Word of Wisdom - Legal substances/ethnogens, etc.
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 9:09 pm
The General Handbook of Instructions says:
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Word of Wisdom
The only official interpretation of "hot drinks" (D&C 89:9) in the Word of Wisdom is the statement made by early Church leaders that the term "hot drinks" means tea and coffee.
Members should not use any substance that contains illegal drugs. Nor should members use harmful or habit-forming substances except under the care of a competent physician.
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Many people claim that "herbal teas" are still OK to drink and use them regularly. Where does the church draw the line? There are many substances that could easily not fall under the interpretation above. For example, "Kratom" is an herb/plant that is commonly taken as an herbal tea, though some people take it as sort of supplement to aid in depression, anxiety, and even marriage therapy. It is legal and it doesn't show up in drug tests. It is not harmful, and not addictive if not abused...it does have many alkaloids that are opioid receptor agonists, but it doesn't cause hallucinations or anything harmful. Mostly it makes you happy, and open minded and talkative and removes awkwardness and creates trust and openness and closeness, etc. Since it's not harmful or habit forming or illegal, then by the standards I read above it should be OK to use as equally as eating a candy bar for the theobromine effects, or a protein shake, or ginseng tablets or fish oil, etc.
Similarly there are other substances like "Salvia" that have no negative health effects, and are not addictive. It's also completely legal and doesn't show up in any drug tests. So by the standards of the Handbook of instructions, it's "permitted" to take even though it can potentially cause "visions and hallucinations", etc.
An argument could be made for several other things like Amanita Muscaria, Hawaiian Baby Woodrose Seed, Ololiuqui (Rivea Corymbosa), and several other legal ethnogens, many of which aren't "harmful" or "addictive". Similarly, in countries where "Marijuana" isn't illegal, it wouldn't fall under the handbook of instructions either because it has been proven to have no physiological addictive properties and is completely harmless, especially if used in moderation for things such as ADD, anxiety, pain, appetite control, etc.
Thoughts? :)
*****
Word of Wisdom
The only official interpretation of "hot drinks" (D&C 89:9) in the Word of Wisdom is the statement made by early Church leaders that the term "hot drinks" means tea and coffee.
Members should not use any substance that contains illegal drugs. Nor should members use harmful or habit-forming substances except under the care of a competent physician.
*****
Many people claim that "herbal teas" are still OK to drink and use them regularly. Where does the church draw the line? There are many substances that could easily not fall under the interpretation above. For example, "Kratom" is an herb/plant that is commonly taken as an herbal tea, though some people take it as sort of supplement to aid in depression, anxiety, and even marriage therapy. It is legal and it doesn't show up in drug tests. It is not harmful, and not addictive if not abused...it does have many alkaloids that are opioid receptor agonists, but it doesn't cause hallucinations or anything harmful. Mostly it makes you happy, and open minded and talkative and removes awkwardness and creates trust and openness and closeness, etc. Since it's not harmful or habit forming or illegal, then by the standards I read above it should be OK to use as equally as eating a candy bar for the theobromine effects, or a protein shake, or ginseng tablets or fish oil, etc.
Similarly there are other substances like "Salvia" that have no negative health effects, and are not addictive. It's also completely legal and doesn't show up in any drug tests. So by the standards of the Handbook of instructions, it's "permitted" to take even though it can potentially cause "visions and hallucinations", etc.
An argument could be made for several other things like Amanita Muscaria, Hawaiian Baby Woodrose Seed, Ololiuqui (Rivea Corymbosa), and several other legal ethnogens, many of which aren't "harmful" or "addictive". Similarly, in countries where "Marijuana" isn't illegal, it wouldn't fall under the handbook of instructions either because it has been proven to have no physiological addictive properties and is completely harmless, especially if used in moderation for things such as ADD, anxiety, pain, appetite control, etc.
Thoughts? :)