Expert: Dr Eddy Cheong - 3/9/2005

Question
Dr Cheong, an older friend of mine seems convinced that the use of marijuana (being an herb) is perfectly okay with God. I have tried to convince him that regardless of his personal beliefs, marijuana is an illegal drug and God wants us to be obedient to the laws of the land.
Can you give me scripture to clarify the truth?

Answer
The word "witchcraft" is from the greek word "farmakeiva" transliterated word "pharmakeia" (Strong's concordance number 5332) meaning
"1.the use or the administering of drugs
2.poisoning
3.sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it".

It is found in the following verses:
Galatians 5:20
20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions

REv 9:20 (translated as sorceries)
Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Rev 18:23 (also translated as sorceries)
And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Science and medicine are God's gifts to mankind for alleviating pain, suffering and disease and the judicious use of drugs towards this end is justified (of course within the limits of legal and medically justified prescriptions). However, drug abuse for mood elevation, escapism and other non medicinal purposes is a deviation from God's norm for us. Such abuse opens us to demonic attacks and invasion; the end result of which could be addiction and spiritual bondage. I would also be careful to avoid certain drugs (though legal) like sleeping pills and tranquilisers which are definitely addicting in the long term.
This is besides the fact that drugs like marijuana, heroin and coccaine are also illegal.