What does the CHRISTIAN Holy Bible say about Medical Marijuana ?

By Gordon Wayne Watts (The Register) – Friday, 12 September 2014 (Updated: Tue. 16 Sept. 2014)

RECAP: Earlier, we found out that even if Florida's proposed “Medical Marijuana” Amendment 2 passed, it would still be illegal according to Federal Law – and, even in “weed legal” states, like California, those who use weed – even “Joe Average users,” in compliance with State Laws – are still subject to Federal arrest, charges, prosecution, forfeiture, seizure, fines, imprisonment, and punishment in general. Details, in this legal analysis by a legal expert:

http://gordonwatts.com/weed-screed.html

mirror:

http://gordonwaynewatts.com/weed-screed.html

So, where does that leave us, now?

Romans 13 says we should obey the law: Marijuana is against Federal Law, and State Law can NOT override Federal – period: Here is the most accurate and literal translation I've found:

Romans 13 (Holy Bible, AMP), Amplified Bible – Fair use excerpt:

1 Let every person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God’s appointment.

2 Therefore he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged [in divine order]. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves [receiving the penalty due them].

3 For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his approval and commendation.

4 For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, [you should dread him and] be afraid, for he does not bear and wear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant to execute His wrath (punishment, vengeance) on the wrongdoer.

5 Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter of principle and for the sake of conscience.

6 For this same reason you pay taxes, for [the civil authorities] are official servants under God, devoting themselves to attending to this very service.

7 Render to all men their dues. [Pay] taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.

If, however, marijuana were the only thing that could treat a disease, it might be OK by God: [[“Acts 5:29 King James Version (KJV) 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”]] - But, that begs the question: is weed ever necessary to accomplish a goal? Isaiah 53:5b (KJV), “with his stripes we are healed,” refers to PHYSICAL healing (and not just spiritual). PROOF: Since Scripture is used to interpret Scripture, we turn to Matthew 8:16-17, to show that the healing Isaiah spoke of includes both “spiritual” healing – casting out demons – and physical healing: [[“16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet (in Isaiah 53:4a, the preceding verse), saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”]] Furthermore, I Peter 2:21 notes that our healing, by Peter's time, was PAST tense: “...by whose stripes ye were healed.”

All healing is past tense, and inclusive (spiritual AND physical), but, not all healing is instantaneous: Jesus, in Mark 8:22-26, needed TWO tries to heal the man (who saw men as trees after the 1st touch), or as Luke 17:14 documents: “And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.” (They weren't healed instantaneously, but, rather “as they went.”)

Moreover, some healing is conditional: Matthew 17:21 and Mark 9:29 document that SOME demons are only defeated by both prayer AND fasting:

Matthew 17:21 (KJV) 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Mark 9:29 (KJV) 29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Lastly, please note THIS passage:

Matthew 6:16 (KJV), Words of our Lord in RED – Emphasis (in bold underline) added for clarity:

16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Note: Fasting was a COMMAND (and not a 'suggestion') of Jesus. Note that Jesus said “when” you fast, not “if” you fast, so He is asking ALL people to fast. (Some can fast longer than others, and not all fasting is abstinence from food, but can be, say, a “Facebook fast” or a “Cable TV fast.”)

Fasting has both physical (cleansing), psychological (discipline), financial (saves money to eat less food), and spiritual (focus less on food, TV, computers –and more on God) effects. Therefore, if you want to see results, obey the clear COMMAND of Jesus to fast; however, GET KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDIG and research the matter much before acting:

Proverbs 4:7 (KJV) “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” [Note: the writer distinguishes between “wisdom” and “understanding,” so they must be different, and thus wisdom alone is not enough: You must also have understanding.]

