Recent evidence has surfaced which reveals that John the Baptist was high on pot—descending in a cloud of marijuana smoke—when he conferred the priesthood upon Joseph and Oliver. Some may feel this is unbecoming of an angelic prophet, but I want to state for the record that I support John 100%.
To all the prudes and misinformed:
So John smoked pot. So what?
A List of Evidences in Favor of Pot
Latest CBS News Polls Finds Majority Of Western Voters, Californians, Back Marijuana Legalization by Paul Armentano, April 27, 2010
End Insanity Of The War on Drugs—Start With Decriminalizing Marijuana at The Federal Level by Ron Paul, April 20, 2010
Marijuana: Recreational drug or natural health miracle? by Kevin Genovario, April 19, 2010
Anti-Pot Propaganda As Stupid As Ever – Yet Our Alarmist Media Continues to Hype It by Paul Armentano, March 10, 2010
The Feds Are Addicted to Pot – Even If You Aren’t by Paul Armentano, December 18, 2009
Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People To Drink? by Mark Thornton, December 1, 2009
Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink? by Paul Armentano, August 12, 2009
Why Condemn Phelps, When We Ought to Condemn the Laws That Brand Him a Criminal by Paul Armentano, February 4, 2009
Drug War’s Latest Tally: 872,721 Pot Arrests, an All-Time High by Paul Armentano, September 17, 2008
Pot Versus the ‘Superbug’ by Paul Armentano, September 2, 2008
So Where Did All The Ditchweed Go? by Paul Armentano, August 11, 2008
20 Years for Pot Possession? by Paul Armentano, July 29, 2008
The Death of Rachel Hoffman by Paul Armentano, July 28, 2008
When It Comes To Medical Pot, Rats Are Smarter Than Our Politicians by Paul Armentano, July 22, 2008
So What If Pot Can Cure Cancer; That’s No Reason For You To Use It by Paul Armentano, July 19, 2008
What the Government Knows About Cannabis and Cancer – and Isn’t Telling You by Paul Armentano, June 26, 2008
Is Senator Kennedy a Victim of Pot Prohibition? by Paul Armentano, May 22, 2008
It’s Official: Gordon Brown and Jacqui Smith Have Lost Their Minds by Paul Armentano, May 15, 2008
How to Tell If the Drug Czar Is Lying? His Lips Are Moving by Paul Armentano, May 14, 2008
Setting the Record Straight on Marijuana and Addiction by Paul Armentano, March 31, 2008
Pot Makes You Lose Your Mind! by Paul Armentano, March 21, 2008
Outrageous Anti-Pot Lies: Media Uses Disgraceful Cancer Scare Tactics by Paul Armentano, March 11, 2008
Ending America’s Domestic Quagmire by Paul Armentano, March 10, 2008
The Lies of the Drug War by Paul Armentano, March 1, 2008
Making Pot Legal: We Can Do It – Here’s How by Paul Armentano, February 13, 2008
What’s the Going Price for a Joint? by Paul Armentano, February 5, 2008
‘Pot 2.0’: Where Can I Get Some? by Paul Armentano, November 2, 2007
Could Cannabis Quell Americans Addiction to Pain Meds? by Paul Armentano and Chris Goldstein, September 20, 2007
Nothing’s Either Good or Bad – Unless the State Says So by William Norman Grigg, July 2, 2007
It’s Been an ‘All Out War’ on Pot Smokers for 35 Years by Paul Armentano, March 23, 2007
White House Requests Increased Funding for Failed Student Drug-Testing, Discredited Anti-Pot Ads by Paul Armentano, February 10, 2007
A Billion Dollars a Year for Pot? by Paul Armentano, October 19, 2006
Medical Marijuana and the Ninth and Tenth Amendments byAnthony Gregory, October 5, 2006
Another Marijuana Myth Goes Up In Smoke by Paul Armentano, June 9, 2006
Cannabis and the Brain: A User’s Guide by Paul Armentano, March 2, 2006
NFL’s Buzzkill: No Beer at Giants Stadium by Paul Armentano, January 14, 2006
Here’s Your Cup, Junior by Paul Armentano, October 12, 2005
Bad Trip by Paul Armentano, March 22, 2005
Crimes of the Other War by Paul Armentano, February 8, 2005
High Court Must Take Lead in Medical Marijuana Debate Because Politicians Will Not by Paul Armentano, November 30, 2004
Terror War Takes a Back Seat to War on Drugs by Paul Armentano, October 30, 2004
