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Oppose Marijuana Expansion
Southern Baptists affirm that all of government is ordained by God and should be aligned with God’s design for human flourishing. In the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, Southern Baptists recognized that government is “ordained of God” and therefore, Christians have a duty to “render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God.” Additionally, the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 affirms the end goal of the Christian life involves bringing “industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love.”
Southern Baptists have time and again affirmed that drug use of any kind tends to result in a proliferation of crime and directly undermines the institution of the family. In the 1973 resolution “On Alcohol And Other Drugs,” Southern Baptists resolved to encourage Congress and other federal agencies to “control advertising of alcohol, tobacco, and other addictive drugs which perpetuate the drug orientation of the culture.” Additionally, in 1989, Southern Baptists reiterated concern through the resolution “On Drugs And Violence,” which in part, urged pharmaceutical companies to “restrict, where possible, the sale of chemicals and materials used to produce illicit drugs” and urged government at every level to address drug-related problems.
In 2025, President Trump signed an executive order urging the attorney general to prioritize the rescheduling of marijuana to a Schedule III drug. While this would not federally legalize marijuana, the executive order lessens federal restrictions on marijuana, downgrades its labeled risk for addiction, and allows the FDA to research medical uses for cannabis products. This classification change is intended to allow for more research and quality control of marijuana used for medical purposes. As a Schedule III controlled substance, marijuana supposedly is now deemed to have a lower addiction risk, despite studies showing 30% of marijuana users develop Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). CUD is an addiction-based dependence on marijuana, for which the odds increase the earlier in life a person begins using marijuana. Additionally, marijuana businesses will now have access to federal tax breaks and business deductions, funneling significantly more money into the predatory industry.
Additionally, many states are implementing laws to legalize marijuana, despite clear scientific concerns and potential contradictions with federal law. Such laws are confusing to citizens, who often may seek to be law-abiding residents of their state, and undermine statistical evidence of the highly addictive nature of marijuana and other drugs.
The ERLC opposes any legislative or executive branch measures to expand access to marijuana in our nation. We continue to push back on efforts by the administration to broaden access to marijuana and urge lawmakers to prevent widespread use of marijuana in their communities.
SBC Actions
Southern Baptists spoke to recreational marijuana at the 1973 annual meeting through the resolution “On Alcohol And Other Drugs” and, since that time, have consistently, persistently, and vigorously opposed policies that would expand its use.
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