MEDICAL MARIJUANA
SHOULD CHRISTIANS USE MEDICALLY PERSCRIBED MARIJUANA TO TREAT CERTAIN AILMENTS?
Key Facts
“Roughly three dozen states (33), as well as D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, have approved some form of a medical marijuana program.”[1]
Marijuana use has been linked to Schizophrenia and Psychosis[2] and is also known for its addictive qualities.
Key Scriptures
1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”
1 Corinthians 6:20 “For you have been bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body.”
1 Corinthians 7:22 “For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise, he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave.”
Want to Know More?
Meta-analysis of the Association Between the Level of Cannabis Use and Risk of Psychosis
Thomas Schreiner’s book, 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary
Application
The use of marijuana is a hot topic in society today. Questions about the medical and recreational use of marijuana are asked in many homes, churches, and political debates. Many Christians have struggled to discern whether they can use marijuana to treat medical conditions. The answer to this question requires some discernment on the part of the Christian as they work with their healthcare provider.
What Does the Bible Say?
The question of medical use of marijuana falls under a broader question: which drugs can Christians use to address illness? Each individual medicine is not addressed in Scripture and most Christians do not have the medical knowledge of a doctor. However, there are some guiding principles from the Bible that Christians can employ as they consider the value of medical marijuana.
Be Wise and Discern Effects of Marijuana Use
Christians are called to actively discern what is good and acceptable, not to blindly follow what the world says (Rom. 12:2). One of the major ways to discern which medicine is correct for which ailment is to view the potential side effects or negatives of the medicine in light of the ailment. For example, we would not recommend taking Oxycodone for a minor headache because it is far too severe a drug to address the problem and the negative side effects will likely result in more problems than solutions. This is how Christians can view the use of medical marijuana. Marijuana has negative side effects like most drugs that are not available in your local drugstore. Some of these effects can include psychosis (hallucinations and paranoia), lung harm or cancer (if smoked), stroke and heart disease, memory limitations, and affected brain development. [3] These potential side effects mean that the use of marijuana to treat ailments should not be taken lightly and only done, if ever, with a doctor’s consultation.
Do Not Be Enslaved to Medical Marijuana
Not only should Christians be careful in the practical use of medical marijuana, but according to the Bible, Christians should also be careful in their attitude toward marijuana. The words of Paul, “I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Cor. 6:12), should be true in our own lives as we use medicine to address physical concerns. Application of this Scripture means that Christians should be sure that their lives are not controlled by this medicine. Thomas Schreiner argues that this verse properly applied means that believers must avoid becoming enslaved to anything. [4]
Christians should not be slaves to anything except for Christ (Rom. 6:22). Because the Christian’s view of life should be such that our motivations are primarily to serve Christ, nothing else should be driving our decision making. Addiction and its influence on a person’s life is one biblical concern that Christians should be aware of when using all types of potentially addictive medicines. This influence is not beneficial for Christians as we seek to live selflessly.
Glorify God with Your Body
Our bodies ultimately belong to God (1 Cor. 6:20). This means that our motivations in medical decisions should reflect good stewardship of the bodies that God has given each of us. Medications should not master us but rather be employed to help as we continue to work for the glory of God. As we seek the kingdom and glory of God, our physical bodies may need assistance to keep up with our spiritual drive to serve Christ. As Christians our goal should not be to become impaired or to disconnect from reality, but rather to find medications which give us the ability to continue working for the Kingdom (Col. 3:23-24).
Conclusion
As Christians, it is important to be diligent in study when we address medicinal usage of all drugs, especially those with addictive qualities. While medical marijuana may be permissible for Christians to use to treat certain conditions, it can have serious effects that may potentially distract a Christian from kingdom work. There is no clear Christian answer to the question of medical marijuana usage. However, after receiving guidance from their doctor and pastor, Christians can use discernment and decide if medical marijuana is among the morally permissible options of treatment for their specific ailment.
[1] https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/11/22/facts-about-marijuana/
[3] https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects.html
[4] Thomas R. Schreiner, 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary, 127.