Cassocks Vs. Cannabis: North Dakota Bishops Take Aim At November’s Legalization Ballot
Less than two months before the Nov. 5 election, when cannabis adult-use will be voted in North Dakota, two Catholic bishops from the State are urging voters to reject Measure 5.
Bishops David Kagan of Bismarck and John Folda of Fargo issued a joint statement to parishioners on Sept. 10, warning that cannabis legalization will harm “individuals, families, and communities.”
If passed, the measure would legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 and over. Measure 5 would allow adults to grow, possess, and sell cannabis legally in North Dakota.
This marks the third time voters will decide on the issue, following similar proposals that were rejected in 2018 and 2022.
Bishops’ Concerns Rooted In Doctrine
The bishops grounded their opposition in the teachings of the Catholic Church, reported Catholic news site Crux.
Citing the Catechism, they reminded the faithful that “the use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life.”
The bishops argue that regular cannabis use impairs brain function, harms lung health, and believe that cannabis can worsen mental health issues.
“Cannabis is not the harmless drug that some imagine it to be,” Kagan and Folda said. They argue that cannabis often acts as a gateway to harder drugs, compounding their concerns. Studies dispute this claim.
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