Weed

[gimpy1031]

Hi, I have been reading a lot of books lately, and I only read in one of them that you should not smoke pot or use drugs. And the wiccan rede says an it harm none do as thee will. Smokeing weed is not harming anyone, so is smoking that bad?

[lucidfire]

its more preference, as opposed to doctrine or anything; such is the nature of paganism

[Danustouch]

I think it depends on ones interpretation of the Rede, AND one's interpretation of Harm.

I personally, do not see that it is agains the Rede. However, I am aware of some of the opposing views.

For instance, some would argue that marijuana is harmful to onesself, and in which case, thus, against "Harm None". There are other arguments too...entirely dependent on differen't variables. Such as...What if a person is driving while on it, and gets into a car accident, because their state is altered. ETC.

So I think it's a thing which is very interpretational.

[Flar's Freyja]

I wouldn't hold that it's against the Rede ~ but it IS against the law. And so many employers are drug testing now, it could realy get you into trouble.

I don't think it's a good idea to do magick while under the influence. It may seem like it enhances things, but I feel that artificial stimulation might interfere with your intent.

[Ravensnest]

It really is too wide open. I mean, technically almost any choice you make in life can ultimately do harm to another as every choice you make in life DOES ultimately affect someone else. Even when it doesn't seem it would. Our lives are really not as much "ours" as we'd like to believe.

I really don't think a choice to smoke weed is what the rede was about. But, the reality is that you can harm another smoking.. pain caused for a loved one watching someone get stoned all the time, someone being stoned all the time and not able to actively tend to their children, cigarettes are not the only second hand smoke.. but, all of that aside it is really a personal choice. I used to think (when I smoked weed) that it "enhanced" your creativity etc.. but, after I got straight again I walked into a room full of stoned people and you know what.. they were just goofy. lol

[Theres]

i've always said 'if you do it to party, then don't use it for magick, and vica versa'.
i don't think that the Rede forbids smoking pot, but it does have alot to do with personal responsibility. so i would heed Danustouch's advice.
personally, i NEVER EVER enter a circle in an artificially altered state. for one thing, it makes me very cynical (NOT conducive to magick), and for another it feels somewhat impolite. i mean, you invite the Gods over, and then show up stoned?

[ap Dafydd]

How can it be contrary to Wicca when Gerald Gardner recommended its use?

My only proviso would be to not mix recreational and ritual use of any substance - there's a difference between the two.

And to remember that Mr Plod will be _very_ interested in busting you!

gwyn eich byd

Ffred

[HetHert]

Don't forget that Scott Cunningham includes it in his book on magical herbs.

How can a religion that worships the world around you forbid something that comes from the ground. As with anything, use it responsibly and in moderation, and don't do anything because someone says you HAVE to. Use your best judgement when approaching anything that alters your mood or state of mind...just like with alchohol.

If someone uses marijuajna medicinally is it wrong for them to be in circle under the effect? Is it wrong for you to be in circle if your on anti-depressents/anxiety?

Just somethings to think about

TTFN
HetHert

[Acid09]

Responsibility is a key word I will delve into here:
Its a personal prefferance to smoke anything or not. When one does smoke they choose to accept any possible consequences, financial, legal, health. The word "harm" is debatable. I think "harm" in the context of "do what thou wilt, least it harm none" is really a matter of consequence and not morals. Each action one makes could potentially harm someone. Its the consequences of each action that can potentially violate the rede. Doing what you want is one thing. But doing what you want requires personal awareness to be responsible for your own actions. You want to get high so you do but as a result you end up driving somewhere and cause a car wreck. Had you not been high you probably would have avoided a car accident. The consequences of smoking weed caused harm to you and possibly others. Thus this would be an example of irresponsibilty. And that I think is what is considered wrong/harmful to wiccans.

Really I think the rede is less to do with specific morals and more about an emphisis on personal responsibility. That wiccans value mannaging personal choices more so than adhearing to a false perception of "right and wrong". Meaning so long as one is responsible for their own actions they can't really be doing anything "wrong" or amoral and that is right.

So if one smokes pot at a time when the pot may interfere with other decissions, wheather or not to go some where or take care of personal matters, then they are not being responsible with their actions and that violates the wiccan rede. In other words the topic could swing either way.

Examples of smoking pot that are irresponsible:
Driving and smoking weed or any situation in which you may have to drive. Smoking ahead of personal responsibilities; You need to baby sit to night but go off and get stoned with your buddies after school before then. Or you have school or work to go to. You have chores that need to be done. Or bills to pay.

Examples of when smoking weed is acceptably responsible:
Friday night nothing to do nowhere to go and a futurama marathon :).
Any situation where one knows they will not have to do anything weed may potentially interfere with.

While personal health can suffer because of drugs I think there are so many factors to personal health that smoking is really a minor issue compared to the barage of things that can affect it. However I do not think smoking weed is wrong. I think smoking it at certain times is irresponsible and that that is wrong/harmful to others.