cannabisnews.com: Religious Groups Support Marijuana Legalization 





Religious Groups Support Marijuana Legalization 
Posted by CN Staff on November 07, 2002 at 07:56:20 PT
By Pablo Gaete, Daily Reporter
Source: North Texas Daily
Jennifer Wallace, a devout Christian and mother of five, said she had always been against marijuana usage. This stance abruptly ended, however, at age 35 when an old friend offered her a joint."I was surprised how I was not very different than before," Wallace, a resident of Springfield, Calif., said in a phone interview. "I believe it made me think more."
As a result Wallace founded Christians For Cannabis, a nondenominational organization dedicated to promoting legal and social tolerance of marijuana.Organizations like hers, including the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations and the Progressive Jewish Alliance, represent the many religious groups that advocate the need for drug-policy reform."The war on drugs has been an abysmal failure in any practical sense," said Thomas Jeavons, general secretary of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers."We believe that underlying it all is a deep immorality."Jeavons, a resident of Fresno, Calif., said he believes that the number of people victimized by the drug war is staggering.He is currently struggling to reduce prison sentences for drug convicts as well as alter the laws concerning some drugs.People will continue to use marijuana and other drugs regardless of any laws concerning them," Jeavons said."It is truly evil to persecute and incarcerate people for using this relatively safe, God-given substance."Other religious groups do not share the views of Wallace and Jeavons, however.Mary Anderson of the United Methodist Church in Waco said "It is shameful for so-called children of God to promote drug use and convince others to follow them on their path into damnation."Wallace said for most of her life she never questioned why religious societies oppose marijuana use. Now she dedicates her Web site -- http://www.christiansforcannabis.com -- to informing of the medical benefits of cannabis."Most Christians simply do not want to hear about anything that contradicts the words of their preacher or the things they've been taught their whole lives," she said.She said that one main objective of Christians For Cannabis is to educate Christians on the medical benefits of marijuana. Glaucoma, insomnia and eating disorders are a few of the health problems she mentioned that can be treated with the substance."More states are now implementing medical marijuana laws and looser sentences for users," Wallace said. "This leads me to believe that we are making an impact."Wallace said she believes it will take some time before more Christians and other religious groups open up to her views. She said she has great conviction to changing society's perception and tolerance of this social trend. Note: Christians for Cannabis educate people on medical benefits.Source: North Texas Daily (TX)Author: Pablo Gaete, Daily ReporterPublished: Thursday, November 07, 2002Copyright: 2002 North Texas DailyContact: news ntdaily.com Website: http://www.ntdaily.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:UUDPRhttp://www.uudpr.org/Quakers http://www.quaker.org/Progressive Jewish Alliance http://www.pjalliance.org/Christians For Cannabis http://www.christiansforcannabis.com/Calling for an End to the War on Drugs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13717.shtmlHigher Immorality? - ABCNews.comhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13175.shtml
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Comment #9 posted by John Tyler on November 07, 2002 at 20:13:41 PT
Lying poiticians
It easy to tell when politicians are lying, their lips move.
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Comment #8 posted by The GCW on November 07, 2002 at 19:31:20 PT
The only Biblical restriction placed on 
kaneh bosm or cannabis is that We accept it with thanksgiving.AND, """Mary Anderson of the United Methodist Church in Waco said "It is shameful for so-called children of God to promote drug use and convince others to follow them on their path into damnation.""" (it is too bad,"Christians" consider cannabis "drug". God and the Bible mentions medicine, plant, herb, etc.God made medicine and plants and herbs etc.Man makes drugs.)There is a difference between drug and medicine.  
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Comment #7 posted by Renerk on November 07, 2002 at 15:17:07 PT:
I agree 'unkown pleasures'
You said exactly what I have always thought. From my viewpoint I would like to add that after smoking I swear I can tell ,so much easier, when someone is lying. Which we all know the politicians really don't want us to be able to do that any easier.
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Comment #6 posted by DdC on November 07, 2002 at 13:49:21 PT
Thou Shalt Not Think For Thyself! P&J Inc.
This is refreshing, finally. Now remove the Khristian Koalition Klans from Government Policies. And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. (Ezekiel 34:29)Rastafarian MC Mystic
http://www.mcmystic.com/mcmystic.htmAmerica was NOT founded on Christianity! 
