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 Marijuana
& the Bible
And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they
shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither
bear the shame of the heathen any more. -- Ezekiel 34:29
"The Lord said unto me, 'I will take my rest and I will
consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs.'
" -- Isaiah 18:4-5
"Lord, when did we see thee sick or in prison and came
unto thee?" And the King will answer and say unto them,
"Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one
of the least of these my brethern, ye have done it unto me."
-- Matthew 25:39-40
 What
is the Word of God on the Cannabis plant?
The hemp plant (scientific name: cannabis, slang:
marijuana) is one of the many useful herbs "yielding seed
after its kind" created and blessed by God on the third day
of creation, "and God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:12)
He gave hemp for people to use with our free will.
God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing
seed which is upon the face of all the earth.…To you it
will be for meat." … And God saw everything that he had
made, and, behold, it was very good. (Genesis 1:29-31) The
Bible predicts some herb's prohibition. "Now the Spirit
speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall
… speak lies in hypocrisy … commanding to abstain
from meats which God hath created to be received with
thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
(Paul: 1 Timothy 4:1-3)
The Bible speaks of a special plant. "I will raise up for
them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed
with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the
heathen any more." (Ezekiel 34:29) A healing plant. On
either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which
bare 12 manner of fruits, and yielding her fruit every
month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of
the nations. (Revelations 22:1-2) A gift from God.
How was cannabis used in Biblical times and lands?
Cannabis was used 12 ways: clothing, paper, cord, sails,
fishnet, oil, sealant, incense, food, and in ceremony,
relaxation and medicine. For so the Lord said unto me, "I
will take my rest and I will consider in my dwelling place
like a clear heat upon herbs. For afore harvest, when the
bud is perfect and the sour grape is ripening in the flower,
he shall cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks and take away
and cut down the branches." (Isaiah 18:4-5)
What about cannabis today?
Hemp today has thousands of uses. Modern technology has
devised many new uses for the hemp plant&emdash;like biomass
energy, building materials, fuel, plastic and so on. Hemp is
ecological and its seed is among the best food crops on
Earth. Selected varieties produce flowers that provide an
herbal relaxant and a spiritual tool. Its herb is used
globally as medicine.
Does the Bible discuss drugs?
Alcohol is the only drug openly discussed in the Bible,
so it must serve as our reference. Wine is drunk during
religious occasions such as Passover &emdash; the Last
Supper of Jesus and His disciples. It remains a sacrament in
modern church services.
Jesus began his public life by miraculously turning water
into wine at the Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-10) when the
reception ran out. The Bible distinguishes between use and
misuse. It says, Give strong drink unto him that is ready to
perish and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
(Proverbs 31:6-7) but Woe unto them that … follow
strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame
them! (Isaiah 5:10)
Yet the simple joys of drinking were also sung. He
causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the
service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the
earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man and oil to
make his face to shineth. (Psalm 104:14-15)
 Did
Jesus speak about choice?
He said not to criticize other people for their habits.
"Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; that
which cometh out of the mouth defileth a man." (Mat. 15:11)
The apostle Paul wrote, I know, and am persuaded by the Lord
Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him
that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
… For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Paul:
Romans 14:14,17)
Did He speak of government?
Jesus said to keep church and state apart. "Render
therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's and unto
God the things which be God's." (Luke 20:25) As we have
seen, it was God, not government, who gave man the herbs to
use. And it was government that put Jesus to death.
Property forfeiture laws?
He warned us about seizure and forfeiture laws. "Beware
of the scribes which …devour widows' houses…. The
same shall receive greater damnation." (Luke 20:46-47)
Jesus, too, was a victim. The soldiers, when they had
crucified Jesus, took His garments, and made four parts, to
every soldier a part. (John. 19:33)
What about the Drug War?
Blessed are the peacemakers. (Matthew 5:9)
It was God who created cannabis hemp and told mankind to
use "every green herb" on Earth. The Bible speaks of mercy,
healing and a persecution of God's children. They persecute
me wrongfully; help thou me. (Psalms 119:86) Prisons and
drug wars do not save souls. The Lord… hath sent me to
bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives and the opening of the prison to them that are
bound. (Isaiah 61:1)
What should the ministry do?
