Christians and Weed

This is Father Jared Cramer from St. John’s Episcopal Church in Grand Haven, Michigan, here with today’s edition of Christian Mythbusters, a regular segment I offer to counter some common misconceptions about the Christian faith. Let’s talk about weed. Yep, just when you thought your local progressive pastor couldn’t move any farther to the left. Here I am. Now, I bring this question up because of a local medicinal facility in our own community here in Grand Haven, New Standard. They are asking for the city to move forward with allowing recreational marijuana. City leaders are debating the question (and you can guess I weighed in, never one to keep my mouth shut). But as these sorts of changes continue in our country, I thought this would be a good time to break some of the myths surrounding marijuana and what Christians might think about its use and the law surrounding it. Interestingly enough, the question of recreational marijuana use is increasingly one of the few issues in our country that is not really based as much on a partisan divide anymore. Instead, individual views seem to be based much more upon generational perceptions. According to a 2021 study by the Pew Research Center, 91% of Americans now believe marijuana should be legal, either for medicinal use only (31%) or for both medicinal and recreational use (60%). True, progressives generally do favor legalization more, with 95% of Democrats in favor of either recreational or medicinal use, but that is not much more than the 87% of all Republicans who agree. Indeed, nearly half of all Republicans (47%) explicitly favor the legalization of recreational marijuana use. As I said, the disagreement in our country right now is much more based upon age and generation. For example, 70% of adults under 29 favor legalization of recreational marijuana. That number decreases by age, until you get to those who are over 75, of whom only 32% support the legalization of recreational marijuana. Personally, I believe the current status of marijuana in our country can be likened to another ban on an intoxicating substance one hundred years ago: the prohibition on alcohol. Prohibition then didn’t stop people from drinking, it instead drove alcohol underground where it fostered a criminal empire of producers meeting a demand that would not be stopped. The worry expressed by some in our own city leadership is that approval of recreational sales in Grand Haven will make it easier for marijuana to get to area kids. This concern, though, doesn’t really make sense when you look at the evidence. From 1975-2012, 80-90% of 12th graders consistently reported that marijuana was either “fairly easy” or “very easy” to obtain. However, oddly enough after legalization began, those numbers began to drop and for the first time the perception of availability has now dropped below 80%. Which actually makes sense if you think about it. If you walk into New Standard in Grand Haven, you will meet a friendly person at the welcome desk who will check IDs (and, currently, medical cards) before you can go through a second door into their show-room. However, when the mechanism for purchase is illegal and on the black market, there is nothing to keep it away from teenagers. There is also no government data to indicate that reformed marijuana laws have led to any increased use by teenagers. There is really only fear. And we must make decisions based upon facts, not upon fear. Before I close, I’d like to say a little bit as to why I, as a Christian priest, am talking about this issue. First, all of the data I’ve said seems reasonable and compelling to me, no matter someone’s faith commitments. However, as a Christian, I am concerned about more. In particular, I am concerned with equity and justice. And the current system is unjust. A study by the ACLU found that African-Americans are 3.6 times more likely than whites to be arrested for possession, despite similar usage rates. Beyond that, marijuana is far safer than many other medications people take on a regular basis, particularly when it comes to chronic pain, mood disorders, and the effects of chemotherapy. As a Christian, compassion would urge me to make that access by adults easier, not harder. To me, marijuana is similar to alcohol—it’s a mind altering substance that can be abused and misused, but which should not be illegal. Even St. Paul encouraged a little wine now and then for his protégé, Timothy’s, stomach. And, to be honest, I have a feeling he would have said the same thing about gummies. Let’s finally get rid of the approach of prohibition, an approach that has failed and is actually more dangerous to kids. Instead, let’s talk about responsible adult use. Let’s support studies about the long-term impact of marijuana use, particularly when it comes to regulated and consistent commercial products instead of street drugs. Let’s do that so that we can know what risks are involved. To be clear, I’m not promoting the use of marijuana. Like with any mind-altering substance, there are risks. I do, however, think it is a decision—like the use of alcohol or other important choices—that’s best left in the hands of responsible adults. Thanks for being with me. To find out more about my parish, you can go to sjegh.com. Until next time, remember, protest like Jesus, love recklessly, and live your faith out in a community that accepts you but also challenges you to be better tomorrow than you are today.