Weed, I am by no means an expert on this matter. I do have strong convictions though. I do think that God placed weed on the earth for specific reasons, none of which are to get high. Perhaps the plants are here for a medicinal purpose, only the creator knows.

Alcohol – I personally do not drink, but I do not think that the Bible condemns drinking. It is a personal choice. The person who follows God and chooses to drink must be able to handle it. If you are using alcohol to replace what you should be receiving from God, then you should not drink. If you are drinking occasionally and not for a buzz, then you are probably ok.

Tdave – you are right about translations. I do think some things have been changed to accomodate what the church at that time wanted to be the case.

It is all about what you feel in a relationship with God. God is a God of grace not rules. If you are going after Him and continue to do things that you feel are not right, than you are not being obedient. Do not follow man’s rules, follow God’s rules. However, the Bible does state that you must obey the governing authorities. Romans 13:1. So you certainly want to obey the law.

I may just be babbling here, just my personal insight.

I searched KJV (the version AJ Jacobs is using), Douay-Rheims, and the Vulgate (Latin). Most of the instances of “Kaneh” you indicate are recorded as “calamus”. Well, calamus is a palm tree, not any sort of hemp product. What stoner scripture version are you quoting? You need to specify what version you’re pulling this from…

Further, the Isaiah 6:4-7 one about putting something to one’s lips is about an angel (specifically a seraphim) touching a LIVE COAL, not a reefer to the lips! Geez, it’s plainly stated in Isaiah 6:6… St. Jerome translated Isaiah into Latin (in the Vulgate) in the 5th century and he used the word “calculus” (small stone or live coal) to describe what was going to the lips. The subsequent English translations used “live coal”. I don’t have access to the original Hebrew text (nor could I read it), but I’m pretty sure it didn’t use the Hebrew word for “spliff”.

You’ve spent too much time with the demon weed, my friend.

I think the same principle would apply biblically with marijuana and other such substances (ignoring the fact that they are illegal, which opens a whole other can of worms). If you can smoke (or whatever) the drugs without being under their influence, then there is no prohibition against them.

14 Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand. 15 It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.[h]”

Second, what translation is that? The word “kaneh” did not appear in any translation on BibleGateway.com (and there are a lot of them there).

Isaiah 43:23-24, New International Version: “You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense. (24) You have not brought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.”

I agree 100%. But it’s also sustenance (arguable point though :P). Weed is not food and is not needed to live.

Though neither is McDonald’s.

Who’s to say by eating food thats known to be detrimental to your health isn’t frowned upon by god?

And Holy Sacrament, I looked up other translations (about 15) of the Isaiah 43 and every one (save for 1 I believe) translated it Cane (some Sugar cane).