The question of whether Catholics can morally smoke weed (marijuana) for recreational purposes—what is the truth of the matter?
Here is what you need to know about the Church's teaching on drugs, as well as the perspectives of a moral theologian and a Catholic apologist on marijuana.
What is the Church's teaching on marijuana?
The Catholic Church's position on drugs in general, as expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is clear:
"The use of drugs apart from strictly therapeutic reasons is a 'grave offense.'"
The catechism also indicates, in paragraph 2211, that the political community has a duty to protect the safety and health of families, particularly regarding drugs. Pope Francis, without specifically mentioning marijuana, has spoken out against the legalization, even partial, of "soft drugs."
Although the catechism does not mention marijuana, Catholic leaders in the United States and elsewhere have spoken against its legalization. Catholic bishops in Maryland and Missouri have urged Catholics to vote against such measures, recalling the Church's teaching on the physical and spiritual harms of drug use and the detrimental effects of drugs on society and the family.
Does marijuana use involve spiritual risks?
E. Christian Brugger, a Catholic moral theologian living in Virginia, told CNA that smoking marijuana to get high means endangering the use of reason. Human reason is necessary to commune with God and avoid sin, he said.
"Like intentional drunkenness, getting high is an intentional alteration of consciousness. And when a person, without necessity, and simply for pleasure, renders themselves less able to use their reason… they do something that is contrary to virtue," said Mr. Brugger.
Joe Heschmeyer, an apologist with the Catholic Answers team who has written on the topic of marijuana use, told CNA that he believes—as someone who "has never personally touched marijuana"—that it is possible for people to use small amounts of marijuana temperately, perhaps in gum form, to moderate anxiety or relax, for the same reasons many people drink alcohol licitly.
"But if you are being reckless, or if you are trying to get high, that's wrong," he noted.
"Whether we're talking about marijuana or something else, the question is the same: is what I want to do in accordance with reason? And losing your reason for fun is not in accordance with right reason. And if you're not sure where the line is, it's wiser to opt for caution."
Is marijuana physically dangerous?
Putting aside the alleged medical or social benefits of marijuana, there is much scientific evidence of the physical risks associated with its use, especially for the brain development of young people.
Reports from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) have shown that marijuana impairs short-term memory and judgment and distorts perception, meaning it can harm performance at school or work and make driving dangerous.
According to NIDA, marijuana also affects brain systems that are still maturing into early adulthood, so regular use by adolescents can have negative and lasting effects on their cognitive development.
According to NIDA, marijuana use is also associated with an increased risk of alcohol use disorders, nicotine dependence, marijuana use disorders, and other drug use.
According to Brugger, the fact that marijuana is physically harmful certainly makes it "something to avoid, unless there is a good reason."
The societal effects of legal marijuana are also not to be overlooked. Colorado, which was one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana in 2012, has seen notably higher rates of teen marijuana use, traffic accidents, homelessness, and drug-related violence since legalization.
Research has also shown that pregnant women who use marijuana have a 2.3 times higher risk of stillbirth.
What about decriminalization?
Some people support the legalization of marijuana as part of a criminal justice reform program, arguing that harsh penalties imposed for marijuana possession have disproportionately affected non-violent offenders, particularly those from minority groups.
Mr. Brugger said there is "nothing suspect or inappropriate" about criticizing how people have been treated in the criminal justice system for marijuana-related offenses. That said, "one can certainly criticize it without needing to entirely destigmatize marijuana use."
Catholics could advocate for less severe penalties for marijuana possession, he said, but making marijuana fully legal would likely lead to much more widespread use. A "culture of sin that flows from drunkenness is almost certain to increase after legalization," Brugger said.
For his part, Heschmeyer warned of the unintended consequences of over-regulating a societal vice like marijuana and said he believed Catholics could support its decriminalization.
"Thomas Aquinas argues that the role of government is not to prohibit all vices… One of Thomas Aquinas's concerns is that, when you regulate too much, you end up creating greater harms than the ones you are trying to solve," explained Mr. Heschmeyer.
"This was certainly the case with Prohibition in the United States, where the attempt to eradicate the vice of drunkenness inadvertently contributed to [strengthening organized crime]. And I think this has proven true with the war on marijuana as well.
It did not eradicate the use (or even the abuse) of this drug, but it led to the arrest, imprisonment, and creation of criminal records for many non-violent offenders… and created a lucrative black market for drug cartels."
Seeking Virtue, Avoiding Scandal
Both Brugger and Heschmeyer urged Catholics to exercise prudence, for the good of those around them, before seeming to endorse marijuana use.
"Even if something is morally permissible, it may be better for you to personally abstain from it out of charity for your loved ones," noted Mr. Heschmeyer.
Legalization sends the message—especially to the young—that marijuana is safe and socially acceptable. Mr. Brugger said that legalizing a "method of inebriation" that young people will enjoy "can hardly lead to greater self-control and virtue."
In a way, legality has nothing to do with the morality of a thing, Brugger added, and Catholics should be mindful of the example they set for others.
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"We have an obligation to be a witness to the good and to Christ, to purity of heart and virtuous actions," noted Mr. Brugger, adding that even if someone doubts the other arguments, the danger of scandal is something every Catholic should keep in mind.
This article was originally published in English by Catholic News Agency (Article Link).