True Christians recognize sinfulness of smoking pot

Opinion: February 3, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

The letter, “Prohibiting pot is anti-Christian,” would be laughable if it weren’t about such a serious and destructive habit. As Christians, we believe that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and that anyone who does harm to his own or other’s bodies is sinning against God, and God will judge them.

Now, as Christians, we don’t judge those outside the church because God will judge them, but there are certain things anyone can learn about the dangers of smoking marijuana.

I was raised in the Bronx and lived there for more than 40 years. When marijuana was introduced in the 1960s, I saw friends of mine who were completely destroyed by this drug. Many went on to other drugs and died of overdoses. Others were so brain-damaged from smoking marijuana that one friend of mine couldn’t do his job anymore and quit a good job and lost his pension.

Now, many drugs that help people are made from plants, but many of these have serious side effects. To smoke marijuana is worse than smoking regular cigarettes because users inhale more deeply and keep the smoke in for longer periods of time as well. If they can isolate, which I believe they have already, the ingredient that is good, it can help suffering people without the horrible side effects of smoking any kind of tobacco.

The people who are against legalization have seen the devastation of this illegal drug and that is why it was banned in the first place. There is a middle ground here, but people have to have a sensible, peaceful discussion and lay out all of the benefits and harm that legalization will have on people, their families, our communities and our country.

I remember all the pot heads in the Bronx smoking, choking and croaking all day long, and none of them is alive today. I also saw Jesus deliver many of these drug addicts, and today they no longer smoke this harmful drug. Just because God made something doesn’t mean it is good for you. It just might be a test to see if you want to do the right thing.

Leo Feher, Youngstown