It affects family members of those in who get paranoia and psychosis. Affects them big time.

Paused @2:47 because the mother's reaction was SO relatable 😆 I'm in my 50s, live in suburbia but grew up in a big city so you would think I'd know 'something" ... I don't😬 Last year, I attended an outdoor event and sat in the bleachers with a small group of coworkers. At some point I was overwhelmed by an extremely pungent odor. I was so bothered and I said the same exact thing you're mother said 😆 For a good 15 minutes I kept looking around my surroundings and underneath the bleachers to locate the source of this 'skunk' ... Until someone took pity on me and explained what was going on🤦🏻‍♀️ Although slightly embarrassed, we all had a good laugh. Great episode! I hope the retreat was a fruitful one's 🙏🏼

Some decent points here. Medical cannabis set me free from using opiates for back pain, though I no longer use either. Shout out to Fr Patrick from the Philippines !

Inside baseball: Father Pine started the beard at the end of May whilst hiking in Switzerland. You can tell when the podcast was shot based on his beard filling out.

Thank you, fathers, for this episode. I have been clean for a bit over two months while receiving daily Communion. I’d like to state that receiving daily Communion does way more for me than whatever it is that cannabis did for me.

Saw a billboard in Michigan driving today. “This is a sign you should not drive high”

Paused right in the intro bc I just noticed the nice cute little teddy bear sitting at their bookshelf😅

Hello Frs Patrick and Gregory, A big thank you for this interesting and and informative subject. God bless you and your fellow brothers ! 🙏✨️🙏✨️🙏

Fr. Patrick and Fr. Gregory; I am glad you brought this up since this is a topic I frequently run into. I was a daily user of the substance at a point in my life and still struggle to fully define its morality but choose to avoid it for the sake of the kingdom. Bouncing between the Thomisitic and Franciscan Intellectual traditions, this is the best way I could describe the effects of marijuana. Warning; this might jump around a bit. The diffusive effects of marijuana are much more potent than those of alcohol. Upon smoking the effects are almost immediate, where consuming an edible may take longer THC heightens the effects of the sensory faculties, increasing the potency of taste, touch, sound, and sight. I couldn't say anything about smell. The heightening effect has a two folded effect, where it takes greater pleasure or greater disgust in a particular object or experience. The appetitive faculty, particularly the concupiscible, is the one concerned with desire or aversion (pleasure or disgust). Marijuana heightens the concupiscence by weakening the irascible, thus the reasons stoners are so chill. Since the irascible would be activated by our intellect in order to oppose that which is unfitting, a weakened irascible faculty would mean that we do not oppose our concupiscence as effectively as we would without the substance present. For example: an unexplained noise or an uncomfortable social encounter would activate our concupiscence toward aversion. Where the irascible function would step in and redirect us to rationalize the unexplained noise or conquer the discomfort of said social encounter. Where the weakened irascible function would cause the aversion to direct itself toward the imagination, thus causing paranoia in the case of the unexplained noise, and avoidance (or anxiety) in the case of the uncomfortable social encounter. For Fr Gregory: I had been to Medjugorje four summers ago and experienced a conversion when I returned. I also visited Rome beforehand, so there's no way to know which is which. But I do hope it is true. I first heard you on Pints with Aquinas; I appreciate your energy for intellectual conversations and your humor. Please pray for me, that I receive a good wife!

I really don’t think either of y’all get what weed consumption is really like, but maybe that makes y’all the right ones to talk about it. Regardless, long time user here. Thank you for gasing up booze. In the end of the day I see no benefits of weed outside of feeling disconnected for a few hours. Im putting down the pipe and picking up the cup. God bless.

I just can't imagine a saint using marijuana recreationally, even if legal. They would have both simple and subtle reasons for declining, some of which we may not be able to grasp because their spiritual commitment to God is so deep. In the spiritual realm, the risk of opening up doors is real, whether those doors are to our own appetites which are hard enough to fight without the loosening effects that marijuana can give, or something worse. Marijuana easily becomes an idol, weakening vigilance and the ardor of prayer.

Great discussion, difficult topic for sure! In states where cannabis product has been legalized (CA for example), dosing is highly regulated and thus easily managed by the consumer. 5-10mg/day edibles will not get you “stoned” - engineering the dosing to get you to a more relaxed state when you require it is achievable. Similar to alcohol, but without the calories or side effects that alcohol brings. Slippery slope sure, but people need to be educated about true benefits and risks of all drugs, to include alcohol and marajuana. Thoughts?

