Scriptures and Key Points:
Luke Niforatos shares about the economic effect as well as societal impact of legalizing recreational drugs on our communities.
1 Chronicles 12:32 NKJV …the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…
- Luke’s father sat him down as a child and explained the practical and the spiritual reasons why drug use isn’t good.
- Recreational drug use is not just an individual effect, but a community effect.
- We haven’t looked honestly at the end results of legalizing recreational drugs.
- We don’t monetize sin. So why do we allow corporations to promote vices and comfort ourselves by saying we’ll use the tax revenue for good purposes.
- The societal costs are far more than we make on tax revenue.
- Addiction increases because the potency has increased.
- There are many downstream effects including crime rates, homelessness, and addiction.
Are recreational drugs good for medicinal use?
- It’s one thing to use something for medicinal use in a medical environment, it’s another thing to have clinics with no medical personnel or oversight.
- It doesn’t just stop at medicinal; it affects society as a whole.
- Nobody starts with LSD, etc. Almost all addicts started with marijuana.
- Very few people use just one drug, whether it be alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana.
- You can’t just bandaid a problem; you need to deal with the root issues.
- The Church needs to solve the root problem by showing people that Christ is the answer and Christ can empower them to overcome their addiction.
- Scientists, doctors, and medical professionals should be the ones deciding what medicine is.
- The process for medicinal drug approval is not the same as for recreational drugs.
- We need to look at the motivation for any usage.
Revelation 2:4 NKJV Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
- We should have a marriage-like relationship with Christ with nothing coming in between us.
1 TImothy 6:10 NKJV For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The legalization of recreational drugs will create a new generation dependent on health care services, medicare, and other needs.
- These industries target colored and underserved communities.
- The revenue models don’t lead to true social equity.
- Our world cannot provide justice. Only Christ can provide true justice.
Matthew 25:45 NKJV Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
- Those funding the legalization of drugs are not medical professionals, but corporations looking for profits.
- We need to fight for a society and legislation that allows people the opportunity to thrive and make choices with a clear mind.
- If a person does not use substances before the age of 24, 99% will not abuse substances after that age.
- As access to drugs increases, so does addiction which then leads to higher medical rates, higher tax rates, and higher cost of living.
- Families are impacted not just by the economic costs, but some will be impacted by the mental health costs as parents pass their trauma on to their children.
- Once addicted, their minds are hijacked and they are no longer able to make rational decisions.
- Those who support the legalization of drugs assume that people will recognize when they have a problem and stop. Addiction doesn’t work that way.
- A large number of people will develop addictions and then make bad choices that affect their families and the community around them.
- If America becomes addicted, it puts our entire nation at risk.
- One of the later great outpourings of God will be His Father heart on that generation.
- Churches have great influence in their communities that is often underestimated.
Links:
- Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM)
- [email protected]
- Somebody Cares Denver
- Sound of Freedom
- Generations, Together Making History
Book Recommendation:
- Jesus and Mary (Jane) by Charlie Granade and Barnabas Sprinkle
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