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? Of course not. However, those who employed a drug in order to worship false god's, or attempt to use drugs to enchant, cast spells, or enhance their spirituality are guilty of idolatry...putting a substance ahead of God in worship.
Is alcohol a drug? It certainly alters the mind. If so, was Jesus guilty of "witchcraft"? He certainly drank wine, and administered it.
Drinking wine is clearly not condemned by God. However, there are limits on it's use in religious ceremonies. For example, the priesthood in Israel was warned not to drink at all before entering the presence of God in the tabernacle:
Lev 10:8 And the LORD spoke unto Aaron, saying, Lev 10:9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations:
In new testament times, wine is used symbolically (for those not Roman Catholic) to represent the blood of Christ in the Passover ceremony.
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?
Everyone is denied the kingdom of Heaven unless they worship the one, true God. I'm not arguing that cannibas wasn't used. Lots of things were and are used by pagans. However what is missing, at least biblically, is any reference to smoking, eating or otherwise getting high with marijuana. An interesting omission if pot was as widely used as you say it was.
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.
This is kind of an oversimplification of what Christ taught. For example:
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.
Certainly drunkeness is caused by a substance going into your body and yet we see that it apparently does matter what someone puts into their body.
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?
I was neutral or positive toward it for a long time when I didn't acknowledge God. I was against for a number of years before I acknowledged God when I figured out that it had retarded my growth as a person and when I saw it's negative impact on family members and friends who still smoked. When I became a Christian, it soon became crystal clear who was really pushing marijuana on people.
You might note that we're both guilty of the fifth transgression.
Not the way I see it. I'm attempting to inform you of my position and why marijuana use isn't Godly behavior.
I understand you to say:
1) Taking a substance that alters the normal perception is considered to worship a false god
2) Alcohol in wine is OK because it was widespread and Jesus used it
3) Anyone who ingests cannabis is ipso facto a pagan, removed from the one true God and denied the Kingdom of Heaven
4) Intoxicants in general are OK if not used solely for their intoxicating effect
5) When one becomes aware of God, God communicates that the herb cannabis He created is evil
6) When one has received Christ and serves the One Who sent Him, one is allowed to say his personal experience is the way of God.
Have I summed it up correctly?
You're guilty of the fifth transgression because you attempt to defend a belief built on questionable foundation.
A bonus question for you: Does cannabis sativa bear seed?
