413,"position":1},"title":"Marijuana Impaired Drivers","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 18, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Source: \"Cops ponder how to deter stoned driving,\"\u00a0Omaha World-Herald, 18 November 2012 Now that Washington and Colorado have legalized casual marijuana use, the concern has been raised about driving under the influence. \"Marijuana can cause dizziness and slow reaction time, and drivers who are high are more likely to drift\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Issues&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Issues","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54151,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/not-what-they-told-you-marijuana\/","url_meta":{"origin":44413,"position":2},"title":"Not What They Told You &#8211; Marijuana","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jeremiah 5:21-31 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It sounds noble \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We need to legalize medical marijuana! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But instead of controlled studies where the effectiveness of a derivative drug is analyzed for its benefits versus its harm, the door is thrown wide open. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There is an oil extract from marijuana\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Audio&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":13239,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-i-reconcile-with-my-ex-husband-who-is-addicted-to-marijuana\/","url_meta":{"origin":44413,"position":3},"title":"Should I reconcile with my ex-husband who is addicted to marijuana?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 8, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Should I reconcile with my ex-husband although he has issues with smoking pot? I divorced him over three years ago and I discovered biblically I was wrong because it was not for adultery. He since then continues to smoke but seems to have changed in other areas. I despise\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Answer&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":36097,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/marijuana-smoking-isnt-healthy\/","url_meta":{"origin":44413,"position":4},"title":"Marijuana Smoking Isn&#8217;t Healthy","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 11, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Source: Kathleen Doheny, \"Recreational Marijuana: Are There Health Effects?\" WebMD, 11 December 2012. Lung Damage \"'Putting smoke in your lungs is not good for the lungs,' says Roland Lamarine, HSD, professor of public health at California State University, Chico. ... Some research shows that marijuana smoke has up to 70%\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Issues&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Issues","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":23938,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/while-stoned-i-received-and-gave-oral-sex-does-this-mean-im-a-homosexual\/","url_meta":{"origin":44413,"position":5},"title":"While stoned, I received and gave oral sex. Does this mean I&#8217;m a homosexual?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 6, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I'm a Christian and a firm believer in God. But one night I messed up and smoked weed with my roommate. I had an erection and started masturbating under the sheets. My roommate asked did I want oral sex and I gave into temptation. I then gave him oral\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Answer&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44413\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}