http://pub3.ezboard.com/fendingcannabisprohibitionstuff.showMessage?topicID=83.topic"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matt. 7:18-20)Cannabis and the Old Testament
http://www.cannabisculture.com/backissues/mayjune96/kanehbosm.htmlThe Radical Rabbi
by Pete Brady (CC 09 Jul, 2001)
http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/2005.html
theradicalrabbi hotmail.comRadical Rabbi
http://boards.marihemp.com/boards/politics/media/37/37560.jpgSymbol
http://boards.marihemp.com/boards/politics/media/37/37559.jpg"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: And with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" (Matt.7:1-4)Christ and Cannabis, Jesus Used Cannabis
http://www.cannabisculture.com/magazine/cc11/christ.htmlUniversal Life Church Ministries
http://www.ulc.net/related.html"But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other, and him that taketh away thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also." (Luke 6:27-29) Prohibition is Un-Christian
http://www.olywa.net/when/bible-toc.htmlEmperors MYTH, MAGIC & MEDICINE
http://www.jackherer.com/book/ch10.htmlRemember Be Here Now
http://remember.laading.net/"Let him who is without sin cast the first stone" (John 8:7).The Religion of Jesus Church
http://www.hialoha.com/konagold/church/holyherb.htmlSchaffer Potbible
http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/potbible.htmSpirit Web 
http://www.spiritweb.orgThe Urantia Book
http://www.urantiabook.org/"Peter said, 'Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?' Jesus saith unto him, 'I say not unto thee until seven times: But until seventy times seven.' " (Mat. 18:21-22)Psychoactivity As A Magic Healer 
http://www.roninpub.com/heamag_psyheals.htmlThe Healing Magic of Cannabis
http://www.cannabinoid.com/boards/message.shtml?1x35487Table of Contents
http://www.roninpub.com/heamag_toc.htmlHealing as a Re-Creational Activity 
http://www.cannabinoid.com/boards/message.shtml?1x35485"The Lord hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." (Isaiah 61:1)Use of Cannabis as Incense pdf
http://www.etext.org/Politics/CRC/incenseJudeo/Christian Bible
http://www.beyond-the-illusion.com/files/Religion/Bahai/Texts/EN/bible.html"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you will be no priest to Me for I desired mercy and not sacrifice." (Hosea 4:6, 6:6)Evidence Indicating the Semitic Origin of Cannabis
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Atrium/4689/pages/OR/Jewish.htmThe Lycæum
http://www.lycaeum.org(Jesus:) "Beware the scribes which desire to walk in long robes and the highest seats in the synagogues and the chief rooms at feasts; Which devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers: They shall receive greater damnation." (Luke 20:46-47)Church of the Universe
http://www.iamm.comThe Vaults of Erowid
http://www.erowid.orgCouncil on Spiritual Practices
http://www.csp.orgNeither the trappings of robes, nor temples of stone, nor a fixed liturgy, nor an extensive literature or history is required to meet the test of beliefs cognizable under the Constitution as religious. So far as our law is concerned, one person's religious beliefs held for one day are presumptively entitled to the same protection as the beliefs of millions which have been shared for thousands of years. -- Judge Jack Weinstein, New York State, 1977Give Us This Day Our Daily Rant 
http://pub3.ezboard.com/fendingcannabisprohibitionstuff.showMessage?topicID=85.topicPat & Jer's Brand New Testament
http://www.cannabinoid.com/boards/politics/media/34/34819.gifJC/DC
http://boards.marihemp.com/boards/politics/media/40/40295.gifThe day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter. Thomas Jefferson, 1823 
Sacramental Cannabis
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on November 07, 2002 at 11:16:34 PT
That's right unknown pleasures 
Thinking caring people are dangerous people in the eyes of the powers that be.
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Comment #4 posted by unknown pleasures on November 07, 2002 at 11:12:11 PT
Whooop! there it is!
'"I was surprised how I was not very different than before," Wallace, a resident of Springfield, Calif., said in a phone interview. "I believe it made me think more."'Right there is the reason why political fascists, Christian fundamentalists and other power-mongers continue to paint cannabis as the demon weed. 
'Thinking more' is the last thing they want from their subjects. In the middle ages, it was standard for the kings and queens to keep the peasants illiterate so they would not question the absolute power of the monarch.Over and over again throughout history, the ruling class has kept the populance in line by controlling access to education and information. Keeping your subjects ignorant is the most effective way to maintain a grip on power!The more 'common people' start to actually think, the more difficult it is to feed them bull****. And for a regime built entirely on the steady and constant repitition of bull****, this is not good news. I mean, when a speech from Walters or Hutchinson is printed here, there is nothing but bouts of laughter in the comment section. Their propaganda is so shallow and banal that it is nothing short of insanity, yet millions of americans take as the truth. Why? because it is their only source of information on the issue. 
The last thing the DEA wants is for people to do their own research! Smoking cannabis is one way to loosen the grip of social conditioning, allowing one to take 'a step back' from the systematic coersion and programming of those in power.This is why it is such a threat to the system, because it can turn sheep into individuals.
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Comment #3 posted by freddybigbee on November 07, 2002 at 09:52:48 PT:
A message to repeat often...
"It is truly evil to persecute and incarcerate people for using this relatively safe, God-given substance."Amen!
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Comment #2 posted by afterburner on November 07, 2002 at 09:15:18 PT:
News Flash: Read your Bible.
There is no commandment prohibiting cannabis in the Bible, not even in Leviticus. Now that we know that the preacher is lying. So who's gonna stay at home when the freedom fighters are fighting?...Lively up yourself, and don't say 'no.' Yeah, lively up yourself, big daddy says 'so.' Yeah, lively up yourself and don't be no drag. Yeah, lively up yourself 'cause reggae is another bag....Like the birds in the tree, the prisoners must be free, Bob Marley, gone but not forgotten.
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Comment #1 posted by goneposthole on November 07, 2002 at 08:10:10 PT
whatever it takes 
The make-believe US gov has gone over the edge.
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