A former U.S. Justice Department official is raising a provocative argument: Christians may be able to use medical marijuana in line with biblical principles—if the federal government follows through on plans to reschedule the drug.
In a new paper published in the Indiana Health Law Review, Melvin Otey, a law professor at Faulkner University and former DOJ trial attorney, contends that federal rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) would create room for Christians to embrace medical use as a legitimate therapeutic option. Recreational use, however, he says, would remain “inconsistent” with scripture.
“After rescheduling and consistent with biblical principles, people will presumably be able to use it therapeutically just as they use other intoxicants for their legitimate medicinal needs,” Otey wrote.
Still, rescheduling does not equate to legalization. Unlike other Schedule III substances such as Xanax or ketamine, marijuana would require explicit Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as a prescription drug—a prospect most experts view as unlikely given the agency’s skepticism toward botanical medicines.
Otey stressed that “the general public probably does not realize that marijuana possession remains a federal crime, even in states that have substantially decriminalized its manufacture, distribution, and use.”
Having served in DOJ’s Organized Crime and Racketeering Section and later in its Gang Section, Otey emphasized that even with reform, recreational use would remain a federal offense and run counter to “several biblical principles.”
At the same time, he acknowledged that history suggests deregulation leads to “lower prices and easier access,” which in turn increases consumption—raising broader concerns for policymakers and faith leaders alike.
Public opinion among religious Americans, however, continues to skew against legalization. Research shows that people of faith are significantly less supportive of marijuana reform compared to the non-religious.
The Biden administration formally proposed rescheduling earlier this year, but President Donald Trump has made the issue part of his second-term platform, suggesting that a decision could be imminent. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers say momentum is building for incremental reforms, including expanding banking access for state-legal cannabis businesses.
Read the whole article from MarijuanaMoment here.