It is a medication for some people- i.e. Cancer

Our Lord sanctioned wine at Cana

Fathers, not to be contrary, that is not my purpose, but based upon other videos I have watched of Godsplaining you dive much deeper into both sides. In fact, in the episode on coffee you seemed to actively search for arguments to counter what your personal stance might be. I did not sense any such approach in this particular episode. I will not promote such usage as getting completely blotto, nor would I ever promote public consumption. 90% of America has open container laws for alcohol consumption so it is traditionally ingrained that such activity is wrong, but to Father Briscoe's slippery slope argument, I see cities beginning to enact public consumption areas in order to spur economic boom in certain parts of the city (we have it now in Canton, OH.) So along with Fr Briscoe I can see this going downhill rapidly especially since these areas are adjacent to the sports betting facility recently installed, for which there was no purposeful thought applied I am sure. (please color that in sarcasm). So I think we can place the public odor and consumption argument as moot since public consumption is generally and rightly unacceptable already. Secondly CS Lewis rightly stated something to the effect that society cannot legislate goodness into man but without good men good society cannot exist. In this manner it is the ethical formation of individuals that is foundational to both a good society and our purpose as Christians. Maintaining a prohibition does nothing to form good people. It is what it is, a simple prohibition. An atheist who does not murder because he does not want to go to prison is not elevated in the sight of God because he did not commit that particular sin. The secular law against murder, while mirroring the commandment is simply not the same. To Fr Briscoe's point on decriminalization when combined with my point on attempting to legislating virtues, it seems to me that our current society has been formed over the last 50 years to "cancel" anyone who has committed any crime, and especially marijuana. Removing the ability to find fulfilling work from people because of a marijuana conviction, is a form of murder if one does an examination of conscience. If you believe that gossip intended to ruin ones reputation is the same. It would follow that at best (emphasis), overhauling our criminal justice system and our social system to deal with people exiting said system in a truly just manner must be done in conjunction with the good Fathers call to maintain criminality for the substance or even prior to re-criminalization of it, but it cannot be done after. In regards to the harms, I will not argue against them, but simply say that it has been found that heavily processed foods contribute to Alzheimer's and dementia. This brings up 2 questions the first being would anyone say that marijuana is more mind altering than something that would cause the complete obliteration of the mind? Keep in mind the argument was made and put forth that marijuana was bad because it was "more" carcinogenic than tobacco. The second question is more direct and personal, would you do a podcast that supported the idea that criminalizing the production, sale, and more importantly the possession and consumption of said heavily processed foods? Our Catholic religion's teachings are so integrated and deep that the podcasts regarding coffee and even pride month were looked at in a much deeper and multifaceted way. Why was the "this too shall pass" option have been presented for pride month as a legitimate approach but the slippery slope of the fall of our society is introduced for marijuana? I am tempted to say that each person is tempted to look for confirmation bias for their own position on a topic, and perhaps it is happening to me now, and perhaps it happened to you while doing the podcast, I cannot say with surety. I would however like to hear a follow up to this conversation, not to defend against what I have just said but to examine these points from all angles as I have become accustomed to this podcast doing.

@markgross "Paranoia from smoking weed is person dependent. Some do get paranoid some never do." I think this is the heart of the matter. If it was possible to select and grow weed that has no paranoid effect on ANYONE, this would be another conversation. [Sorry for grammar mistakes, I'm not a native speaker]. Yes, there are many people to whom weed consumption is just about getting more joyful and relaxed and I understand that these people don't see anything wrong in marijuana use, but there is also a big group of people for whom it is linked to mind-altering experiences. We don't get hallucinations after alcohol consumption (ok, it may happen sometimes to extremely addicted people because of poisoning, but it's a different mechanism), but we may have it after marijuana or other recreational drugs. I think this is the real clue - Catholic teaching is generally against mind-altering experiences (drug-related ones but not only, it also includes all types of esoteric experiences) and if it was possible to create marijuana that would never have this effect on brain, I think it would become acceptable. I'm not sure if it is biochemically possible, but if yes, it would be great. Of course, alcohol is mind-altering too in some way (and getting intoxicated is a sin from Catholic perspective), but still, it is more about losing control than "being taken to the other side". Marijuana is much more psychoactive and I just think that science still doesn't know human brain enough to be able to properly measure these effects, that's why many drugs are sometimes described as less dangerous than alcohol. Effects of losing control over one's behavior are easily measurable, the effects of having psychoactive stimulation aren't (besides inducing mental illness), but still, my intuition is that there is something deeply wrong with using our brain this way.

