It's funny, Gumby.
When my aunt was dying with cancer several years ago, I offered to help her with the nausea caused by chemo by looking into some medical *wink* marijuana. She, as a JW, would not use it as it was AGAINST THE LAW. It was not for doctrinal reasons so much as the law-breaking thing.
They would have to backtrack on this because the clinical evidence shows that marijuana affects your state of consciousness much less than many prescription narcotics, which they already approve of using. Had this discussion many times with my parents. Now that it is legally available (well kind of, you pretty much have to be on your deathbed to get approval to use it), there is no longer any legal basis for the WTBTS to forbid it for medical purposes.
One of the other reasons they had for the evils of maryjane was because it 'defiles your body' like tobacco, because you smoke it (tar in the lungs, etc). Well, that reason is invalid because you can eat it, and you can also use a vaporizer, so what excuse could they base their prohibition on?
I would be interested to hear what the WTBTS reasoning is in the Netherlands, where it is legal. Can JWs in Netherlands drink alcohol, but can't eat a hash cookie? Why is it okay to have a 'couple of drinks', but not just one hit of MJ?
hmmmm,
Of course a lot of non-JWs who are uneducated about the weed get wasted on alcohol often, and still hypocritically criticize weed smokers. I've known quite a few weekend drinkers over the years who look down on the dope-smokers. Like alcohol is better for you? HELLO !!!
So on this one, the WTBTS is no exception, at least not here in North America. IMO, all the drinkers who support the anti-marijuana laws are just as hypocritical as the WTBTS.
talesin