LDS family struggling with Word of Wisdom
My husband and I have been married for 5 years. We are active members & served missions. My husband has recently struggled with the use of marijuana. As a teen, he smoked marijuana consistently but he stopped, went on a mission and moved on. After he lost his job and our house he started smoking again. His ideas are:
- Â Marijuana is an herb from the earth.
- It’s not specifically prohibited in the Word of Wisdom as “tobacco” is
- Marijuana its better than tobacco anyway
- Use of anything in moderation is ok
- There are overweight people on the church that have very obvious addictions to food and they’re permitted to go to the temple why wouldn’t I be?
- Marijuana relaxes the mind and doesn’t cause impairment of judgment.
I stand strong on my conviction that marijuana is harmful for the mind, the body and is prohibited on the scriptures. I don not agree with him using it. What do you think?
Angelica
Dear Angelica,
It can be a very sad thing when someone we care about chooses to sin. And it is a natural reaction of many sinners to try to justify why their sin ‘isn’t so bad.’ I sympathize and support you in your stance.
Marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule 1 drug by the FDA. Meaning it is totally 
Illegal. There is a strong push to move it to a Schedule 2 or lower. This can be seen in the various state level of voter approved medical Marijuana laws. But even those require a valid medical reason and Doctor approval. Which is sounds like your husband does not have.
This means he is breaking the law of the land as well as the Word of Wisdom.
I am not going to break down his points, because I have no desire to feed his attempts to justify himself. On the subject of the Word of Wisdom the general authorities have clearly stated that drug use with out medical reason is a violation. And at it’s best case Marijuana a drug that requires professional medical dispensing.
Gramps
I’m in the same boat. I’m not trying to justify using it but I do feel I am addicted. The addiction doesn’t cause any direct negative impact on my life or my family. In fact, my wife doesn’t really care or bring it up when I do it because she isn’t a member. I just came back to the church a year ago but started using Marijuana again last month. I like how I feel, I like that I sleep well and wake up refreshed but I’m definitely addicted. I’ve prayed a lot for help but I still don’t stop. I stopped taking the sacrament because of it. I love the spiritual realm I’m in when I use it. I feel like I’m closer to my heavenly father but I know obedience is more important, so I want to stop, I just haven’t been able to. I also just moved into our ward two weeks ago so I’m not super comfortable with my bishop yet.
I understand brother. I’m a 48 yr old smoker who endures the looks of those self righteous ones who have no faults worse than mine. At least, Im not caught up in the vanity of many I see in the church wanting to be seen and loving the sound of their own voice every week while wearing expensive suits patting each other on the backs for being faithful enough not to smoke. I like to smoke. I don’t know why but I do. Try to keep in mind that we may not always be this way. Keep the desire to stop alive in your heart. The Father judges us on the desires of our heart. We may be stronger in things they are not. Ive seen them in church who really don’t want to be there or are there for socializing. At least, I only go when I want to and not because I have to. I help and give to anyone who asks. I treat all the same :men,women,adults,children,family,friends,religious affiliation,race,nationality,poor,wealthy…and smokers,non smokers for all have been found wanting.