The Catechism also affirms the Christian virtue of temperance, which “disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine,” (No. 2290).
It is the medicinal aspect of cannabis use that previously prompted a German bishop, Franz-Josef Bode, to tell journalists in 2022 that he used cannabis — prescribed by his doctor — to alleviate back pain and that he personally supported some form of decriminalization. (Bode, a key player in the German Synodal Way, resigned from office as bishop of Osnabrück in March 2023.)
The Commissariat of the German Bishops in Berlin — an official liaison office working to integrate Catholic perspectives into Germany’s political discourse — issued a more substantial statement on the matter in 2023.
Raising several concerns, the commissariat called for better protection of human dignity, especially the youth and families. The statement also warned of the potential effects of cannabis on anyone under 25 years of age, pointing to evidence from several scientific studies. At the same time, the bishops’ office emphasized the need for evaluations after any laws come into power.
The American experience
Based on over a decade of experience with the actual impact of legalization in parts of the United States, Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver issued a pastoral letter on drugs in November 2023 — some 10 years after Colorado legalized cannabis.
Be the first to comment