cannabisnews.com: U.S. Asks Church Groups' Help Vs. Drugs U.S. Asks Church Groups' Help Vs. Drugs Posted by CN Staff on July 10, 2003 at 10:05:24 PT By Jonathan D. Salant, Associated Press Writer Source: Associated Press Washington -- The Bush administration is enlisting church-based youth groups in its anti-drug programs, the latest effort to expand the role of religious organizations in government services. The Office of National Drug Control Policy on Thursday began offering guides, brochures and Web sites to help leaders of religious youth groups teach their members to avoid marijuana and other drugs. ``Faith plays an important role when it comes to teen marijuana prevention,'' said John P. Walters, director of the office. ``Faith communities can help influence a teen's decision not to use marijuana and other drugs.'' A study published in March by the American Psychological Association found that teenagers were less likely to use marijuana when they thought religion was important to their lives. The new initiative has drawn support from such religious groups as the Islamic Society of North America, the National Council of Churches and the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization. ``It is in the best interest of our whole society for the issues of drug prevention and religious faith to go hand in hand,'' said the Most Rev. Gordon D. Bennett, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Critics of the administration's religious initiatives said spiritual groups already are fighting drug use among their members, and don't need the federal government to get involved. ``It's another example of how the Bush administration is obsessed with finding a faith-based solution to every social and medical problem,'' said Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a watchdog group. ``Most of the denominations have anti-drug programs. Many combine good science with their own personal religious message, but they do so without federal funds, and that's how it ought to be.'' The government is providing a 100-page guide to youth leaders. ``As a youth leader, you are in an ideal position to influence youth by illustrating the practical power of faith in your life,'' the brochure says. It suggests that youth leaders discuss peer pressure and lead prayers asking for strength to say no to ``bad influences.'' For older kids, the brochure suggests a discussion of what their faith teaches about drug abuse. A priority of the Bush administration is to break long-standing barriers to federal funds for religious groups. But it has been unsuccessful in urging Congress to pass sweeping legislation to open government programs to such organizations. Bush issued an executive order in December allowing religious groups to hire and fire workers based on religion when receiving federal grants, contracts or other funds. On the Net: Americans United: http://www.americansunited.org Anti-drug effort: http://www./theantidrug.com/faith Drug policy office: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov Source: Associated PressAuthor: Jonathan D. Salant, Associated Press Writer Published: Thursday, July 10, 2003Copyright: 2003 Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:Christians For Cannabishttp://www.christiansforcannabis.com/Nation's Drug Czar Touts Faith-Based Programs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15974.shtmlBush's Focus on Antidrug Ministry Irks Some http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15537.shtmlWarning To States on Funding Faith-Based Charitieshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11781.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #12 posted by CElephais on July 11, 2003 at 09:35:21 PT GCW is right Not only is cannabis a plant, not a drug, biblically, but all of the other random reasons that churches give as to why people shouldn't use cannabis are misnomers as well. Biblically, you should eat it rather than smoke it (unless you ascribe to the cannabis as sacramental incense theory, which I usually just avoid due to the controversy), which would eliminate any health issues that could be caused by smoking it. Moreover, when churches site the health issues as a reason to not use, they tend to allude to "your body is God's temple". I don't have my Bible on hand (I'm at work) but GCW can confirm that the verse where Paul talks about your body being God's temple is right in the middle of 3 or 4 chapters worth of discussion about sexual sin. I believe it is 1 Cor 6:19-21 or somewhere around there that the God's temple argument is alluding to. in 6:18 you'll note that Paul declares immoral sex as the only sin against your own body. The health arguments on a religious level are moot when it comes to use of cannabis, as well as tobacco or any other naturally occuring chemical (as well as body piercing, tattoos etc) Then they go on about intoxication being bad, but never do they mention intoxication by anything but alcohol. Go figure, alcohol is worse than pot. The only valid argument to say that cannabis use is bad/sinful/evil is that it is illegal. However if you use it someplace where it is legal then there is no sin attached. Or if it gets legalized, then there is no sin attached. When a faith based anti-cannabis group/member comes at you, jump right into the religious aspect of it and challenge them to find anything in the bible that says using cannabis is wrong. Point out all of their potetnial arguments before they even figure them out themselves and then give your rebuttal. If we get these religious groups to realize they don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to cannabis use, then maybe something could be done about getting the right wing government to figure it out. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by The GCW on July 10, 2003 at 19:12:11 PT Make note of which preachers consider cannabis a "drug", when it is Biblically considered plant.Clergy, that considers cannabis different than the way it is told on the very 1st page of the Bible, are not walking in the Truth.Failing clergy, on this issue are, however, walking with the world. Walking with the man of lawlessness.Truth is, cannabis is good, Biblically. To have clergy say otherwise, is wicked. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on July 10, 2003 at 17:50:30 PT Who's Not Dead? Well Sir Mick Jagger is still kicking. My favorite, Neil Young is doing just fine! Aren't they around the age of the Vice President? Need I say more? [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Richard Paul Zuckerm on July 10, 2003 at 16:57:12 PT: corvalliseric This wonderful all natural plant, which the DEA recently expressed an interest in wiping off the face of this planet, has been used in religion for a long time, according to The Emperor Wears No Clothes, www.jackherer.com, and various articles in www.hightimes.com! Indoctrinated, ignorant, sanctimonious, semi-robots who mimic the government, bible thumpers, who lump Cannabis with all other drugs as if all drugs are equally dangerous and useless. Religion is another tool by government for social engineering. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by delariand on July 10, 2003 at 15:23:57 PT oh, sure Inhaling cannabis can kill from the first use... just look at all the dead stoners all over the world! Cripes, the canals of Amsterdam are clogged with bodies, it's an epidemic!Or wait... no it isn't... [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by CorvallisEric on July 10, 2003 at 13:17:47 PT Quote without comment from the faith website Oftentimes, youth begin experimenting with marijuana, inhalants or ecstasy, believing that these drugs are harmless. In reality, these drugs are quite harmful and may kill - even on the first use.http://www.theantidrug.com/faith/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 10, 2003 at 11:54:09 PT Paul Moms are good at saying just the right thing at the right time! I haven't been watching American news much. I really like the Canadian News. They do so many interesting stories. I learn new things when I watch Canadian News. Our news is more entertainment then real news. It's a real shame too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by paulpeterson on July 10, 2003 at 11:45:53 PT FoM My mom is fine. Now she is mad at me for not being home for the last month or so. Maybe I should not have healed her? She is now more anxious for my help in numerous projects. Oh well. It was all worth it to hear her chide our Presbyterian minister (in Iowa, that is) about the real identity of the "tree of life". You should have seen that conservative minister's eyes. Then mom told him about those 9 million mostly women burned at the stake after the pope's pogram of 1484. Then I got to tell his lovely wife I am starting a pot church. She tried really hard not to react, but her eyes just sort of glazed over.I still am friends with numerous police commanders on this issue. I believe that ALL POLICE now know the truth, some are just more hesitant to do justice than to follow the lead.Just remember where we are in time. Stage 1: idea is dismissed as bunk, without any even discussion. Stage 2: bitter resentment and opposition to a new idea (as we move closer to acceptance, the opposition may grow stronger-that seems to be where we are on this one right now). Stage 3: calm acceptance of an idea as fact.Stage 3 for alcohol prohibition came when juries and judges started to refuse to exact harsh penalties for the proscribed conduct. These recent case results show how close we are. Why now, police in Canada are trying to gain access to the grower data to help them to stop CARNAGE in bad busts. Then we have the recent Alaska case where the state CONSTITUTION was found to allow pot possession at home, with the voter initiative from 90 INVALID since it can't overrule the consititution! What I am wondering is, HOW COME IT TOOK 13 YEARS FOR A LAWYER TO USE THAT ARGUMENT?The really beautiful thing is, although the war-mongering American people sheepishly went along with goon Bush to go off to war, now this guy is getting BROILED so bad, the bad press will likely inflame the same American people to discredit his other ideas, like his illogical stand in the drug war. Let's just hope this tide keeps turning.(I'm just sorry to see those thousands of battle weary troops getting clocked by the locals in Iraq-ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DOSE FOR ANXIETY WITH THE BEST DRUG AVAILABLE ON THIS CONTINENT-That would be BC bud, of course). [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 10, 2003 at 11:09:01 PT Paul It's true! Things are changing slow but sure and continued good luck to you! Hope your Mom is doing ok too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by paulpeterson on July 10, 2003 at 11:03:48 PT FoM Thanks for noticing. I'm also noticing a noticable trend towards decriminalization here. Like Ed getting a felony conviction and only a one day sentence. Like Brenda Kratovil of Lake County, Illinois, getting a one year supervision for growing 25 large plants (even though it was a felony conviction, she agreed to this deal so her felony conviction appeal can proceed). Or like the guy with charges dropped for one gram.Thanks, of course, to you guys in Canada really setting the tone here.(By the way, I am still awaiting a decision from the ethical goons here on my draconian suspension from lawyering due to my advocacy efforts and atempts to STOP FRAUD). cHOW [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on July 10, 2003 at 10:43:49 PT Hi Paul Good to see you! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by paulpeterson on July 10, 2003 at 10:36:08 PT CHURCH OF THE TREE OF LIFE This is real funny, to see the fed goons stumping for "faith based" initiatives against sacramental use.Why, right now I am asking a federal judge to OK my marijuana religion. That same federal judge is asked to force the FBI to investigate obtuse PERJURY & MAIL FRAUD on the part of the Illinois Supreme Court & their lawyer "regulatory" people. At the same time the FBI has been reported to have a "sweetheart deal" with the same Illinois Supreme Court people, who agreed to look the other way to allow an FBI lawyer to conduct a sting of lawyers doing a fraudulent auto accident scheme (which required the FBI lawyer to lie in COURT DOCUMENTS about his false identity).Remember that there is a federal law requiring all federal lawyers to comply with state "ethical" guidelines, meaning that lawyers can't lie in court documents. (McDade law). But wait a minute here, that means that the FBI won't be willing to investigate the ISC, because that would cause the ISC to then retaliate against the FBI goon that lied, right?Back at the ranch, of course, there is the "Relgious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993" which has been used to confirm the status of Rastafarians on the west coast to use marijuana as a sacrament on federal enclaves. The 7th Circuit just ruled that the RFRA is presumed good law unless the DOJ argues otherwise. This means, roundly, that the DOJ will have to either agree to my claims or to otherwise argue their own law is unconstitutional.Would John Ashcroft actually come out and say a law meant to foster religious freedoms is BAD LAW?To cut to the chase, my church will have a FAITH BASED INITIATIVE to help teach kids about the dangers of drugs & alcohol, and further to encourage responsible cannabis use, such that the cannabis enhances consiousness, rather than merely being used for pleasure, etc. Gee, George, can you help fund my programs too?End of story, stay tuned, somewhere in the midwest. PAUL [ Post Comment ] Post Comment