“Is Smoking Weed a Sin? What the Bible Really Says About Marijuana”

February 3, 2025 jews Mockery Comments Off on “Is Smoking Weed a Sin? What the Bible Really Says About Marijuana”

Wondering if it’s a sin to smoke weed? Let’s look into what the Bible says about marijuana, the impact on your faith, and how to approach it with a Christian perspective.”

Is It a Sin to Smoke Weed? A Christian Perspective on Marijuana Use

The question of whether it’s a sin to smoke weed is something that’s come up more and more in Christian conversations. With marijuana now legalized in various states and its use more widely accepted, it’s understandable if you grapple with whether using marijuana aligns with your faith. 

Prior to this legalization, the answer to whether or not it was a sin to smoke weed seemed clear-cut and simple. Yes, it was but only if it was over used. After all, the Bible does instruct us to be subject to governing authorities.

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

Romans 13:1 (English Standard Version)

As such, the general sentiment was that anything illegal was, therefore, automatically a sin. However, since that argument no longer applies, it has become necessary to give the issue more thought.

In this article, we’ll carefully examine what the Bible says (and doesn’t say) about smoking weed. We’ll also look at the impact of smoking weed on the life of a believer and hopefully help you understand how to approach this decision with faith, wisdom, and grace.

Does the Bible Expressly Forbid Marijuana?

Clearly, there’s no verse in the Bible that says, “Thou shalt not smoke weed.” But that doesn’t mean the Bible doesn’t give us principles that help guide us in situations like this.

1. Your Body is a Temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,  for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Paul, in this verse, reminds us that as Christians, our bodies aren’t just ours to do whatever we want with—they belong to God. As such, we must take care of them, honoring God with how we treat our bodies. 

What does this have to do with smoking weed? Well, studies have shown that marijuana use can have both short-term and long-term effects on the body and mind. For instance, researchers in the Journal of Neuroscience found that smoking weed casually can cause changes to the brain and even lead to mental illness.  

Below are some of the short-term effects of smoking weed:

  • Lower impulse control 
  • Impaired body movement 
  • Dizziness 
  • Increased heart rate 
  • Paranoia 
  • Digestive issues 
  • Decreased motor skills
  • Hallucinations 
  • Anxiety or panic attacks 

And that’s not all. Using marijuana, especially during adolescence, before the brain is fully developed, can lead to some serious long-term effects on both your physical and mental health. It can lead to:

  • Respiratory issues: Smoking weed can irritate the lungs and throat. This increases the risk of chronic cough, pneumonia, bronchitis, and other lung problems associated with long-term use.
  • Brain development issues: Regular marijuana use during adolescence can impair learning, memory, and impulse control. Even for adults, heavy use may lead to memory loss and a lower IQ.
  • Testicular cancer: Some studies suggest a link between adolescent marijuana use and an aggressive form of testicular cancer.
  • Pregnancy risks: Babies exposed to marijuana in the womb may struggle with memory, attention, and problem-solving. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol: the major psychoactive component in marijuana) can also pass through breast milk, affecting the baby’s brain development.
  • Nausea and vomiting: While rare, chronic use can trigger a condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, causing severe nausea and vomiting.
  • Mental health disorders: Marijuana use has also been linked to mental health issues like schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety, particularly in those with a genetic predisposition. For those with schizophrenia, marijuana can worsen symptoms.

After seeing the above possible side effects, can we then boldly say that we are within God’s will when we smoke weed – a substance that can harm and diminish your body’s ability to serve God? 

2. Be Not Drunk with Wine, Be Filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)

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

Although this verse specifically addresses drunkenness, the principle can apply to any substance that alters your state of mind. And there’s no doubt that smoking weed can do just that, seeing as research has shown that it can affect your decision-making. 

One study in particular found that regular marijuana use can affect your impulsivity, working memory, attention, and your ability to switch between cognitive tasks. This is similar to what alcohol does – it impacts your cognitive function and affects your ability to carry out important tasks. 

Now, I can almost hear you thinking, “But the Bible doesn’t condemn drinking alcohol.” Agreed. In fact, the Psalmist goes as far as to say that God made “wine to gladden the heart of man.” (Ps. 104:15). Paul speaking to Timothy, also says,

“No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.”

1 Tim. 5:23 (ESV)

These verses show that alcohol isn’t inherently bad. Nonetheless, the Bible does warn against drunkenness.

“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness…”

Romans 13:13

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.”

Proverbs 20:1

“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink.”

Proverbs 31:4

“Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink,”

Isaiah 5:22

“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine;”

Proverbs 23:29-30

At this point, you might wonder, “If it’s okay to take alcohol in moderation, can’t I also smoke weed moderately?”