Exposing Potent Pot Myths by Paul Armentano, October 21, 2004
Federal Drug Use Surveys and Fuzzy Math by Paul Armentano, September 22, 2004
Unlocking a Cure for Cancer – With Pot by Paul Armentano, August 17, 2004
Complete List of Articles authored by LDS Anarchist
14 Comments
LDS Anarchy 
I drafted this post after I wrote the previous John the Baptist one, but didn’t have the urge to publish it right away. Tom recently wrote an article on marijuana on his blog, and so I thought that maybe it would be a good time to remove the cyber-dust that had collected on this post and throw it out into the void.
I learned yesterday that in California there is a measure on the November 2 ballot called Proposition 19 that will legalize marijuana. And, according to the polls, it might actually pass. Lol. Will the California saints see another memo read in sacrament meeting, calling for them to contribute time and money to make sure the measure doesn’t pass? If this becomes law in California, surely the rest of the nation will follow. I wonder if brother Thomas is concerned about the real possibility of members showing up to church (legally) high as a kite? Or taking a pot smoking break in the middle of meetings? Or engaging in family home evening pot parties? Will this forever change how we view break the fast pot luck dinners? There is no provision in the word of wisdom against using marijuana. The only barrier is its legality. Will there be pot talks given tomorrow and Sunday during GC, I wonder? Lol.
Ah, yes, it does indeed appear that the Lord is getting us ready to be more easily assimilated into the peace pipe culture of the Indians…
Well, let’s see — beer is legal, yet I don’t think brother Thomas is kept up at night worrying about members showing up drunk as skunks to sacrament.
If pot is legalized, then they’ll just issue some statement about how we should “go the way of the world” and how the “Lord has already spoken” concerning drugs in the Word of Wisdom — it’s a principle remember.
I just heard Elder Ballard mention marijuana in his Sunday PM talk — though not in reference to a vote in California.
This is actually an ongoing issue in my family. I have a brother (and his wife) who live in Oregon and have medical marijuana cards. I have a father who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. One of his doctors (a member in his ward) is quite alternative and has discussed the benefits marijuana would provide. Where my father lives, though, it’s currently illegal. Several family members have discussed the benefit it would provide him, while another (the one who holds the most sway in the family) has said there’s no way we could because it’s “against the law” and may be against the word of wisdom. The backdrop of it all is that of the church’s stance on the issue. Even though it’s a medical issue, there are some strong subtleties suggesting it can’t be taken for spiritual reasons.
I’m with Justin in this regard, I just don’t see members doing it, especially after all the “follow the prophet” junk from this past conference. He knows the way, after all.
As a missionary, we were told to teach that only illicit drugs were against the word of wisdom. (We even had a flip-chart that we used that said this.) Of course, my understanding is that there is no prohibition in the word of wisdom against pot. Really the prohibition comes from our belief of “obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.” Once it becomes legal, regardless of whether or not it is prescribed, anyone can use it without breaking God’s commandments.
In a legal environment, LDS still may not want to smoke pot because of the prohibition of smoking tobacco (“appearance of evil” and all that). We twist the prohibition into one against smoking anything, at all, instead of the specific herb mentioned in the revelation. I myself have smoked a pipe as a LDS (it was lobelia.) I didn’t feel guilty in the least.
