What About Marijuana?

So, this past Sunday, we did a Q&A time on relationships. Of course, we couldn't answer ever question, but I thought this one deserved some attention.

"What does a woman do when her husband has an addiction that is harming the
family as it causes him to have rages but he says I anger him, not the marijuana?"

OK. There are multiple levels to this question. I want to get to the marijuana question, but first I have to answer several other parts.

1. THERE IS A DEEPER PROBLEM HERE. If a married, adult male has an addiction to marijuana that is affecting his relationship to the family, it isn't marijuana that is the issue. Marijuana makes a person relaxed, and you say that he has "rages." So, in an unprofessional opinion (but someone who has seen a lot of this), he is self-medicating. He has issues of anger and tension that he is MASKING by using marijuana. He should talk to a mental health professional to see if there is something more going on than just emotions.

2. "He says I anger him." Please understand that this is the blame casting statement that is made in every abusive relationship. The abuser always says that the person they abuse is to blame. If this is such an abusive relationship... protect yourself NOW! Flee to someplace safe and don't go back until the problems are under control.

3. "He says I anger him." If he isn't an abusive person, maybe he is right? Think about this. If he has issues relaxing and feels tension constantly, are you helping sooth or intensify that tension. As a wife, you can either turn up the heat of tension or turn down that heat.

4. Now to the use of marijuana: The problem with using marijuana is that it is unhealthy. Ok, I know it helps glaucoma. But, lets be serious... you don't have glaucoma. Just smoking the stuff fills your lungs with junk. The bible says, "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. But not everything is constructive." (1 Cor. 6:23) The only real reason to use marijuana in our culture is to "have some fun." And, I will tell you that if you need to use anything (drugs, alcohol, food, illicit sex, etc...) to have fun, then you aren't very comfortable in your own skin. The healthier way, the way of Godliness, is to learn to be OK in your own skin, as you are. To "have fun" in a healthy, benefical way.

So, here are some of the best arguments against marijuana:

• Pot takes motivation away. OK...I know you have this buddy that smokes pot and is a high performer. But, if we are really honest, those who smoke a lot of pot don't really excel in motivation. And to have a great life, you have to be motivated.
• IT IS STILL ILLEGAL, and it is really hard to get a good job with a police record.
• It costs a lot. What could you do with all the money you sent up in smoke?
• It makes you paranoid. So, you act like a jerk without even knowing it.
• IT IS STILL ILLEGAL, so you lose the respect of people who are law abiding.
• IT IS STILL ILLEGAL, so you can lose your job if you test positive for pot.

Being bit by a copperhead may not kill you, but I still say you are stupid if you play with them. I feel the same way about marijuana.