Cigarette companies need a new crop to grow. Jails/ prisons are overcrowded. A thoroughly high ski resort restaurant staff were unable to COLLECTIVELY fully cook ramen noodles in Colorado. 😮

I have no idea what marijuana smells like but I will soon find out as I will be going to DC late this year. So not looking forward to that smell if it smells like skunk

'But cancer patients.' 'Are you a cancer patient?' *Gets angry 😂

THC is not poisonous

TS 7:55 Smoking weed is much more addictive than Tabaco???? Situation needed. Do you know what you are talking about? Plants are bread to be more potent, but not 30x more its like 2x. For the 30x dose you need to turn to concentrates like hash, and doing dabs. Paranoia from smoking weed is person dependent. Some do get paranoid some never do. I'd like to see the citation for the carcinogenic characteristics being worse than cigarettes. Birth defects? citation needed. For many smoking weed is similar to drinking alcohol only without the hangover the next day. The biggest downside to it is that it can impact memory, eating too much, and wasting time you could have been productive if you smoke too much. I agree with TS13.48 talking about getting wrecked. You cannot praise use of alcohol while you demonize using cannabis without showing your folly.

I find that having a modest amount of cannabis helps me discuss the Gospel and Church to people who otherwise dont hear it. I have a group of friends who went from dispising the Lord and the Gospel, to reading scripture on their own, and beong more open to discussing matters they were formally very reluctant to engage with. The fraternal experience of sharing a joint helped in that. I see no difference in that to what these holy Frs said about sharing a beer with friends.

It's not what goes into the mouth that defiles the man but what comes from his heart. In terms of what is most natural made from God, that would be marijuana. Marijuana needs no man, can grow wild and still have the properties your looking for. Marijuana is far more resourceful than anything else as well, industrial use, medical and recreational. Be responsible as with anything and pay attention to your brothers and sisters in christ around you, ones part time habit could be a stumbling block for others.

I think you can totally use marajuana without the goal of getting stoned. These conversations feel a bit biased sometimes

Weed has been fully legalized in Canada for almost 10 years now. The effects have been disastrous. There seems to be a widespread decadence and indulgence of mind altering substances. I’ve seen so many people become visibly dumber and depressed after starting marijuana use. People are addicted, and downtown city blocks now smell chronically like weed.

Deep down in my heart, I know that we should not be smoking weed. And I say this as a man who smoked for close to half his life. It is a pattern I fall into again, and again, and again, and again. It's hard to put down earthly things I love, but I must remember that I love Jesus more than the weed. Temptations can come in so many forms. 1 puff for me will equal months of smoking every day after work and all day on weekends.

Maybe you guys should just acknowledge that you don't know what you are talking about, and try to ask someone who does

Ganja is good

I thank the Lord for sending me my palliative care doctor.... without my medical license id be suffering immensely. Shocked by the misinformation (not one of their claims was cited) and judgement from these priests.

Not gonna lie, I really enjoy smoking weed. But, I love Jesus in the Eucharist more and I can’t have both. It helps with my service-connected PTSD, stabilizing my mood. I would likely have a prescription if medical use was legal in my state. But, gotta go with what the Church teaches whether I like it or not.

Colorado fell first for marijuana. "Rocky Mountain high". Anytime you lower your ability to judge right from wrong you commit a mortal sin.

Marijuana is no worse than alcohol. Both can be abused. It's hard for me to take this seriously. Most of what they're saying is not really the case. There is almost a 1:1 to alcohol except Marijuana is less bad for your body short term. If you say otherwise you probably have never experienced it.

Marijuana is a gateway drug

Over half an hour of uninformed nonsense.

I love you guys, but your take on this topic is simply wrong, and it clearly comes from a place of personal ignorance and lack of experience. It is absurd to denigrate responsible use of marijuana while approving of responsible use of alcohol and tobacco.

Is Biden just senile or is he high too?

Genocide is what's deadly and lack of freedom