Subtleties aren’t enough. We would need a new, canonized revelation which specifically prohibited smoking marijuana or other non-tobacco herbs to put the stigma of sin upon the practice. Without that, there isn’t anything the leadership can do about it, except complain.
Btw, Tom and Justin, I sent you both emails. Did you not get them?
I just replied to your e-mail. I only check mine once every couple days.
BTW, I agree with what you said about, “Subtleties aren’t enough. We would need a new, canonized revelation,” I think that is the case with many issues that trouble the membership. However, it is my belief that Church leaders don’t experience any prophetic manifestations. They rely on the “good feelings” of the Spirit and “consensus among the Brethren” for revelation. They believe vague counsel and asking for things as “personal favors” is less likely to offend anyone in the “world-wide Church.”
Brother Uchtdorf made a “don’t inhale it” joke — though he was not specifically referring to drugs, but to the idol-like treatment church leaders receive at the hands of members.
Boyd Packer went on about legalizing “that which is basically wrong or evil” thru voting — saying that doing so “will not prevent the pain and penalties that will follow as surely as night follows day.” All of this was by way of a strange analogy to kittens.
This makes me love John the Baptist more. I am the brother Tom speaks from that lives in Oregon. It is evidence that this is a divisive topic, as most truth is. Cannabis is just one thing that, used properly, is an amazing entheogen that can bring one closer to the truth and ultimately, God. I urge any active member to critically think about this scripture and find another herb that can be used for food or raiment, please the eye, gladden the heart, for taste and smell, enlivening the soul, not for abuse and it has been used for extortion. Is it basil? Oregano? Maybe cardamom? Think hard, what is it?
D&C 59:17Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
18Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
19Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
20And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.
21And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.
Imagine being God, he creates a plant that can cure the body of many diseases, bring joy and enlightenment, and all we do is denigrate it to being a weed and an evil made by the devil himself. That’s pretty crappy if you ask me. v21 says it, God gets angry if you don’t confess his hand in all things.
Sorry im coming to this late to the game, but when M. Russell states:
“Some of the most addictive drugs that, if abused, can hijack the brain and take away one’s agency include nicotine; opiates—heroin, morphine, and other painkillers; tranquilizers; cocaine; alcohol; marijuana; and methamphetamines.
I am grateful for doctors who are trained to prescribe proper medications to relieve pain and suffering.”
He links Marijuana to heroin, morphine, cocaine and even tranquilizers. Has he ever critically looked into cannabis? If he hasn’t and is just repeating what has been said, what else is he doing that with?
AND THEN he goes on to praise the great white man’s pharmacology. He really likes the prescriptions of proper medications.
Seriously though, if he has never studied or heaven forbid experimented with cannabis, what else is he saying that he has never studied or examined? It never really works to malign God’s creations…
Kaneh bosom is a gift from god used in the tabernacle in the days of Moses. It was only after long years of apostasy that “Christians” started calling gods creations evil. God has never created an evil flower, his children call his garden evil because its not made in their image. The last couple weeks of my mission Argentina legalized personal use of all drugs. church official response was similar to what it has been in medical states, “eat it don’t smoke it” o assume that will be the response here, but if not i don’t care the spirit has made it clear and the scriptures don’t stutter.
“They’ll never take my love away from me
They’ll never take my faith away from me”
Bob sang of something similar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5FSBmhSywk&feature=youtube_gdata_player
a good spot to start research on the holy annointing oil and kaneh bosm
http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/1090.html
and i challenge anyone to use calamus and have a pleasant experience. calamus leads to puking and nothing more.
First Presidency Asks Members to Oppose Recreational Marijuana, Assisted Suicide (Press Release Posted: 14 October 2016)
After California passes the recreational marijuana law next month, I wonder if California church members will be disciplined for smoking marijuana recreationally? I bet they will. The church will point to the federal law prohibition as being the reason why they can’t do it.