Reasons to Vote "No" on The Recreational Marijuana Amendment

In Florida and other states, citizens are being given the opportunity to exercise a more direct form of our authority by voting on constitutional amendments. Amendment 3, in Florida, is asking us to directly enshrine in our constitution the legalization of marijuana use for any purpose. 

Reasons to Vote "No" on Florida's Recreational Marijuana Amendment

Reason 1: Using recreational marijuana (RM) is a vice in that its purpose is to intoxicate and cause people to lack sober-mindedness.

1. Using RM makes a person high. The goal of a person smoking marijuana is to become intoxicated. What causes marijuana's "high" effect on the person is the psychoactive compound THC. This is notably different than alcohol, which can be enjoyed in moderation without becoming intoxicated. 

2. When a person is intoxicated, they are not able to think clearly or make thoughtful/reasonable decisions. Thus, Christians must avoid encouraging others to use RM (for we are commanded to be sober-minded).1 

3.  So, legalizing RM brings a vice (of not being clear-minded) into the category of "this is good or neutral." Thus, legalizing RM removes the stigma of using a drug that which will negatively affect those using RM and society at large.

Reason 2: It will lead to an increase in crimes and traffic accidents (which will affect not just those using RM but all our communities). 

1. We can see this in the data coming out of states that have legalized RM in the past. For example, see this fact sheet on how RM legalization affected Colorado. 

Reason 3: It will lead more young people to use marijuana, which is linked to higher rates of mental illness.2

1. The connection between marijuana use and mental illnesses such as schizophrenia in younger people (15-25 year olds) is becoming clear.4 

2. Legalizing RM leads to an increase in use among children (even if it is only "allowed" for adults).3 Colorado, which legalized RM several years ago has seen a large increase in the number of minors being hospitalized for marijuana related issues.5 

Reason 4: Amendment 3 was written by and is being funded by a large marijuana distributor to promote their own interests.6 

1. It was written by Trulieve, and they have funded the initiative to the tune of close to 100 million dollars. It is obvious they think they will gain a lot from this.

2. It is written in a way that shields them from ALL possible lawsuits. So, if someone dies from wrongly processed cannabis, no criminal or civil charges can be filed against the company. (see section a.5 in the amendment text).

4. It will not provide more money to our State because the State will have to spend more money dealing with the fallout of increased drug use and all the attending problems (crime, accidents, youth mental health, domestic violence, etc.).

Reason 5: The amendment wording makes it so that no law can be written to keep people from using RM where they want when they want. 

1. See the amendment wording section a.4. 

2. So, the next time we go to the beach, we might have some people set up next to our family smoking weed. 

Reason 6: This is not needed for people with medical needs.

1. The benefits that can be gained from THC (the active ingredient in maijuana) for people needing an increase in appetite or struggling with extreme nausea from chemotherapy are found in prescription medicines (in pill forms prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmicist).7 

2. There is no evidence that smoking or ingesting marijuana treats other medical ailments. In fact here is a list of medical associations that have written papers on why they do not support the use of medical marijuana: American Medical Association, The American Academy of Psychiatry, The American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.8 

Additional Resources on the Topic

A Short Book by Todd Miles called Cannabis and the Christian: What the Bible Says about Marijuana.

A Talk by Governor Ron DeSantis on the impacts of Amendment 3:  https://x.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1849457158590767451 (from about the 1:30 - 18:45 minute mark).

A Podcast Episode from America in View (with our very own Matt Doster as Co-host): https://americainview.com/episode-10-18-24.html

A website opposing Amendment 3: https://no-on3.com/

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Footnotes:

1. For a thoughtful and well-researched approach to how we should think about medical marijuana, see Todd Miles's book Cannabis and the Christian, chapters 6-7. 

