[DouglasKC]

Do you have any evidence, research, reasoning or Biblical passages at all that validate this idiotic idea? Archangels carrying messages? Words of God?

Historically, mind altering drugs have been used in pagan religious ceremonies for eons. God, however, prohibited the use of such substances by those who want to worship him. For example:

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

See the word in red? The word translated "witchcraft" is actually the greek word:

pharmakeia
Thayer Definition:
1) the use or the administering of drugs
2) poisoning
3) sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it
4) metaphorically the deceptions and seductions of idolatry

This is of course where we derive our english word "pharmacy". Pagan practices have never had a place in God's kingdom.

Another way I know that this is true is that I used to smoke pot. At the time I smoked I didn't see anything wrong with it. In fact, for years after I stopped I longed to smoke it again. But of course that's the drug, and Satan, working. Once I became a Christian, it was very apparent exactly what marijuana is.

A counterfeit form of religious that doesn't require God. Ask yourself why most Godless liberals are all for legalizing and smoking dope and why all the legalization efforts are spearheaded by leftists.

I suspect you won't be satisfied with my answer. There is no definitive way to prove a spiritual matter other than the physical results it brings.

[William Terrell]

Gosh, if I've seen this canard once, I've seen it a hundred times.

The use or administering of drugs. As in pharmacy. What kind of drugs? The Greek pharmacopoeia at that time was extensive. It contained many herbs and potions to relieve various illnesses. Were all those who administered a drug (herb) as, say, diuretic denied the kingdom of Heaven?

Is alcohol a drug? It certainly alters the mind. If so, was Jesus guilty of "witchcraft"? He certainly drank wine, and administered it.

Do you realize that cannabis was in the pharmacopoeia in many parts of the world, and most likely in that part of the world? It is in the English and American today as well? Poppy was used, too, (from the north, I guess) as a physician administered substance. Were the physicians in Israel and Europe denied the kingdom of Heaven?

You've got four meanings for the use of the Greek word. The first two are related and the first describes a benign use, the second a malevolent use. The second two are related and the third describes the actual acts of idolatry, the fourth metaphorical use to give another act that color.

None of it has to do with taking herbs and potions that have the effect of altering your mind. The reference to witchcraft in Galatians means two and three, obviously, as poisoning another or denying God and faith by using rickety old rituals to directly affect the world and others.

One could have said in Greek, referring to a well respected physician, "He practices witchcraft", "witchcraft" being pronounced "pharmakeia".

We know what Jesus taught. One of the things that He taught was the things that go into a man don't defile a man, but what comes out of a man defiles the man.

The rest here is your experience. My experience was quite different.

Were you, at first, neutral to or positive toward cannabis, then became aware of the hidden meaning of the word "witchcraft", thereupon you slapped your forehead and said, "Ohmygosh, cannabis is the route to Satan", and were against it at that point?

Or did you have already have the bias, maybe generated by finding out it was wrong for you, and were glad to have something from the Bible against it to justify denying it to others?

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies

You might note that we're both guilty of the fifth transgression.