Drugs/Criminal Justice Passed General Election
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PEAPAC Recommends: NO

Scripture forbids drunkenness/intoxication; establishes a state bureaucracy; linked to crime.

Summary

Legalizes recreational marijuana use and creates a state regulatory system.

Biblical Reasoning

The Bible commands us to avoid drunkenness, which would include marijuana intoxication. God doesn’t want us drunk, nor does He want us high! These states of intoxication represent a movement away from self-control and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18).

At the same time, the Bible nowhere forbids all alcohol, nor should we. In fact it positively commends its use in moderation (Dt. 14:23-28; Ecc. 9:7; Ps. 104:15). It is clear to most Bible students that the Lord’s Supper itself, to be a weekly celebration on the Lord’s Day, is to include wine. Unlike alcohol, however, the only real purpose of recreational marijuana is to get high, with its accompanying loss of self-control.

Ephesians 5:18 — “These states of intoxication represent a movement away from self-control and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit”
Deuteronomy 14:23-28 — “positively commends its use in moderation”
Ecclesiastes 9:7 — “positively commends its use in moderation”
Psalm 104:15 — “positively commends its use in moderation”

Election Results

56%
44%
YesNo

Voters approved legalized marijuana (56% Yes).

Full PEAPAC Analysis

PEAPAC Explanation: Measure 91 Legalizes Recreational Marijuana

The Bible commands us to avoid drunkenness, which would include marijuana intoxication. God doesn’t want us drunk, nor does He want us high! These states of intoxication represent a movement away from self-control and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18). The civil government in America has thus punished public drunkenness since its founding.

At the same time, the Bible nowhere forbids all alcohol, nor should we. In fact it positively commends its use in moderation (Dt. 14:23-28; Ecc. 9:7; Ps. 104:15). It is clear to most Bible students that the Lord’s Supper itself, to be a weekly celebration on the Lord’s Day, is to include wine. Unlike alcohol, however, the only real purpose of recreational marijuana is to get high, with its accompanying loss of self-control. So we oppose this Measure.

Some may want to argue for the decriminalization of marijuana possession, seeing it as a different issue than its use. But we think that it would be unwise to rush into this. There is a context for all legislation which must be kept in mind, along with possible unintended consequences. For instance, some medical marijuana dispensers are actually against this Measure, believing that recreational use will make it difficult to maintain adequate supplies for those who need it for medicinal purposes. This Measure does not, after all, simply say that marijuana growth, possession and moderate use are all now legal. Rather, it sets up a whole state-run bureaucracy to manage these matters, meaning a free market will not be in play.

There are other factors that are simply unknown concerning this Measure. What are the long term health effects? Can an adequate, inexpensive, easy test for marijuana intoxication while driving or working be developed? What about addiction, and those studies that seem to point to long term memory loss and other possible brain effects? Law enforcement officials have told us repeatedly about a strong connection between marijuana use and crime. Perhaps all will be well, and these concerns will be answered. We now have two states, Washington and Colorado, who have legalized recreational use. Lets watch them and try to get solid answers to all the questions. We think even proponents of the thrust of this Measure should try a “wait and see” approach. Vote No on Measure 91

← PreviousMeasure 90 (2014)