2. Regarding increased use of marijuana among kids (and its dangers) in states with legal RM see this: https://learnaboutsam.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-Youth-Use-one-pager.pdf

3. Regarding dangers to children, see this story: https://www.wptv.com/news/state/marijuana/would-recreational-marijuana-in-florida-lead-to-increased-exposure-among-children

4. https://www.cdc.gov/cannabis/health-effects/cannabis-and-teens.html and https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/drugs-health-products/is-cannabis-safe-use-facts-young-adults.html

5. To see some of the outcomes of Colorado's RM laws, see this: https://learnaboutsam.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Colorado-One-Pager-39pdf.pdf

6. Listen to Governor Ron DeSantis explain this here: https://x.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1849457158590767451  (from about the 1:30 - 18:45 minute mark).

7. Miles, Cannabis and the Christian, 120-21

8. See Miles, Cannabis and the Christian, pg. 120-25 for more discussion on why marijuana does not treat other medical ailments, as well as the list of medical associations that have produced papers outlining why they do not support the use of medical marijuana.

Reasons to Vote "No" on Pro-Abortion Amendments

In Florida and other states, citizens are being given the opportunity to exercise a more direct form of our authority by voting on constitutional amendments. Amendment 4, in Florida, is asking us to directly require that the murder of unborn children be considered a legal right. Thus, we, as Christians, must vote "no" and should try to persuade those in our circles to do the same. 

Three Reasons to Vote "No" on Pro-abortion Amendments

Reason 1: It grants a legal right to kill one's own child as long as it happens before he or she makes it out of the womb. 

1. From the moment of conception, there is a new human person, made in the image of God. The only difference between that person and you is that he or she is smaller and in the womb. The words "embryo" and "fetus" should not be used to dehumanize this small, vulnerable person. Those are simply levels of development. You are an adult; you were once a teenager, a child, a toddler, an infant, a fetus, and an embryo. 

2. We all know that the baby in the womb is a human person. That is why we celebrate when a friend tells us she is pregnant. It is unreasonable to believe that if she did not want to be pregnant that this same entity in the womb has now magically changed into something and is no longer someone. Such a change is not based on science or reason. It is double-speak aimed at redefining reality. 

3. Thus, abortion is the intentional taking of another person's life without justification (i.e., murder).

Reason 2: We are directly approving or disapproving of the murder of unborn children. God will hold us accountable.

1. If we approve such an amendment, we have set ourselves against God. 

Psalm 94:20-21 
Can wicked rulers be allied with you,
    those who frame injustice by statute?
They band together against the life of the righteous
    and condemn the innocent to death.

2. We have an obligation to use our God-given position to protect those being oppressed by violence

Proverbs 24:10-12
 If you faint in the day of adversity,
    your strength is small.
Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
    hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
    does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
    and will he not repay man according to his work?

Reason 3: Florida's Amendment 4 is intentionally ambiguous in order to not sound as radical as it is (this is likely true of proposed amendments in other states too).

1. See below from

2. This amendment will invalidate virtually all pro-life laws that we currently have and it will be impossible to have any restrictions on abortion. 

Reason 4: It is a lie to claim we need this amendment to keep women from dying from medical emergencies during pregnancy.

1. If a woman has an ectopic pregnancy, the baby will die no matter what. If untreated, she will die too. The procedure to save her life is not an abortion, and it is legal. An abortion is one in which the medical procedure is aimed at the destruction of the unborn person; it is considered a successful procedure when the baby is dead. In cases like an ectopic pregnancy, the surgery is successful and aimed at saving the life of the women. A sad outcome is that the baby will not survive. Surgeries for ectopic pregnancies are legal in every state in the US.

2. In the case of a miscarriage, the baby has already died. The procedure to remove his or her body from the womb is not an abortion, and it is legal in every state in the US.

3. To argue that many women will die from getting back-alley abortions is false and morally foolish. It is false because many will not resort to back-alley abortions. It is morally foolish because, as we have established, the baby is a human person. So, this argument is saying, "We must not outlaw murder lest someone trying to commit murder might die in the process of breaking our law against murder." 

