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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Recreational drug use	Ian	Monday, March 29, 2010
Question: Smoking marijuana is a mortal sin, I understand this. But if it's legal in the country, is it still a mortal sin? Ie... if doctor's realize that marijuana in small doses can provide pain relief like tylenol, is this still a mortal sin? I understand that this drug can make people's consciences blurred and can maybe make them make irrational decisions. But isn't this the same as alcohol? IE - Use in moderation? What is the difference? Also, I know some athletes take tylenol before contact sports such as football to avoid pain during the game. Is this also a mortal sin because it's using the medicine for recreational use? I mean if someone knows the Church's teachings and takes these tylenols before a game, they might go to hell for eternity for this? Thank you in advance for all your help!! GOD BLESS -ian
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Ian: The issue in intoxication. The Bible tells us that drunkenness is sin (Rom 13:13; 1 Cor 5:11; 1 Cor 6:10). Drunkenness, that is intoxication, is the stupefaction our minds. That means intoxication dulls the senses or faculties. Consuming any substance to the point of this intoxication is sin. It is sin because it does violence to the virtues of reason, prudence, and temperance. The difference between alcohol and "recreational" substances is that it is possible to consume alcohol without intoxication. This is not the case with marijuana, cocaine, heroine, etc. These "recreational" drugs do nothing but intoxicate and have no personal or social value or use beyond intoxication. Substances such as morphine and other prescription drugs may have an intoxicating effect, but this is temporary and under a doctor's supervision for the greater good of medical treatment. Abuse of prescription drugs, however, makes them no different than "street" drugs -- it is sin to abuse them. Those things that rob us of reason, prudence, and temperance are to be avoided. We are not to be drunk with anything (alcohol, drugs, sky diving, fast cars, etc), but be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:8): "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit..." God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Recreational drug use

Ian

Monday, March 29, 2010

Question:

Smoking marijuana is a mortal sin, I understand this. But if it's legal in the country, is it still a mortal sin? Ie... if doctor's realize that marijuana in small doses can provide pain relief like tylenol, is this still a mortal sin?

I understand that this drug can make people's consciences blurred and can maybe make them make irrational decisions. But isn't this the same as alcohol? IE - Use in moderation? What is the difference?

Also, I know some athletes take tylenol before contact sports such as football to avoid pain during the game. Is this also a mortal sin because it's using the medicine for recreational use? I mean if someone knows the Church's teachings and takes these tylenols before a game, they might go to hell for eternity for this?

Thank you in advance for all your help!!

GOD BLESS
-ian

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Ian:

The issue in intoxication. The Bible tells us that drunkenness is sin (Rom 13:13; 1 Cor 5:11; 1 Cor 6:10). Drunkenness, that is intoxication, is the stupefaction our minds. That means intoxication dulls the senses or faculties. Consuming any substance to the point of this intoxication is sin. It is sin because it does violence to the virtues of reason, prudence, and temperance.

The difference between alcohol and "recreational" substances is that it is possible to consume alcohol without intoxication. This is not the case with marijuana, cocaine, heroine, etc. These "recreational" drugs do nothing but intoxicate and have no personal or social value or use beyond intoxication.

Substances such as morphine and other prescription drugs may have an intoxicating effect, but this is temporary and under a doctor's supervision for the greater good of medical treatment. Abuse of prescription drugs, however, makes them no different than "street" drugs -- it is sin to abuse them.

Those things that rob us of reason, prudence, and temperance are to be avoided. We are not to be drunk with anything (alcohol, drugs, sky diving, fast cars, etc), but be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:8):

"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit..."

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum