Many Religious Denominations Endorse Medicinal Cannabis

Most Kansas residents would probably be surprised, if not downright shocked, to learn that most major Christian denominations in the US support, to some extent, the use of medical cannabis by patients whose doctors have suggested or recommended that they try it.

But think about it: Cannabis is just one of the many beneficial plants that our Creator provided for us. He also gave us cannabis receptors throughout our bodies, and even a form of cannabinoid, anandamide, that our bodies make. It would seem only reasonable, therefore, to believe that our Maker designed us to benefit from the use of this amazingly versatile medicinal plant.

Listed below are the religious denominations in the US which are known to have endorsed the use of medical cannabis, and their stated reasons for doing so.

• The Episcopal Church
  Position: Pro to the question "Should marijuana be a medical option?"
  Reasoning: "The Episcopal Church urges the adoption by Congress and all states of statutes providing that the use of marijuana [cannabis] be permitted when deemed medically appropriate by duly licensed medical practitioners." Read more

• The Presbyterian Church USA
  Position: Pro to the question "Should marijuana be a medical option?"
  Reasoning: The Presbyterian Church (USA) supports "the use of cannabis sativa or marijuana for legitimate medical purposes as recommended by a physician." Read more

• The United Church of Christ
  Position: Pro to the question "Should marijuana be a medical option?"
  Reasoning: "We believe that seriously ill people should not be subject to arrest and imprisonment for using medical marijuana with their doctors' approval." Read more

• The United Methodist Church
  Position: Pro to the question "Should marijuana be a medical option?"
  Reasoning: "Licensed medical doctors should not be punished for recommending the medical use of marijuana to seriously ill people, and seriously ill people should not be subject to sanctions for using marijuana if the patient's physician has told the patient that such use is likely to be beneficial." Read more

• The Union of Reform Judaism
  Position: Pro to the question "Should marijuana be a medical option?"
  Reasoning: The Union for Reform Judaism "urge[s] elected officials in the United States to support federal legislation and regulation to allow the medicinal use of marijuana for patients with intractable pain and other conditions, under medical supervision; call[s] for further medical research on marijuana and its constituent compounds with the goal of developing reliable and safe cannabinoid drugs for management of debilitating conditions; and [...] advocate[s] for the necessary changes in local, state and federal law to permit the medicinal use of marijuana and ensure its accessibility for that purpose." Read more

• The Unitarian Universalist Association
  Position: Pro to the question "Should marijuana be a medical option?"
  Reasoning: "We believe all medical and drug decisions should be made between doctors and patients, without either party being subject to criminal penalties." Read more

  Many thanks to Medical Marijuana Pro/Con.org for this information.