Marijuana use is more common than ever. In 2021 about 19% of Americans used weed at least once. Shifting attitudes and legalization have made marijuana socially and culturally normalized in American culture. Of those who weekly attend religious services, 29% see marijuana use as Very or Somewhat positive (Gallup Poll). As a result, many Christians find themselves asking themselves: What does the Bible say about using marijuana?
The Bible does not mention marijuana directly. Instead, scripture offers broader principles about sobriety, self-control, obedience to authority and avoiding behaviors that impair judgment or cause harm. Because the question is not answered with a single verse, Christians must evaluate this modern issue using the biblical framework.
Before drawing conclusions, it helps to look at how the Bible approaches intoxication, personal freedom, and responsibility – and how those teaching might apply to marijuana use today.
Cannabis in the Bible
People have been using marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes for thousands of years. The cannabis plant is one of the oldest crops. Archaeologists have found marijuana paraphernalia as far back as 2,500 years ago in China, India, Africa and Assyria. In fact, there’s even some evidence that marijuana was used for its hallucinogenic effects in ancient Israel.
Marijuana use was likely a contemporary issue when the books of the Bible were written, yet the Scriptures were silent on the topic.
Does this mean that using marijuana recreationally is a theologically sound practice? Not necessarily. There may not be an explicit verse in the Bible about weed or getting high, but it has plenty to say about similar vices, such as alcohol. These cautions against getting drunk and losing the ability to make sound judgments would probably apply to activities like smoking marijuana as well.
Marijuana Can Be a Powerful Vice
At first glance, the increasing popularity of weed may raise concerns about addiction. However, the truth is that about nine out of 10 people who use marijuana don’t develop an addiction to it. Particularly among those who didn’t begin using weed until adulthood, quitting marijuana is easy compared to quitting harder drugs such as cocaine or heroin.
Addiction to medical marijuana may be rare, but about 30 percent of those who use weed have some degree of marijuana use disorder. This is similar to dependence, which is when an individual experiences withdrawal symptoms when they’re not using a drug.
Common Withdrawal Symptoms in Regular Users
Those who use marijuana regularly and then stop may experience withdrawal related symptoms such as:
- Irritability
- Sleep disruptions
- Nervousness
- Decreased appetite
- Food cravings
- Depressed mood
- Difficulty regulating mood
- Anxiety
- Restlessness and physical discomfort
- Digestive issues
These symptoms can last up to two weeks after quitting weed, making it very difficult to abstain. Particularly as marijuana products have become more concentrated – marijuana use disorders have become more commonly reported.
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Biblical Perspective on Recreational Marijuana Use and Self-Control
In 1 Corinthians 6:12 (ESV), Paul says,
12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
The Bible doesn’t specifically mention addiction or marijuana use disorder. However, this verse can apply to marijuana use and the hold that it can have over someone. While weed use may technically be permissible according to the New Testament’s law of grace, its benefits may be questionable in a recreational context, particularly if it begins to influence judgment, motivation, or self-control. This distinction between freedom and self-mastery is also why many Christians compare marijuana use to alcohol in Scripture.
Marijuana vs. Alcohol
The Bible does not directly address marijuana use, so Christians often rely on broader biblical principles when considering whether using weed is wise or sinful. One of the clearest parallels Scripture offers is its repeated warning against drunkenness.
While marijuana and alcohol are not the same substance, both can produce a mind-altering state that impairs judgment, self-control and decision making. For that reason, many theologians view the Bible’s cautions about intoxication as relevant when considering marijuana use as well.
In Proverbs 23:20 (ESV), Scripture cautions,
20 Be not among drunkards
or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
In Ephesians 5:18 (ESV), Paul says
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
The Danger Is in the Dose
Obviously, there isn’t a direct connection between alcohol and marijuana. An individual can drink a small amount of alcohol without becoming drunk. In a two-hour period, the average woman can have four alcoholic drinks, and the average man can have five before their blood alcohol level reaches 0.08. In most states, an individual is legally intoxicated at this blood alcohol level.
