This afternoon after work, I could walk into a store, put my money on the counter and walk out with an ounce of marijuana. Because I’m older than 21 and it is legal in my home state of Oregon (as well as Washington, Colorado and Alaska), a police officer could do nothing about it. But as a Christian, should I?

If I bought marijuana today, I would not be arrested. I would not have it confiscated. I would not be fined.

It is legal in my home state of Oregon (as well as Washington, Colorado and Alaska) for those who are 21 years of age or older to purchase and smoke marijuana. Sales have brought hundreds of millions of dollars (Ahiza Garcia, “Oregon Sells $10.8 Million Worth of Pot in the First 6 Days,” CNN Money, Oct. 13, 2015) to these states in tax revenue, and as other states look for ways to balance their budgets, recreational marijuana sales are beginning to become a very real option. Marijuana might just become legal nationwide within the next decade.

While we might agree with the numerous arguments for or against legalization, to us as Christians none of that really matters. We must always endeavor to understand what God thinks about a certain topic. God looks at these kinds of situations differently than we do with our human reasoning because He created us and has something special in mind for us. His thoughts are not our thoughts. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). As our Creator, He knows what is best for us.

When we read the arguments in support of legalization, they might make sense to us. We might try to justify it by equating it to something like alcohol. Within Scripture we see that God has not prohibited moderate consumption of alcohol. So if alcohol is okay, what’s wrong with a little recreational pot? Should a person who is striving to live according to God’s way of life be getting high on the side?

If we search Scripture for permission or prohibition of marijuana specifically, we won’t find it. But we also need to keep in mind that the silence of Scripture does not equal God’s automatic approval. While the Bible might not have anything to say specifically on marijuana, it has quite a bit to say about the effect of marijuana use—intoxication. Or, as it’s more commonly referred to in the Bible, drunkenness or dissipation.

For example, in Galatians 5 the apostle Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruits of the Spirit. He states that the flesh is continually against the Spirit—that the two are in opposition to one another. Then beginning in Galatians 5:19, he lists a number of indicators in a person’s life that he refers to collectively as “works of the flesh.” Things such as: adultery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, wrath, strife, heresy, murder—these are serious sins! Then in the very same breath in verse 21, he lists drunkenness. In Greek the word is methē, which refers to an intoxicant, or by implication becoming intoxicated.

Writing to the Galatians, Paul states very plainly that becoming drunk or intoxicated is a work of the flesh. Works of the flesh are against the Holy Spirit, and as a result, it is sin. A number of additional scriptures from Genesis to Revelation provide warnings against becoming drunk or intoxicated. Some notable examples are Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 23:20, Isaiah 28:7, Luke 21:34, Ephesians 5:18, Titus 1:7 and 1 Timothy 3:3.

Why is drunkenness or intoxication so strongly condemned in the Bible? By becoming intoxicated, you are handing over sensible control of your mind and impairing your decision-making abilities. The likelihood you’ll do something that you will regret, something which is potentially sinful, is far greater while intoxicated. You might be able to ingest small quantities of alcohol that would not impair your decisions; but with marijuana, it is unlikely that you could ingest a “moderate” amount. There might not even be a level of marijuana intake that doesn’t impair decision-making. Research on marijuana and its effects on the brain haven’t yet found that level, if it exists at all (Lineke Zuurman, Annelies Ippel, Eduard Moln, and Joop M. Van Gerven. “Biomarkers for the Effects of Cannabis and THC in Healthy Volunteers,” British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2009). Besides, let’s be honest, isn’t that the point of using marijuana in the first place—to get high?

The high that a person experiences—marijuana intoxication, as it’s officially termed—is caused by the release of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This compound is carried by the blood stream to the brain where it bonds with receptors that are made for natural chemicals similar in molecular structure to THC (these are called endocannabinoids). The overabundance of these THC molecules overwhelms the receptors causing the intoxication or high (National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Drug Facts: Marijuana,” March 2016).

In other words, the use of marijuana short-circuits a natural system that God designed. As you flood the brain with THC, your brain begins to produce fewer endocannabinoids as it relies more on THC. These endocannabinoids are important all over the brain for things like mood regulation, memory and pain sensation. Instead of developing healthy brain function, you are choosing a shortcut that has long-term consequences.

Additionally, during this intoxication a person will experience short-term effects such as altered senses, a slowing or speeding up of time, mood swings, impaired body movement, difficulty thinking and problem-solving and memory impairment (Laurent Karila, Perrine Roux, Benjamin Rolland, Benyamina Amine, Michel Reynaud, Henri-Jean Aubin and Cristophe Lancon, “Acute and Long-Term Effects of Cannabis Use: a Review,” CPD Current Pharmaceutical Design, 2014).

Marijuana use is particularly dangerous for teens and young adults. “When marijuana users begin using as teenagers, the drug may reduce thinking, memory and learning functions and affect how the brain builds connections between the areas necessary for these functions” (National Institute on Drug Abuse).

Although research on the long-term effects of marijuana is still ongoing, it seems clear that when individuals begin using marijuana at a young age they are at a higher risk for long-term consequences. Long-term users show deficits in memory, attention and executive functions like decision-making, as the study by Karila, Roux, Rolland, Amine, Reynaud, Aubin and Lancon referenced above mentions.

“Marijuana has also been linked to other mental health problems, such as: depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts in teens” (National Institute on Drug Abuse).

God knows what is best for us, and He desires something special for His chosen people. He desires that we take good care of our physical and mental health, not damage it. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul instructs the brethren of the Church in Corinth to honor God with their bodies because they were bought with a price. He reminds them that their bodies are the temple for the Holy Spirit and to ultimately make choices that honor and respect the price that was paid for it. If we are choosing to get high, are we honoring our body as a temple? Are we showing honor and respect to the Savior that poured out His blood to purchase us?

If we’re honest with ourselves as we ask that question, and if we are truly seeking to please God in our life, the answer is no.

So while I could legally walk into a dispensary this afternoon on my way home and purchase an ounce of marijuana to consume for my personal enjoyment—I won’t be doing that. While it might be permissible according to man’s law, we must answer to a higher standard. We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

You cannot forget that you too have been called to something better—something far greater than life’s fleeting pleasures. God has offered you an opportunity to be a part of His family. He has chosen you. You have been sanctified and bought with an incredible price. 

Therefore, glorify God with your body and mind.