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Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 7:31 pm
by zolek
Hi,

I've just wondering if people working for a legal marijuana dispensary have violated the 5th precept ? What makes it different from selling alcohol is that alcohol is clearly intoxicants, while in this case it's for medical uses only. What do you think ?

Much metta,
zolek

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 7:49 pm
by LonesomeYogurt
Marijuana is an intoxicant and thus selling it is a violation of the Buddha's prescription for right livelihood.

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 8:01 pm
by bodom
LonesomeYogurt wrote:Marijuana is an intoxicant and thus selling it is a violation of the Buddha's prescription for right livelihood.
What about narcotic pain relievers sold by pharmacists?

: anjali:

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 8:06 pm
by SDC
What bodom said...

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:03 pm
by zolek
At first, I thought that it's intoxicant and violate the 5th precept. But I now think about it twice and I got confused. I think it as a drug have good and bad side. It's only bad when people abuse it. In this case, seller intention is important. Is it right

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:09 pm
by DNS
As is typical, the Buddha was way ahead of his time, stating that for medicinal use it is okay:

http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=Cannabis" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Medicine is allowed and sometimes medicine can be drugs/narcotics.

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:14 pm
by Cittasanto
zolek wrote:Hi,

I've just wondering if people working for a legal marijuana dispensary have violated the 5th precept ? What makes it different from selling alcohol is that alcohol is clearly intoxicants, while in this case it's for medical uses only. What do you think ?

Much metta,
zolek
It would depend on why it is being sold!
but the answer is in your post, it is a legal marijuana dispensary so the person getting it would need to have it prescribed and it would be for certain things not anything, and for a particular purpose not for the sake of getting high!
so no they do not as it is a medicine, and would be classed as such in this instance.
morphine has the same problem, but how it is legally obtained is not breaking the precept.

The texts give an allowance for a certain amount of alcohol to be used in medicine, and although times have changed and drugs have also, the great standard is often used to make allowable things that are for medical purposes for legitimate reasons.

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:19 pm
by Ytrog
Moderation is key. If people can relieve pain and make an unbearable situation bareable it might be the lesser evil. Remember that a lot of food contains ingredients which influence your mind (think chocolate or coffee) not to mention the chemicals your body makes. It is no joke that love is intoxicating. Research found much the same chemicals in brains of people in love as heroin users.

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:19 pm
by Cittasanto
David N. Snyder wrote:As is typical, the Buddha was way ahead of his time, stating that for medicinal use it is okay:

http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=Cannabis" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Medicine is allowed and sometimes medicine can be drugs/narcotics.
although I doubt it is sold for that purpose I am curious as to its effectiveness?
not that I have rhumatic pain, but just curious if there have been any experiments in this medically?

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:27 pm
by DNS
I am not sure about its effectiveness in rheumatism, but have heard it is good for glaucoma, chemotherapy and AIDS patients, and others with chronic pain conditions.

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:36 pm
by Cittasanto
David N. Snyder wrote:I am not sure about its effectiveness in rheumatism, but have heard it is good for glaucoma, chemotherapy and AIDS patients, and others with chronic pain conditions.
I have heard this also, but there maybe some mad scientist who would like to test it
http://www.imarijuana.com/medical-marij ... -treatment" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
there is quite a list of other problems also

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:17 pm
by zolek
I agree, marijuana medical purposes has long been established. Still, I'm still confused. As you said the key is moderation, and I have to agree. Even though the seller needs permit to sell, and patients need prescription to buy, seller have no control how it be used. If I get into the business, at the end of the day, I still wondering how many percentage the patients only use it as prescribed...
But on the other hand, it's still no seller's responsibility, right? If the seller's sole intention is to sell for prescribed patients, would it classified as ethical business ?

I've been thinking about this for quite some time, and I'm still not clear :(

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:32 pm
by DNS
zolek wrote: If I get into the business, at the end of the day, I still wondering how many percentage the patients only use it as prescribed...
As long as it is a legitimate business that has gone through all the hoops, licensing, permits, testing, etc. then I would estimate at least 99% of the patients would be legitimate with genuine prescriptions from an MD. If it is an illegal business run from a house or apartment, then I would estimate that 99% of the customers would be for recreational purposes.

Choose wisely, i.e., the legitimate route.

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:44 pm
by zolek
I'm only talking about legitimate route here because my main concern is that I don't want to violate the precept. Thanks for everyone input, I will consider your opinion very carefully

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 11:03 pm
by Cittasanto
If it is the legitimate route then there is no offense so long as you only use it for its intended purpose!