Teach God's truth. Warn your congregation that the war on
marijuana is unchristian and must be ended. My people are
destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected
knowledge, I will also reject you, that you will be no
priest to Me … for I desired mercy and not sacrifice.
(Hosea 4:6, 6:6)
Remember: Every creature of God is good, and nothing to
be refused if it be received with thanksgiving…. If
thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou
shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in
the words of faith and of good doctrine. (Paul: 1 Timothy
4:4-6)
Summary analysis of the foregoing discussion
What does the Bible say about marijuana? The Bible says
that God created hemp for people to use "as meat," (ie, to
consume), that its seed oil is to be used as an ointment,
and that cannabis is "to be received with thanks-giving of
them which believe and know the truth." Paul also warned
that some people would "speak lies in hypocrisy" and
prohibit us from using it.
It also says that we "shall not bear false witness" about
people who use cannabis, nor judge them because that
judgement is reserved to the Lord. The Lord hates those who
speak lies and sow discord among brethern. For those people
harrassed and imprisoned for using cannabis rightfuly, Jesus
offers these words of comfort, "Blessed are those persecuted
for righteousness's sake: For theirs is the Kingdom of
Heaven."
What would Jesus do regarding
medical marijuana?
Despite common knowledge and widespread scientific
support, the federal government has for nearly 30 years kept
cannabis in schedule 1 as a deliberate way to deny patients
access to medical marijuana. This includes people suffering
from asthma, cancer, migraine headache, chronic pain,
spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, and provides relief for
many other conditions. As a result, people at various
locations across the USA have had to risk and suffer years
in prison for providing medical marijuana to patients as an
act of compassion and personal conscience. What would Jesus
do? He chose to break the law in order to heal the sick.
"At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the
corn, and his disciples were hungered, and began to pluck
the ears of corn, and to eat. 2) But when the Pharisees saw
it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which
is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day 3) But he said unto
them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungered,
and they that were with him? … 10) And, behold, there
was a man which had his hand withered, And they asked him,
saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they
might accuse him. 11) And he said unto them, What man shall
there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it
fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on
it and lift it out? 12) How much then is a man better than a
sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath
days. 13) Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine
hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole,
like as the other. 14) Then the Pharisees went out, and held
a council against him, how they might destroy him. 15) But
when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence, and
great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; 16)
And charged them that they should not make him known."
(Matthew 12: 1-2, 10-16) (also see Mark 3, Luke 13, John
9)
Should people give blind obedience to government?
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of
Jerusalem, saying, 2) Why do thy disciple transgress the
tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when
they eat bread." 3) But he answered and said unto them, Why
do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your
tradition? … 7) Ye hypocrites! … 12) Then came his
disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the
Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13)
But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly
Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14) Let them
alone: they be blind leaders of the blind, And if the blind
lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew
15:1-3, 7, 12-14)
Passages from the King James Bible
that are relevant
to the legal and moral status of Cannabis sativa, L.
And the earth brought forth grass and herb yielding seed
after its kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was
in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
(Genesis 1:12)
God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing
seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every
tree in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you
it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and
to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth
upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every
green herb for meat: and it was so." And God saw everything
that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the
evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Gen.
1:29-31)
(No prohibition of cannabis or any other drug is made in
the Ten Commandments: See Ex. 20:1-17)
(Cannabis is mentioned in Ex. 30:23 but King James
mistranslated it as 'sweet calamus') :
Moreover, the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Take thou
also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred
shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even 250
shekels, and of qaneh-bosm [cannabis] 250
shekels, 24 And of cassia 500 shekels, after the shekel of
the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: 25 And thou shalt
make it an oil of holy anointment, an ointment compound
after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy
anointing oil. 26 And thous shalt anoint the tabernacle of
the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, 27
And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick ahd
his vessels, and the altar of incense, 28 And the altar of
burnt offerings with all his vessels, and the laver and his
foot. 29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most
holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. (Exodus
30:22-29)
* As one shekel equals approximately 16.37
grams, this means that the THC from over 9 pounds of
flowering cannabis tops were extracted into a hind, about
6.5 litres of oil. The entheogenic effects of such a
solution -- even when applied topically -would
undoubtedly have been intense.
