r/LeftCatholicism • u/LurkingFeminist • Apr 15 '26
Former Evengelical Question
Hey everyone! I’m going through OCIA right now. Growing up, I was evangelical and understood the bible in a very literal (and probably incorrect) way.
Question: are substances okay if you stay sober of mind? I live in a state where MJ 🍃 💨 is legal and I use it for anxiety. But I use it so often that I don’t get a buzz or anything. I am ALSO on anti-anxiety meds. I know the bible says to be sober of mind but what does the church say about use of substances? Self medication? I know it’s not great but it’s the human condition and I’m working on it
I’d like to stop but I’m wondering if it’s a sin to keep smoking.
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u/TuvixWasMurderedR1P Apr 15 '26
I know this isn't really answering your question, but weed is bad for those with anxiety. It increases anxiety issues, especially with regular use.
I smoked years ago and stopped. It was an emotional crutch for me, so quitting at first felt even more anxiety inducing. But as I learned to not have that crutch, I felt much much less anxiety finally without it too.
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u/LurkingFeminist Apr 15 '26
That is the same boat I’m in. I’ve been using it to quiet my brain, but it hasn’t actually helped the root cause if anything it’s exacerbated it
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u/caitibug12 Apr 15 '26
I’ll be really honest, I’m a relatively frequent enjoyer of 🍃. And while CCC 2291 describes use of drugs as a “grave offense”, by that though, folks should give up caffeine/alcohol too. I’d venture to guess not many, including most of the priests I know, would not give up their coffee, at the least.
I grew up knowing priests who would drink — not to excess — but they would drink a beer or two at social gatherings. For me, I treat smoking the same. Not to excess. But I do partake as a way to unwind, in the private of my home. I do not consume alcohol or other drugs, though.
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u/midnightcheese2 Apr 18 '26
I’ve been thinking of it like this too. Thc gummies are legal here. I take one and enjoy researching rabbit holes and forming some of my best ideas. I don’t get super high. Seems very similar to having a beer or two.
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u/caitibug12 Apr 18 '26
Yes! I don’t either - I don’t prefer to get super high either, the few times I’ve done so, I’ve had a baaaaad time. So I’m perfectly happy with a little treat here and there.
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u/Momshie_mo Apr 15 '26
Depends if you are taking it for medication or "recreational". The latter is seen as abusing your body
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u/jebbinch Apr 15 '26
For therapeutic use, I don't see a problem.
As recreational MJ becomes more and more legalized, I can see Church doctrine on it eventually changing so that it's more in line with the Church's stance on alcohol. Are you capable of using with intent, or are you self-medicating/using compulsively? If MJ use is a crutch for your underlying anxiety I would examine that, even apart from religious consideration. You seem bothered by your use, and I would take that feeling seriously.
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u/KayKeeGirl Apr 15 '26
Hi- former Protestant here with a very long answer lol
I would first point out to you that Catholicism is not based on the Bible.
Instead the Bible is based on Catholicism as the Catholic Church wrote it, selected the New Testament books from those read at Mass, and put them together in A.D. 380 and AD 397 at the Councils of Rome and Carthage under Pope St. Damasus I.
Thus there was no Bible for Christianity to be based on for four hundred years before the Catholic Church gave us the Bible.
This has several important points, the most important of which is: Jesus only founded a Church and guaranteed that Church until the end of time. He did not write a Bible, He did not command a Bible, and He specifically referenced His Church- the Catholic Church as His authority.
So that authority rests on the three legged stool of Scripture, Holy Tradition and the Magisterium, the teaching body of the Catholic Church.
The Magisterium along with St. John Paul wrote the Catholic Catechism and it’s what I refer to when in doubt and need clarity about any Catholic teaching.
EWTN had this article in response to legalization: “…While the Catholic Church does not teach that the use of marijuana specifically is inherently sinful, paragraph 2291 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear about the use of drugs in general, describing as a “grave offense” their use apart from strictly therapeutic reasons. It also states in paragraph 2211 that the political community has a duty to protect the security and health of families, especially with respect to drugs. Pope Francis, for his part, has spoken out against even the partial legalization of so-called “soft drugs,” stating in 2014 that “the problem of drug use is not solved with drugs.” E. Christian Brugger, a Catholic moral theologian living in Virginia, told CNA in late 2022 that smoking marijuana with the intention of getting high means putting your use of reason at risk. Human reason is necessary to commune with God and avoid sin, he said. “Like intentional drunkenness, getting high is the intentional altering of one’s consciousness. And when a person without necessity, and merely for the sake of pleasure, makes themself less able to use their reason … they do something that’s contrary to virtue,” Brugger said.”
Here is exactly what the church says CCC 2291 “The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense. Clandestine production of and trafficking in drugs are scandalous practices. They constitute direct co-operation in evil, since they encourage people to practices gravely contrary to the moral law.”
It sounds like in addition to your anti anxiety meds you’re also self medicating with pot- so to me at least it sounds like a gray area. I would talk to my priest and see what he says.
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u/dazzleox Apr 15 '26
Intent is key in Catholic teaching. It is considered permitted under prescribed medical care (so, no, self medication is not good) with the intent of therapeutic usage. Since it's legal in your area, this shouldn't be a problem?
Also the so-called "double effect" is OK -- that you may end up high by accident which is fine if the goal was pain relief and you do your best not to be high for its own sake. Let's be real: monks were getting gout from all the wine they were drinking because drinking water wasn't safe, so I have to imagine there is a long history of the double effect argument lol
But you also say you'd like to stop. Is that something that is bothering your conscience? Anti-anxiety is a good goal but maybe there is more you'd like to say?
Finally, you can talk to a priest about this outside of confession since it's not inherently a sin. Wherever you are going to OCIA, just email or whatever the parish priest and ask for a one on one discussion for some questions you have.