The Collegian is the official student-run publication of the Associated Students of Walla Walla University. The May 2021 Issue 23’s theme was marijuana.
Under the guise of combating systemic racism, an article by Zack Macomber in the Walla Walla Collegian online newspaper argues that legalizing marijuana is a step in the right direction. Macomber’s opinion:
Although marijuana legalization is not a comprehensive solution, it is still a step towards remedying systematic racism. If the past year is any reference, the United States has some major issues with racism and should address it in every setting, including marijuana and the justice system.
Another article, Did the Hippies Have it Right? (they didn’t) by Naomi Pepper says this:
Religion and drug use don’t typically mix in the western world. Most churches we’re familiar with aren’t in favor of pot. Throughout history, it’s been a pretty niche group of people who find their spiritual lives are enhanced by smoking or ingesting THC, but it seems to be coming back into style as our society takes another look at their bans on the cannabis plant.
If we go way back, we find that a surprising number of religious practices in the ancient world involved marijuana—especially in Asia, where it grew naturally. [1] When it’s used in this way, weed is called an entheogen. [2] It’s meant to enhance the connection between God and man in this context—it brings down walls and evokes the feeling of awe and completion.
She then asks this rhetorical question:
Could it be that the hippies were onto something when it came to spirituality?
In the end, cannabis is just a plant. Whether we should be rolling it up and smoking it is up for debate, but a fear of cannabis isn’t helpful. If ingesting THC is advantageous to the human body and spirituality, then studies will eventually prove it. The smartest thing a Christian can do regarding this subject is to research and understand the science of the plant. We can always wait for more research—there’s no need to rush this thing—but Christians seem to be moving in favor of pot.
Actually, Naomi, the hippies were onto something. They were on acid, pot, LSD, Bennies, hashish, speed and barbs, and eastern mystical spirituality. In the process they learned how to fry their brain cells and wound their spirit (their heart) deeply.
They taught themselves that lifelong commitment in marriage is outdated. They taught themselves to cast off the roles of husband as provider and wife as mother and homemaker. They learned to do whatever feels good, whether sex, drugs, drinking, or any other impulse. And they learned how to feel good about themselves while they walked out on their marriages and coped with all their various addictions! They did all this because they cast off God’s biblical standards. I lived through it. You romanticize it, because you weren’t there.
Yet another article, this one by Claira Eastwood asks the question Does The WWU Drug Policy Actually Protect Students? Her own words:
The problem with the drug policy is that students who are dealing with a drug addiction may have a difficult time abiding by it. While the policy exists in order to keep the student body safe, it cannot be said that religious beliefs have not had an influence on the policy.
We can find ourselves asking whether or not a religious motive is enough to keep students from engaging in recreational drug use. Not everyone who attends WWU is a practicing Seventh-day Adventist, or even religious at all. The argument can, of course, be made that if you choose to attend an Adventist university you are choosing to also abide by the rules and policies that are put in place, and this argument is often correct. However, it leaves little room for nuance.
We don’t want nuance when it comes to harmful substances on a purported Adventist educational center. Leave them alone, or risk injury to your health, friends. So..
A Seventh-day Adventist college student newspaper has taken time off from stressing over the conspiracy theory of systemic racism, and advocating for radical feminism and environmentalism to put in a kind word for dope, man. Pot. Weed. MaryJane etc..
Not cool. Not righteous. And certainly not Adventist.
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