A Thought Experiment

To close this out, let's do a thought experiment. Let's say you could travel back in time to when you were in your mother's womb. And let's say that she is in a difficult circumstance and is considering an abortion. Would you want her to have the right to dispose of you to ease her own burden? If not, then why would you want to pass an amendment requiring that there should be no restriction on abortions for others? 

Why My Default is to Vote "No" on Constitutional Amendments

My default position on any constitutional amendment is "no." I am not saying this is an issue of biblical faithfulness (so feel free to do otherwise). However, I think many of us don't give much thought to a philosophy of ministry in this area of our lives. So, below are my thoughts. Maybe they will help you as you consider how you will exercise your responsibilities as a citizen during an election cycle.

The main reason I default to "no" is that most issues should be able to be addressed by the legislature. These amendments generally stand no chance of getting through the normal legislative process because, upon scrutiny, they are not good for society. Thus, special interest groups use the amendment process to try to get voters, who will spend no time thinking about what the text of the law means or its implications, to vote based on how they feel about things in the moment. Thus, issues that are bad for our state get enshrined in our constitution. Or, issues that might be fine laws end up as silly parts of our constitution (eg, I think we have something about the treatment of baby pigs in our constitution).

Second, many amendments are written and promoted by special interest groups that stand to make A LOT of money from passing their amendments. For example, amendments 3 and 4, on recreational marijuana and on the right to abortion, are HEAVILY funded by industries that stand to make HUGE sums of money if they pass.

I would only vote yes on an amendment if: 

1. It is required to fix a constitutional issue (e.g., undo a previously approved and bad amendment or free the legislature to do its job). This seems to be the case with Amendment 6 on this year's ballot in Florida (to undo a campaign finance amendment that set up taxpayer-funded campaign money for candidates).  

2. My second reason for a yes vote is if it is a fundamental, bedrock issue that should be seen as basic to law-making itself. So, I would vote for an amendment that clarified the right to life for babies in the womb (even though I think that is already covered in our constitution and laws) because people seem to believe there is no God-given right to life for a baby. This willful misunderstanding is having a huge effect on our ability to apply laws related to murder to protect children or avoid evil laws that legalize abortion.

In my next post, I'll address reasons to vote no on Amendment 4 in Florida.  

A Bible Study on Repentance

This past Sunday, I preached on the Joy of Being Forgiven from Psalm 32. The joy of forgiveness is tied to our willingness to stop hiding our sin. When we confess and repent of sin (trust the Lord to free us from its guilt and power), we find he restores our joy. Since Psalm 32 and 51 are closely connected, I thought I'd share this Bible study I developed a long time ago on the topic of repentance. You might find it helpful to go through as an application of the sermon.

Click here to download a word document version

Below is a copy and paste of the worksheet. You could do one section a day for 7 days.

Repentance and Remorse Bible Study

 

Repentance is God’s gracious gift to us which produces freedom from guilt and a restoration of true happiness (Ps. 51, 32). Many times, however, we settle for feeling constant guilt and find ourselves unable to see sin patterns change because we fail to understand true repentance. This study is designed to guide you in the path to forgiveness and the first step in changing sin patterns.

 

1. Read Psalm 51

• What circumstance prompted David to write this Psalm according to the superscription above verse 1?  (If you are unfamiliar with this event read 2 Samuel 11-12.)

 

 

• In verses 1-2, what does David plea to God for?

 

• He wants God to treat him according to His _____________ and ______________ (v 1).

Ø  Why should knowing that God possesses these attributes cause you to be quick to confess sins to God?

 

• Who does David say his sin was ultimately against (v. 4)?

Do you realize that every sin you commit has an impact on your vertical relationship (with God) and horizontal relationships (with others)?  David teaches us that ultimately every sin is first and foremost an offense against a holy God.  Our sin is rebellion against God.  We cannot have a right relationship with God if our sins are not dealt with (v. 9).

