Marijuana for religious purposes? (sorry got deleted)?

Question

Why can we drink alcohol & smoke cigarettes for recreational purposes but Rastafarians cannot smoke marijuana for legitimate religious purposes? They don't sanction the abuse of marijuana as we don’t sanction the abuse of alcohol or cigarettes, so wouldn't laws and regulations be a little more fair? After all young children are given wine during communion and that’s obviously underage drinking but for religious purposes it is ok. It is kept within reason, as would the smoking of marijuana. Why are we keeping them from expressing their religious rights?
Just because they're not the most mainstream religion doesn't mean we should ignore their rights. Also their rights should be extended to them where ever they are. If christians can preach and worship in Africa why can't rastafarians practice their faith here as well as anywhere? I think we should show respect to every being and their religious beliefs.

Please do not judge one another..

Answer 1

Well, I don't think marijuana should be illegal anyway but as it is, lots of people would claim to be Rastafarian on forms or to the cops when caught smoking pot. Then the cops couldn't arrest/fine them. You couldn't simply ask them to tell you something about their religion either because you don't have to know anything about a religion to claim it as your religion of choice. You can't bring multiple countries laws into the question though or it becomes a lot more complex as I could just say that you can in Amsterdam.

I noticed at least one person mentioned Native Americans not being able to use peyote. This is simply not true, if you are a Native American, and are in a tribe (you get a card) then you can use, but not grow peyote legally. I hadn't thought about that, but since it is true, that makes me wonder even more why Rastafarians can't smoke pot.

Answer 2

Someone commented that First Nations people aren't even allowed to use peyote...well, that simply is incorrect. Under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, native peoples can use peyote for sacramental purposes legally. And, in the last year or so, the Supreme Court decided that members of the Uniao de Vegetal, a Brazilian religion, can use the potent hallucinogenic drink, ayahuasca, for their religious rituals. It would seem then that cannabis for religious purposes would be legal too, but there are two primary problems that distinguish it from the two former cases.

Both ayahuasca and peyote are completely too powerful to ever become popular for everyday, recreational use. The vast majority of users ONLY consume these things for ritual purposes. However, the problem with marijuana is that, even among those who do use it sacramentally, it is also used recreationally at other times. The government has apparently decided that this distinction merits continuing prohibition of marijuana use then for all reasons, even religious.

The other big problem for marijuana is that the government, historically, has had a unique fixation on prohibiting this plant, much more so than any other substance humans consume. While the historical reasons for this obsession are too lengthy to discuss here, it appears reasonable to assume that the situation is unlikely to change anytime soon.

Answer 3

I think you make a good point about freedom of religion and the control of substances like marijuana. However, it's probably worthwhile to note that even if the Rastafarian religion was allowed to use marijuana for religious purposes, they would probably exclude most people from taking part. Rastafarianism is about a whole lot more than smoking pot, and their beliefs at the most fundamental are about the racial purity and holiness of the black man, and the overthrow of a world society and economy that they see as being corrupt and representative of Babylon, a threat to all that they hold most holy.

As other people have pointed out, freedom of religion and belief is one thing, freedom to use legally controlled substances or do legally questionable things is another. Forget about using rastafarianism as a method of getting pot legalized, and jsut make it legal for everyone, regardless of religious belief.

Answer 4

Maybe this American society whose populace predominantly self identifies as Christian is operating in accord with a model of self and world divided by a spiritual conflict between a good one in Heaven and an evil one cast down to and ruling over Earth. As such this American society tends to believe that Rastafarians and any other religious groups that are not sufficiently Christian will be judged by a good one in Heaven in the end times to be evil, and that those seeking to use narcotics in the present day during the course of their ritual ceremonies are doing so for possibly evil, abusive and or lawless purposes.

Answer 5

I am all for it. I have been reading about rastafarianism for a while and I agree, america lets everyone else practice there religion and vices but not them. I agree.

Answer 6

I don't have an opinion on this, but I just want to throw this out there:
What if a religion sanctioned murder or stealing? Should it be allowed because it's a religious belief? I know that's an extreme example, but I just want to show a different view...

Answer 7

Good point. I dont knw much or anything at all about rastafarians but they should be able to practice their religion openly.

Answer 8

rastafari is one of the worlds most peaceful religions, they also read the bible but from a different view. with that said, the US gov't cannot have such a peaceful religion "infect" the people because if "he" smokes the erb "he" does not want to fight in wars.

Answer 9

Ah yes - can you see the mainstream Christians in your answers??? "Ridiculous" and "Its against the LAW!"

Yes, in our country - anything remotely non-christian is against the law - so much for separation of Church and state. Native Americans arent even allowed use of Peyote in their religious ceremonies...... damn lawmakers...

Answer 10

They won't even let the indigenous people of america use peyote in their native practices what makes you think they will let rastas use Mary Jane?