If you've got cancer, or some other disease, and you think you must use medical marijuana, I ask you: Have you fasted and prayed first? Both fasting AND diet AND lifestyle are chief reasons that other countries have a much lower cancer rate and less incidence of other preventable diseases – Latest Scientific Research:

Mirror 1: http://GordonWatts.com/consumer.html

Mirror 2: http://GordonWayneWatts.com/consumer.html

Our health problems and curses didn't “just happen” by chance – Proof:

Proverbs 26:2 (KJV) 2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. [Note: The curse –for example, cancer –didn't just come without cause: It happened for a reason! Bad diet, lifestyle, pride, refusal to pray AND fast … you get the picture. See the research, and act on it.]

• PRO argument: [[“Genesis 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.”]]

• CON arguments: Poison Oak & Poison Ivy are also 'green,' but does that make it 'good'? God forbid! Certainly not!

• PRO argument: Even “anti-marijuana” advocates usually agree that in dire cases, say, a person in the last stages of cancer, they might use medical marijuana for pain or nausea. Enter the 'unique' argument: * UNIQUE argument: Ecclesiastes 3: A time for this -- and a time for NOT this. This argument could be turned around to be both 'PRO' and 'CON' and argue “a time to smoke weed, and a time to NOT smoke weed.” Here are actual examples of similar passages allowing for alcohol:

Proverbs 31:6 (KJV) “Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.”

1 Timothy 5:23 (KJV) Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-3a (KJV) [This is an excerpt from the famous passage that goes to v.8]

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal;...

These passages (Prov 31:6; I Tim 5:23; Eccl. 3:1-8) make a good argument that Federal Law might need to be changed to remove Medical Marijuana from Schedule 1 status (a time for weed a time for NOT weed), to allow for limited research for extreme medical needs. HOWEVER, as it stands, marijuana is against the Federal Law, and, per ROMANS 13, other means should be employed.

In fact, I would argue that marijuana treats the SYMPTOMS and NOT the underlying causes, and, in fact, it may “mask” or “cover” the underlying disease or diet and lifestyle problem. Therefore, use of marijuana, in most cases, would be morally WRONG; however, many Medical Marijuana advocates rightly point out that many (if not most) prescription drugs and alcohol are actually worse than 'natural' marijuana. That is true, but 2 wrongs to NOT make a right, and it would be morally wrong to use marijuana, even for “recreational” use, if it is still illegal per Federal Law, if other means can be employed to address the medical problem –and, according to both Scriptures on healing and fasting./prayer as well as current research on how other countries achieve LOWER cancer rates, it seems “stupid” to use something illegal, even if otherwise harmless, to achieve your goal – and, as I've pointed out above, since ROMANS 13 clearly says to obey the law, we must do so, if possible -and it's usually possible.While we're taking about 'Medical Marijuana' as a drug... In Galatians 5:20, "witchcraft" is Strong's Number 5331, which is the Greek word, 'Pharmakeia,' the root word for “Pharmacy,” strongly implying that drugs were used to advance witchcraft by, in many cases, opening a portal to the spirit world. (In fact, many witch doctors and medicine men use drugs to contact the spirits, implying that marijuana is a tool of the devil. Indeed, many drugs -even legal prescription drugs -are counterfeit and fake imitations of the real gifts of God – and to be avoided.)

• GOOD 'CON' argument: Against use of Medical Marijuana: 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV) “22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

• TRANSLATION: Even IF you have 'faith' that a little weed or alcohol is 'OK,' what if you, say, went to a jail to witness to inmates in a “prison ministry,” and you fired up a toke, and smelled of alcohol? The inmates would likely brand you a “hypocrite” and a “bad witness” for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

• BEST 'CON' argument: Even if weed became legal according to Federal Law, should you take a toke?

• ANSWER: Found in 1 Corinthians 10:23: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” For the dense, this *would* allow weed, but, since Scripture cannot be broken, it also allows that it may not be healthy (it is *not* healthy!, especially for children, but even in adults it can “mask” a problem, by treating only the symptoms), and may also be a bad witness (as mentioned above). Thus, you have your answer. Let's look at its companion verse: 1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” Paul won't be brought under marijuana's compelling spell. Will you? Hint: 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. I Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)