 

• In verse 7, who does David ask to cleanse him? 

 

Ø  Do you try to cleanse yourself from sin by doing good things (going to church, reading your Bible, helping people, etc.)?  Explain.

 

Ø  Do those things cleanse you? (See Titus 3:5).

 

 

• What does David ask for in verse 10?
  David realized that the problem was deeper than his sinful behavior.  He needed to be changed and cleansed from the inside out.

 

• According to verses 16-17 what is God most interested in?

 

Ø  Does this mean that God doesn’t expect right behavior (read v. 18-19)?

 

• How can you apply this passage to your situation?  What are some key aspects of repentance you gleaned from it?
  
  

 

 

2. Read Psalm 32:1-5

• This seems to have been written by David after he penned Psalm 51.
• According to verses 3-4, what was David’s experience when he “kept silent” about his sin?

 

Ø  Have you experienced this? Describe it.

 

Ø  If not, why do you think you have not?

 

 

• Read verses 1-2 and then verse 5.

Ø  What is the connection between forgiveness and confessing sin?

 

Ø  Verse 2 indicates the blessing of forgiveness comes to those in whose spirit there is “no deceit.” In light of verse 5, what do you think he means when he says “no deceit?”

 

 

Ø  What was his experience when he confessed to the Lord and was forgiven (verse 1-2)?

 

 

• How does this passage motivate you to confess and repent of your sin?

 

 

 

3. Read Proverbs 28:13

• The one who obtains mercy must _______________ and _______________ sins. 

 

• To confess is to agree with God’s judgment of your sinful thoughts and behavior- to call them what he calls them (rebellion against his loving rule in your life).

 

• To forsake is to turn away from something and leave it behind.

 

• Is confessing your sins the same as repentance?  How are they related?

 

 

• How can you apply this passage to your life today?

 

 

4. Read Joel 2:12-13

• The word “return” is used here to refer to repentance.  The same word is used in Ezekiel 14:6, “Thus says the Lord: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.”  In both passages it means to turn from sin to God.

 

• What does verse 13 say the people should rend/tear?

 

• Rending garments in biblical times was an outward way of showing the inward reality of a broken heart.  Is it possible for someone to do outward actions that show a broken heart while not really having a broken heart over sin?  Give some examples.

 

 

5. Read 2 Corinthians 7:8-11

• Paul had sent the Corinthians a letter to confront some of their sins (v. 8).  How did they respond to the letter according to verse 9?

 

 

• In verse 10, Paul says there are two types of grief or sorrow over sin.  What are they?

 

 

• What is the difference between these two types of sorrow?

 

 

• Is feeling guilty or sorry over sin the same thing as repentance?

 

 

• The word “salvation” here does not just refer to a person being able to enter into heaven one day.  It refers to a Christian’s current spiritual vitality/walk with God and future eternal life.

 

 

• Read what one commentator had to say about the difference between these two types of grief:

 

Being sorrowful as God intended is feeling the deep grief that comes from knowing that our attitudes and actions have harmed our relationship with God.  ‘Godly sorrow’ feels bad because it is missing out on God … Worldly sorrow is the grief that comes about because one’s actions result in missing out on something the world has to offer.  Worldly sorrow feels bad because it wants more of the world (Hafmann, NIV Application Commentary: 2 Corinthians, 312).

           

• Which type of sorrow do you usually have?  How can you tell?

 

 

• In verse 11, Paul goes on to list 7 qualities or attitudes that are seen as fruit that proves that the Corinthians actually repented.  Read Luke 3:8 and Acts 26:19-20.  Should we expect to see right thoughts and behavior flow out of true repentance? Why or Why not?

 

 

• In your situation, what type of fruit (new behavior and thoughts) do you think should flow out of your repentance?

 

 

6. Examples of Sorrow over Sin

• Read Matthew 27:1-5. 

