Pubdate: Tue, 01 Feb 2005
Source: Daily Athenaeum, The (WV Edu)
Copyright: 2005 The Daily Athenaeum
Contact:  http://www.da.wvu.edu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/763
Author: Dan Hardesty
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n159/a09.html?3127

NO BIBLICAL LINK TO LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

I am writing in response to Stan White's assertion that the legalization of 
marijuana is biblically correct. God did indeed create all plants good in 
Genesis 1; however, that was prior to the sin of man. When man first 
sinned, God pronounces His judgment on them in Genesis 3:17-18, cursing the 
ground and plants because of man's sin. Whether this includes the advent of 
marijuana, though, is uncertain. Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 explains 
that the body is the temple of God, and we should therefore, honor God with 
our body. Doing any damage to our body would be defiling God's very temple. 
The use of marijuana, were it to have any hindrance whatsoever to us, would 
be defilement of our body, and, therefore, biblically unjust. Finally, Paul 
writes again in Romans 13:1, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing 
authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has 
established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." 
Submission to authorities and leaders is mentioned elsewhere in the New 
Testament (Hebrews 13:7). Going against a government that has established 
the illegality of marijuana would be biblically unjust since there is no 
other sound scriptural basis for the legality of marijuana.

Dan Hardesty

Senior, psychology
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MAP posted-by: Beth