The Bible doesn’t forbid drinking – only drunkenness. Many Christians abstain from alcohol to avoid the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). However, some drink with self-control and moderation. Those who only have a couple of drinks may be able to do so with a clear conscience if drinking doesn’t lead to drunkenness.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 (ESV)
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
This verse is often cited by believers who choose abstinence to avoid practices that could impair judgment or spiritual clarity.
For marijuana, a much lower dosage creates a state of intoxication. In fact, it takes just 7 milligrams of THC to make the individual high. Depending on their weight and other personal factors, this is between four and eight puffs of a marijuana cigarette. In theory, very small amounts of THC may not produce noticeable intoxication. However, in most cases, the purpose of smoking pot is to get high, so many Christians conclude that smoking even a small amount of weed is a sin.
CBD, THC, and the Question of Intoxication
Cannabis is not a single substance, but much of the debate centers on THC, the compound responsible for marijuana’s intoxicating effects. THC alters perception, judgment and cognitive functions which is why its most often compared to drunkenness in biblical discussions.
CBD (cannabidiol) by contrast, does not produce the same psychoactive high. It is commonly used for pain, inflammation, anxiety, and seizure disorders, and many CBD products contain little to no THC. Because CBD does not impair judgment or induce intoxication some Christians view it’s medical use differently than recreational marijuana use. Scripture repeatedly warns against intoxication and loss of self-control, but it also allows for medical care and treatment of illness. As with many modern substances, the question is less about the plant itself and more about intent, dosage and effect.
Marijuana Use Can Lead to Impaired Decision Making
While marijuana is often viewed as relatively harmless, an increasing body of research points to impaired decision-making and cognition. One study notes that chronic weed use disrupts normal decision-making processes. It influences the individual’s impulsivity, their ability to switch between cognitive tasks, and their working memory. Like alcohol, marijuana can impact the individual’s cognitive function and affect their ability to complete necessary tasks.
Deciding Whether Using Weed Is a Sin
Because Scripture addresses intoxication and self-control rather than specific substances, conclusions Christians draw are based on broader biblical principles rather than explicit prohibition. The question is less about finding a single verse and more about how marijuana use aligns with values like self-control, sobriety, and responsibility.
Rather than asking whether smoking weed is permissible, Scripture often pushes believers to consider the broader impact of their choices.
Consideration for Others and Personal Witness
One important factor the Bible emphasizes is how personal behavior affects others.
Romans 14:20 (ESV) states,
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.
In it’s original context, this passage addresses disputes over food that was once considered unclean. However, the principles extends beyond diet. Paul’s concern is whether a believer’s freedom could unintentionally harm someone else’s faith.
Applied to marijuana, a person may feel justified in their own use if it does not impair judgment or lead to dependence. Yet, that use could still influence others, particularly those vulnerable to substance misuse. In situations where marijuana use could contribute to another person’s relapse or spiritual struggle, many Christians conclude that abstaining is the more loving and responsible choice.
The Bible on Obeying the Laws of the Land
Another biblical consideration when evaluating marijuana use is obedience to civil law. Scripture consistently instructs believers to respect governing authorities and follow the laws under which they live.
Romans 13:1-2 (ESV) Paul says,
13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Paul teaches that governing authorities are instituted by God, and resisting them carries consequences. Similar guidance appears in Hebrews 13:17 and 1 Peter 2:13 reinforcing the expectation that Christians live as law-abiding citizens.
Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
1 Peter 2:13 (ESV)
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,[a] whether it be to the emperor[b] as supreme,
The laws governing marijuana use vary widely by location so whether a Christian can legally use weed depends on where they live. In some states recreational use is legal; in others, only medicinal use is permitted. Further complicating the situation, it may be illegal but decriminalized.