The first response to this is that most (if not all) marijuana users take it to get high. That already differentiates them from people who take alcohol in moderation – without the intent of getting drunk. What’s more, marijuana is quite different from alcohol in many ways, including:

  • Unlike alcohol, marijuana comes in several strains. As such, even if two plants have the same amount of THC, they can affect people differently.
  • Regular marijuana use is strongly linked to mental health issues like schizoaffective disorder. And while heavy alcohol use can also cause mental health problems, moderate drinking does not.
  • Marijuana contains at least 113 cannabinoids, each contributing to a unique experience when smoked or ingested. Alcohol, on the other hand, has a much simpler chemical makeup.
  • Alcohol has been used worldwide in celebrations and rituals, but cannabis hasn’t held the same cultural significance.

3. Self-Control – A Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

As a believer, your life should reflect the fruit of the Spirit, one of which is self-control. It’s the ability to make decisions that align with God’s will, even when it’s hard. As demonstrated already, smoking weed makes it harder to maintain self-control and leads to a lack of clarity in your decision-making. This is clearly anti-God’s will.

In 1 Peter 5:8, we’re also instructed to be “sober-minded.” Smoking weed goes directly against that instruction.

4. Acting in Faith (Romans 14:23)

“But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”

This verse reminds us that whatever we do should come from a place of faith. If you’re questioning whether smoking weed is okay, or if you’re unsure whether it’s right for you, it may be wise to refrain from it altogether. If there’s doubt or guilt around it, that could be a sign that it’s not something you should be doing.

Is It Just About the Law?

Another thought you may have had is, “But weed is legal now in many places. Doesn’t that mean it’s okay for Christians to use it?”

First, legal doesn’t always mean right. An ungodly government can make certain atrocities legal. Does that make it right? Or God’s will? For instance, abortion may be legal in some states, but that doesn’t make it okay in the sight of God.

Sure, we’re called to obey the law (Romans 13:1-2), but God’s Word is our standard. 

Didn’t God Create Marijuana?

Since marijuana is a plant that God created, does that mean that it’s okay to smoke it? Even better, did He make it with that purpose in mind?

It’s true that God created everything good (Genesis 1:31). However, just because God created something doesn’t mean that we automatically understand its intended purpose. For example, God created trees that bear fruit, but not all fruit is meant for us to eat. Fruits like the sea buckthorn berry, manchineel, and the winterberry are too poisonous for human consumption.

Similarly, God created all the trees in the Garden of Eden but forbade Adam and Eve from eating from one in particular. Disobedience to this command led to the fall of humanity. 

The lesson here is that just because something is created by God, we can’t assume we know its purpose unless He has revealed it to us.

It’s also important to remember that since the fall in Genesis 3, humans have often misused God’s good gifts for selfish purposes. Sin isn’t just breaking God’s law—it’s also about misusing His good gifts to fulfill our sinful desires.

Take marriage, for example. God created it, along with the gift of sex, for enjoyment and procreation. But sex can be misused outside of God’s design. The pleasure that comes from sinful sexual behavior doesn’t make it permissible in God’s eyes. 

When we apply this to marijuana, it’s clear that God created everything for us to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17), and using the plant for practical purposes, like clothing, is one way to do that. However, using marijuana to alter the mind significantly is contrary to God’s will for us, as revealed in scripture.

Loving Your Neighbor: How Your Choices Affect Others

Another thing to consider is how smoking weed might affect the people around you. The Bible teaches us to love our neighbors, and this means being mindful of how our actions affect others. Look at Paul’s instructions to the Corinthian church.

“But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”

1 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)

Throughout this chapter, Paul addresses the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols. He emphasizes that while believers have the freedom to make certain choices, they must also consider how their actions affect others. So, if smoking weed might lead someone else into temptation, cause them to stumble in their faith, or influence them to make unhealthy choices, it might be worth putting that habit aside for their sake.

“Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”

1 Corinthians 8:13 (ESV)

Conclusion: Is It a Sin to Smoke Weed?

The answer is yes if it’s overused improperly I would only recommend two times a week especially not everyday. Your understanding of how marijuana affects your body, mind, and spiritual life can keep you from sinning by smoking weed. Does smoking weed help you grow closer to God, or does it draw you away from Him, the answer is why takes big chance?

Additionally, we, as Christians, are called to live with self-control, love for others, and honor to God. If smoking weed doesn’t align with those values, we must put it aside.

However, we must be careful not to add extra rules that are beyond what Scripture says, especially with something as nuanced as marijuana use. Given its potential medicinal benefits, we shouldn’t jump to strict prohibitions. 

Instead, we should approach fellow Christians who smoke weed with care. Ask questions, understand their perspective, and be ready to lovingly correct them if their use clearly violates biblical principles of sobriety. The situation may be complex, but with God’s wisdom and grace, we can navigate it together, trusting in His mercy as we walk through this new age of legal marijuana.

Written by Juliet (Chisom) I.