I think writer’s block might be a real thing. I used to think that it was just a romanticized way of saying that you just had no ideas, but I think it’s more complicated than that.

As I am trying to figure out a topic to write about for my second submission to The Editorial, I feel stuck. I wanted to write something about making friends in college. It was going to be a 5-step guide on “How to Make Friends During the First Week in College.” But after getting mixed opinions from people on the matter, and questioning how much people would actually benefit from it, I struggled with writing down my first few sentences. Plus, where was the heresy or hearsay in that topic? What ever reason – writer’s block or my lack of creativity – I couldn’t get my ideas out. 

But there was another topic that I felt like I needed to write about instead. That topic is cannabis. Yes, I know, unpopular and popular depending on the people you talk to. For the first group, it is the bane of all youth and more damaging than alcohol or cigarettes. For the second group, it is a misrepresented plant responsible for some relaxing nights under its guise. 

I think I am under the latter group of people. But please note: I am not advocating for it, nor am I suggesting that everyone should go out and roll a quick one as soon as they finish reading this. Furthermore, most of my intended readers – young college freshmen or old-fashioned church-goers – wouldn’t fare too well with me telling them that devil’s lettuce is actually jazz cabbage.

Maybe if I was writing for a general audience under no overarching premise, I would just leave them with a trimmed-down version of the opinion of the second group and call my work done. But I’m not writing for a general audience. And the Bible is the premise that I need to define my writing by. So, what does the Bible say about Mary Jane? 

Well, the Bible doesn’t say much about this grass. In fact, it doesn’t say anything at all. But it’s easy to make some assumptions about what it would say if King Herod was lighting it up every night outside the temple walls with his pals.

5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:5)

2 Timothy 4:5 says to “always be sober-minded” and to “do the work of an evangelist.” And unless you’re getting baked far too frequently and your tolerance is way too high, smoking a doobie is going to take that from you.

While these types of topics are controversial, they should still be considered. If a dialogue is opened and people feel comfortable discussing these issues, then we can all benefit from this interaction.