He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle and herb for
the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the
earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man and oil to
make his face to shineth. (Psalm 104:14-15)
The Lord said unto me, "I will take my rest and I will
consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs,
and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. For afore
the harvest, when the bud is perfect and the sour grape is
ripening in the flower, he shall cut off the sprigs with
pruning hooks and take away and cut down the branches. (Is.
18:4-5)
And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they
shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither
bear the shame of the heathen any more. (Ezekiel 34:29)
(Jesus:) "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a
man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a
man." (Matt. 15:11)
One believeth that he may eat all things.
Another…eateth herbs. … Let us not, therefore
judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no
man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his
brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus,
that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that
esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For
the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness
and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Epistle of St. Paul:
Romans 14: 2,3,13,14,17)
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter
times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in
hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats
which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of
them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of
God is good, and nothing to be refused if it be received
with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God
and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these
things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ,
nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine,
whereupon thou hast attained. (Paul: 1 Timothy 4:1-6)
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as
crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the
Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side
of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve
manner of fruits, and yielding her fruit every month; and
the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
(Rev. 22:1-2)
Other relevant quotes:
Intoxication:
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and
whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. (Prov.
20:1)
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to
perish and wine unto those of heavy hearts. Let him
drink and forget his poverty, and remember his
misery no more. (Prov. 31:6-7)
"Woe unto them that rise up early in the
morning, that they may follow strong drink; that
continue until night, till wine inflame them!
(Isaiah 5:10)
(Jesus' first miracle was turning water into
wine at the wedding at Cana: See John 1-10. He also
served wine at the Last Supper.)
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Prohibition:
(Jesus:) He said unto them, "Render therefore
unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's and unto
God the things which be God's." (Luke 20:25)
"Then came Peter to him and said, "Lord, how oft
shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?
Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, "I say not
unto thee until seven times: But until seventy
times seven." (Matt. 18:21-22)
(Jesus:) "If a kingdom be divided against
itself, that kingdom cannot stand." (Mark 3:24)
(Jesus:) He saith unto them, "Are ye so without
understanding also? Do ye not perceive that
whatsoever thing from without entereth into the
man, it cannot defile him.... That which cometh out
of the man, that defileth the man." (Mark
7:18-20)
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Forfeiture:
As troops of robbers wait for a man, so the
company of priests commit murder in the way by
consent. (Hos. 6:9)
(Jesus:) "Beware the scribes which desire to
walk in long robes and … the highest seats in
the synagogues and the chief rooms at feasts; Which
devour widows' houses, and for a show make long
prayers: They shall receive greater damnation."
(Luke 20:46-47)
Then the soldiers, when they had crucified
Jesus, took His garments, and made four parts, to
every soldier a part. (John 19:23)
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Persecution:
Thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me
wrongfully; help thou me. (Ps. 119:86)
(Jesus:) "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they
shall be called the children of God. Blessed are
those persecuted for righteousness' sake: For
theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew
5:9-10)
(Jesus:) "The King shall answer and say unto
them, 'Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have
done it unto one of the least of these my brethern,
ye have done it unto me." (Matt. 25:40)
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Tolerance:
These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven
are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying
tongue and hands that shed innocent blood; An heart
that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be
swift in running to mischief; A false witness that
speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among
brethern." (Prov. 6:16-19)
(Jesus:) "But I say unto you which hear, Love
your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless
them that curse you and pray for them which
despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth
thee on the one cheek, offer also the other, and
him that taketh away thy cloak, forbid not to take
thy coat also." (Luke 6:27-29)
Truth:
A wise man will hear, and will increase
learning: and a man of understanding shall attain
unto wise counsels. (Proverbs 1:5)
If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are
wicked. (Prov. 29:12)
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Judgement & Punishment:
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because
the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings
unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the
broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives
and the opening of the prison to them that are
bound." (Is. 61:1)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
because you have rejected knowledge, I will also
reject you, that you will be no priest to
Me…for I desired mercy and not sacrifice.
(Hosea 4:6, 6:6)
(Jesus:) "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For
with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged:
And with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured
to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that
is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the
beam that is in thine own eye?" (Matt. 7:1-4)
(Jesus:) He beheld them and said, "What is this
then that is written, 'The stone which the builders
rejected, the same is become the head of the
corner'?" (Luke 20:17)
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