A:

Thanks so much for your question to us here at TruthBook. Your question is a good one, and means to me that you are thinking deeply about your responsibilities as a child of God.

I can’t tell you that you’re doing something wrong, or disobeying scripture, if you smoke pot. Smoking pot is one of those things that all of us must decide for ourselves. Likewise for drinking alcohol, or any of a host of other things and substances that are available to us. Of themselves, these things are neither good nor bad – it is our use of them that determines their value.

In several states now, medical and recreational pot has been legalized because it has proven to be therapeutic for a number of illnesses, and the benefits appear to outweigh the risks for certain conditions. I think the jury is still out regarding the safety vs risk of marijuana.

Marijuana – and other substances like it – have been used for centuries by people for any number of reasons, not the least of which has always been as an avenue to expanded spiritual consciousness. Marijuana is a natural plant that has many benefits when used properly, and I have never heard it described as a poison.

I don’t believe it is the pot itself that is problematic; maybe only the smoking of it should be a factor, as it creates ash and combustion products that may be harmful (or defiling) to our physical body, as with tobacco. The substances in pot that are therapeutic can be had without combustion these days … at least in states where it has been legalized.

In deciding a question like this, it seems important to examine the motivation. Why do you smoke? Do you wish to get closer to God through the use of marijuana? Or, do you want to zone out and disengage from life? Is the use of pot helping you, or hurting you? It is my opinion that your overall sense of well-being is a factor in weighing these questions – questions that only you can answer.

Anytime we introduce a foreign substance into our bodies, we run a risk, I suppose. At the same time, our bodies possess an amazing capacity for healing and for offsetting the negative effects of just about anything we can do, as long as we are moderate in our choices and our usages. And again, the overall sense of well-being is a significant factor when determining our choices.

In the end, it seems to me that all of us have to decide these questions for ourselves. Common sense tells us that smoking pot all day long may not be a good thing to do…or that drinking to drunkenness is not a good thing to do. But is there a middle ground? Is it always black and white? Or, are there shades of grey?

Prayer is always a good resource when deciding these issues. Going to God in prayer with these concerns may give you personal insight. Remember – no matter is too small or too large to take to God in prayer.

You don’t mention whether you are a Urantia Book reader, but there are a couple of quotes from its teachings that I might leave you with which may help you decide this issue.

110:1.5 The Adjuster remains with you in all disaster and through every sickness which does not wholly destroy the mentality. But how unkind knowingly to defile or otherwise deliberately to pollute the physical body, which must serve as the earthly tabernacle of this marvelous gift from God. All physical poisons greatly retard the efforts of the Adjuster to exalt the material mind, while the mental poisons of fear, anger, envy, jealousy, suspicion, and intolerance likewise tremendously interfere with the spiritual progress of the evolving soul.

110:6.4 It is to the mind of perfect poise, housed in a body of clean habits, stabilized neural energies, and balanced chemical function—when the physical, mental, and spiritual powers are in triune harmony of development—that a maximum of light and truth can be imparted with a minimum of temporal danger or risk to the real welfare of such a being. By such a balanced growth does man ascend the circles of planetary progression one by one, from the seventh to the first.

Thanks again for your question. I hope that my reply has been helpful. Please feel free to write back anytime!