What does the Bible say about cannabis?
Let’s get straight to the point: Is there a Bible verse that says, ‘You shall not smoke marijuana‘? No, the Bible doesn’t explicitly mention ‘cannabis’ or ‘marijuana’ by name. These are modern terms tied to the plant Cannabis sativa, which didn’t exist in biblical language. That said, Scripture does speak about herbs, plants, seeds, and intoxication. I believe it provides enough wisdom to conclude that smoking weed is a sin. The verses address intoxication, avoiding being controlled by anything, addiction, stewardship of resources, and honoring God with your body. The Bible’s silence on cannabis specifically likely stems from its historical and cultural context, where it wasn’t a notable issue. Let’s explore this further.
Genesis 1:11 (NASB) – “Then God said, ‘Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them’; and it was so.”
Romans 13:13 (ESV) – “Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.”
Genesis 1:12 (NIV) – “The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.”
1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Genesis 1:29 (NKJV) – “And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.'”
Genesis 1:30 (ESV) – “And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so.”
Genesis 2:9 (KJV) – “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food.”
Psalm 104:14 (NLT) – “You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use. You allow them to produce food from the earth.”
Ezekiel 34:29 (Holman) – “I will establish for them a place renowned for its agriculture, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land.”
Revelation 22:2 (NIV) – “On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”
Exodus 30:23 (NKJV) – “Take also for yourself the finest of spices: of flowing myrrh five hundred shekels, and of fragrant cane two hundred and fifty.”
1 Timothy 4:4 (ESV) – “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”
Ephesians 5:18 (NASB) – “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV) – “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body.”
Romans 12:1 (ESV) – “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Proverbs 20:1 (KJV) – “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
Titus 2:6 (NLT) – “In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely.”
Galatians 5:21 (Holman) – “Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Thessalonians 5:6 (NIV) – “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.”
Proverbs 23:20-21 (NKJV) – “Do not mix with winebibbers, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty.”
Isaiah 5:11 (KJV) – “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!”
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) – “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
2 Timothy 1:7 (Holman) – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Psalm 119:105 (NIV) – “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Luke 21:34 (NKJV) – “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life.”
Proverbs 4:23 (ESV) – “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
1 Corinthians 3:16 (KJV) – “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
Colossians 3:17 (NLT) – “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”
Hebrews 12:1 (Holman) – “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us.”
Romans 14:21 (NIV) – “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.”
Genesis 9:3 (NKJV) – “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.”
Psalm 51:10 (ESV) – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
1 Peter 4:7 (KJV) – “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”
Proverbs 31:6-7 (NLT) – “Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress. Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.”
Matthew 15:11 (Holman) – “It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth—this defiles a person.”
Titus 1:7-8 (NIV) – “Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled.”
Isaiah 55:2 (NKJV) – “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?”
1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV) – “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
Psalm 139:14 (KJV) – “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
Ephesians 4:23 (NLT) – “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.”
Romans 6:12 (Holman) – “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires.”
Proverbs 25:28 (NIV) – “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”
John 16:13 (NKJV) – “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.”
Galatians 5:23 (ESV) – “Gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
1 Timothy 5:23 (KJV) – “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.”
Philippians 4:5 (NLT) – “Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.”
2 Corinthians 7:1 (Holman) – “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
Proverbs 15:17 (NIV) – “Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.”
James 1:5 (NKJV) – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
Matthew 6:33 (ESV) – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
