Expert: Fr. Michael - 2/6/2010

Question
Hello, I was baptised catholic, I believe I live a fair life, I don't go out of my way to be "good" but I'm not a bad person at all.
I help people if it's needed to the point of exhaustion sometimes and I'm respectful to those who deserve it.
I try to think in a good way too, most of the time I'm angry about the wrongs and passionate about the right.

The question is about cannabis.

I've head a lot about "intoxication" being a sin - but wine was the chosen sacrament at the last supper - so that doesn't make sense to me - correct me if i'm wrong.

It would have to be offensive to me, my peers or god for it to be a sin wouldn't it?

Lets just say it doesn't harm your health, if you use a vaporiser it has no harmful chemicals, so it's possible to be used in this non-harmful way. - So it's not offensive to myself.

Then onto offending my peers - I have a mental problem, I wont bother you with details but just say, when I have some cannabis it is easier to talk to people and be social - I don't see talking and joking and debating as antisocial - neither do my peers.

Then onto offending god - GOD made everything, so made cannabis.
But he also made the apple tree in the garden,
Do I take it as cannabis is the modern day temptation? Or is it a gift to be used? (I know there are people who would abuse it but I;m not one of them, I USE the herb for its calming properties and to aid sleep - it fixes my ails)

If it brings no harm to those that produce it, no harm to those that use it, no harm to their peers and does not offend god, then is it not a bad thing?

I'm not saying everyone should use it, but just that if it is used medicinally and all it does is improve my condition and in doing so brings no harm to anyone else... that can't be a sin?

What are your thoughts, any passages you could point out for me?

Thanks so much for your time/consideration -
Regards, Christian.

Answer
Wine is not an intoxicating beverage when drunk in moderation.  St. Paul even recommends it to his fellow bishop Timothy:  "Use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thy frequent infirmities" (1 Timothy 5:23/DRV).  In this, he seems to be well ahead of his time, as a modern doctors also recommend wine as a healthful food, again in moderation.  There are many antioxidants and phytonutrients in wine that protect the heart and brain.

Cannabis is a different situation.  Current medical knowledge indicates a harmful effect upon the body, like cigarettes, even in small quantities.  Therefore, you are dealing sins with the Fifth Commandment.  By the principle of the greater evil, for example where the harm might be outweighed by some medical benefit, such as a pallative for advance cancer, one could justify its usage, but not as a general principle.

One cannot excuse the use of a substance because "God made it."  There are many substances in nature that are poisonous to man (e.g., a toadstool), but obviously have their proper role.  God gave man the gift of reason so that he could avoid the things that are harmful to him.