From a biblical standpoint, this distinction matters. When marijuana use violates local law many Christians conclude that abstinence is not just a personal preference but an act of obedience. Where use is legal, the question shifts away from legality and toward wisdom, self-control and the broader spiritual questions discussed earlier.
Given how frequently marijuana laws change, believers who travel should be mindful that what is permitted in one place may be prohibited in another. Ultimately, Christians are called to honor God not only through personal conviction but also through respect for lawful authority.
Thought Leaders on Marijuana Use
While scripture remains the ultimate authority for Christians, many theologians and pastors have reflected on how principles of temperance, enjoyment and self-control apply to modern substances.
- St Augustine in On Christian Doctrine says the following, Book 1 Chapter 4-5
For to enjoy a thing is to rest with satisfaction in it for its own sake. To use, on the other hand, is to employ whatever means are at one’s disposal to obtain what one desires, if it is a proper object of desire, for an unlawful use ought rather to be called abuse. […] We have wandered far from God; and if we wish to return to our Father’s home, this world must be used, not enjoyed, that so the invisible things that are made, — that is, that by means of what a material and temporary we may lay hold upon that which is spiritual and eternal.
The true objects of enjoyment, then, are the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, who are at the same time the trinity.
- C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity, speaking on the topic of Temperance
An individual Christian may see fit to give up all sorts of things for special reasons—marriage, or meat, or beer, or the cinema; but the moment he starts saying the things are bad in themselves, or looking down his nose at other people who do use them, he has taken the wrong turning.One great piece of mischief has been done by the modern restriction of the word Temperance to the question of drink. It helps people to forget that you can be just as intemperate about lots of other things. A man who makes his golf or his motor-bicycle the centre of his life, or a woman who devotes all her thoughts to clothes or bridge or her dog, is being just as ‘intemperate’ as someone who gets drunk every evening.Of course, it does not show on the outside so easily: bridge-mania or golf-mania do not make you fall down in the middle of the road. But God is not deceived by externals. - John Piper on The Church’s role in Marijuana Legalization
The primary focus [of the church] should be to do what only the Bible and only the gospel and only the Holy Spirit and the truth and Jesus can do in transforming human beings into the kind of Christ-exalting, Spirit-dependent, God-glorifying people who freely choose not to use drugs — whether caffeine or alcohol or cannabis or cocaine or meth or heroin — to escape into a world where Christ is less clearly perceived, and the Scriptures are less understood and precious, and the Spirit is less personal, and the glory of God is less satisfying, and the way of righteousness is less defined, and the path of obedience is less compelling. We want Christians who freely reject anything that would put them in that kind of mindset. - John Calvin, Commenting on 1 Peter 5:8 said,
Surfeiting (over-indulging) produces sloth and sleep; even so they who indulge in earthly cares and pleasures, think of nothing else, being under the power of spiritual lethargy.
More Bible Verses To Help Determine If Smoking Weed Is A Sin
Though Scripture does not address marijuana directly, it repeatedly emphasizes themes that are relevant when Christians evaluate any mind-altering substance. The following passages are often referenced when believers reflect on self-control, sobriety and honoring the body God has given them.
Galatians 5:19-21 (ESV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,[a] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do[b] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
This passage highlights behaviors associated with the loss of self-control and excess. While marijuana is not mentioned, many Christians view intoxication of any kind through this lens.
1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV)
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
This verse is often cited in discussions about health and taking care of your body, which may be relevant considering substances that affect your mental and physical well-being
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
The call to sobriety here is commonly understood as both spiritual and practical, reinforcing the importance of discernment and clear judgment.
Before considering whether or not using marijuana is permissible, individuals should consider how it could affect their mental health, reputation and life’s focus. Seeking counsel from a trusted pastor, mentor or spiritual leader can also help bring clarity to this complex issue. Ultimately, it’s important for the Christian to remember to care for the body God has given them and live free from vices.
