Pope Francis Expanded Thinking On Medical Marijuana

By JJ McKay The Fresh Toast While the Catholic Church is not a fan of cannabis his compassion allowed the Pope to consider medicinal marijuana to relief suffering Pope Francis emerge as one of the the greater part influential global leaders advocating for compassion mercy and justice Since his poll in his papacy has been marked by a profound commitment to the poor social justice and pastoral renewal reshaping the Catholic Church s engagement with the world and inspiring millions across faiths and cultures He rarely lost sight of individual suffering as he steered the Catholic Church in changing times While not a fan of cannabis Pope Francis expanded thinking on health marijuana The world lost a leader who approached change with heart and dependably wished better for his fellow man Pope Francis s leadership is deeply rooted in the principle of mercy He famously declared an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in urging the faithful to rediscover God s compassion and to embody it in their daily lives His encyclicals such as Evangelii Gaudium and Fratelli Tutti call for an outgoing Church that reaches the existential peripheries offering refuge to the marginalized and suffering Francis s focus is not only on spiritual renewal but also on practical action he consistently champions the cause of the poor asylum seekers and those on society s fringes insisting that the Church must be a beacon of hope and a force for justice Pope Francis s compassion extends beyond the boundaries of the Church He has been a tireless advocate for peace interreligious dialogue and environmental stewardship His efforts to foster understanding among different faiths evident in historic meetings with leaders of other religions and his signing of the Document for Human Fraternity have set a new standard for religious cooperation and mutual respect His encyclical Laudato Si links care for the context with social justice underscoring the interconnectedness of all humanity and the planet While Pope Francis is celebrated for his compassionate leadership his stance on drugs including marijuana is nuanced and firmly rooted in Catholic teaching Francis has consistently opposed the legalization of recreational drugs including marijuana arguing drug addiction causes profound harm to individuals and communities He has stated unequivocally Drug addiction is an evil and with evil there can be no yielding or compromise His concern is especially acute regarding the impact on young people and the poor who are often the greater part vulnerable to the destructive consequences of drug abuse Regarding clinical marijuana the Catholic Church acknowledges the use of medicinal marijuana may be morally permissible on strictly therapeutic grounds provided it is scrupulously supervised and genuinely serves the good of the person The Catechism of the Catholic Church states The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human strength and life Their use except on strictly therapeutic grounds is a grave offense Thus while Pope Francis opposes recreational use and broad legalization the Church does not categorically reject the curative use of cannabis if it is proven effective and administered responsibly for legitimate curative reasons Considering the reach and power of the papal voice offering an option to look at marijuana for its robustness benefits can sway numerous governments Pope Francis s leadership is a testament to the power of compassion in action He has reminded the world that true greatness lies in organization humility and solidarity with the suffering While he remains cautious about solutions like biological marijuana his overriding message is clear say yes to life love and the dignity of every person In a divided world his witness continues to inspire hope and a renewed commitment to building a more just and compassionate global society The Fresh Toast is a daily lifestyle platform with a side of cannabis For more information visit www thefreshtoast com Copyright The Fresh Toast Distributed by TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY LLC Related Articles Cannifest California s Premier Cannabis and Music Festival The Best Cities For a Marijuana Weekend The Best Marijuana Strains To Take To Outer Space A Sweet Celebration Top Cannabis Treats to Elevate Your Day Northern California s Revelations Timeless Traditions New Celebrations