Ø  This event occurred after Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. 

Ø  Judas felt sad (remorse).  Does Judas exemplify worldly or godly sorrow?  Explain your answer.

• Read Matthew 26:69-75 and John 21:15-17. 

Ø  Peter also failed Jesus. Peter also felt sorrow over his sin. 

Ø  Does Peter exemplify worldly or godly sorrow?  Explain your answer.

• Godly sorrow comes from a heart that sees sin as rebellion against God, and it leads to a decisive turnaround from sin to God.  Worldly sorrow feels the same pain, but it is caused because of unwelcomed consequences (feelings of guilt, fear of punishment, or difficult circumstances) and does not lead to a true turning from sin to God.  It may lead a person to turn from a particular sin (to avoid more consequences or as a form of trying to pay for his or her sin), but it will not bring true repentance or lead to God.  Which type of sorrow do most often experience and how do you know which one it is?

 

 

7. Summary- Repentance involves the following ingredients:

1. Recognizing your sin and seeing it for what it is: Rebellion against God.
2. Sorrow over your sin.  This may involve literal tears, but it does not have to.  What is important is that your heart is broken over your sin because you know it has dishonored God and affected your relationship with Him.
3. Confessing your sin to God in prayer (agreeing with God that you have sinned and that the sin has affected your relationship with Him and other people).  Be specific and name the sin.
4. Asking for God’s mercy to cleanse you.  Jesus died to pay for your sin.
5. Turning from the sin towards God (both in your heart and behavior).  

Choosing a College Major - Advice from John Piper

Choosing what to major in (or even whether or not to go to college) is a daunting task for many. Others give it little thought. I found this podcast episode (14 minutes) from Ask Pastor John to be wise and helpful. 

His main considerations are

1. Aim at God's glory

2. Pursue Personal Holiness

3. Consider Your Gifts

4. Ponder Your Desires

5. Pay Attention to Needs

There is more in the podcast, so I encourage you to listen to it.

5 Prayers for the Persecuted Church

 We will be praying for the persecuted church this Sunday night at prayer meeting. Hebrews 11:36-38  reminds us that Christians have 

"suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."

God commands us to "remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body" (Heb. 13:3). To remember them involves praying for them - how could we remember a part of our body suffering and not pray for it? 

Here are five things you can pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters

Five Prayers for the Persecuted Church 

1. Know the love God has for them and not be tempted to believe that suffering is an indication that they are not right with God.

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:34-37)

2. Honor Christ by only suffering for doing good 

¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:14-17)

3. A willingness to lose all knowing that Christ will never leave or forsake them

⁵ Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

4. Love for those who persecute them

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

5. An open door to proclaim the gospel and clarity as they share it

"At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— ⁴ that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. (Colossians 4:3-4)

Time for a Schedule and Priorities Check Up

 We are part of the way through a new semester (for our students). With each new semester (or season of life) comes unexpected changes in terms of schedules. Sure, you know when you have class and work, but there are unanticipated changes, too. The danger in a new semester (or a new season of life - like going into college, graduating, moving to a new place, etc.) is that our priorities don't get in the new schedule.

I encourage you to take about 30 minutes to an hour to prayerfully consider your priorities and compare them to your actual schedule. 

• Write out your top 3-5 priorities for the semester (ideally, these will be somewhat unchanging. Example: faithfully worship the Lord privately and with his people, be a diligent worker/student, etc.).
• Look at your planner or calendar. Are these priorities coming out in the rhythms and habits of your daily/weekly life? If not, what changes must be made to keep your priorities in place? Are there priorities that need to shift or change? 

Each season calls for a fresh consideration of what is most important and how we practically pursue those goals. You might think that you are too busy to do this. However, I have found that this exercise often yields greater peace and less anxiety because I have greater assurance that what I invest in is essential. Also, it helps us see things that we can or should start saying "no" to.