"As key stakeholders representing one hundred forty-two diverse congregations from twenty counties, we support vibrant communities, and believe legalization of Recreational Marijuana will radically disrupt the health and safety of our culture," says Elder Moe Hill, former highway patrolman now faith leader.

"As the general public becomes desensitized to drug abuse, the next generation ultimately will become desensitized to right and wrong. GOD has provided many helpful medicines which come from trees and plants, but the Bible plainly states there was one tree in the Garden which was forbidden to eat from. In other words, there are natural products that can be toxic, including Marijuana" Elder Hill said at a press conference.

According to an open letter signed by lead clergymen from around the state, the rap sheet on cannabis is long. "For over fifty-years the federal government has classified Marijuana as a Schedule 1 substance because of its high potential for abuse. Whether it is flying a plane, driving a car, or navigating life, Marijuana decimates a person's self-control. It cognitively impairs its users by reducing reaction time, decreasing the ability to focus, and increasing risk-taking behavior. And if that is not enough, this illicit drug, which is more potent than ever, alters the user's mind and is associated with Schizophrenia and insomnia," the clergy said.

Pastor Joseph Yerger added, "As the Bible says in Proverbs 25, 'Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls."

One Morrow County Sheriff's Deputy almost lost his life in 2010 when uncovering a clandestine Marijuana-growing operation. Irrationally guarding his 1,700 Marijuana plants, a psychotic landowner shot Detective Brandon Moore four times. Shane Roush was later convicted for attempted murder and felonious assault.

Pastor Steve Brenneman commented, "Issue 2 is bad for Ohio. I was Sheriff when Deputy Brandon Moore was shot and I was at the scene. With thirty-four years in law enforcement, eleven as Sheriff, I have seen firsthand the devastating effects of Marijuana and how it has torn families apart. Marijuana will not release people from the problems of life, it will add to them. The only thing that will release depressed people from their problems is Jesus Christ."

The clergy also cited in their open letter a recent case where one Cuyahoga County teenager, smoking Marijuana, intentionally drove her car 100 mph into a wall, killing her boyfriend and acquaintance. She was convicted of four counts of murder this past summer.

Pastor Robert Kurtz says not only does Marijuana negatively impact the judgement of its users, it also adversely impacts the executive functions of the brain, decreasing reaction time.

"The American Automobile Association took ten years of data from Washington State which legalized Recreational Marijuana in 2012. They found the percentage of THC-Positive drivers doubled after recreational use was legalized, and fatal crashes involving drivers who tested positive for Marijuana also increased two-fold."

The Ohio faith community has consistently led the way in providing drug treatment ministries and opposing the use of Marijuana.  In 2017, Richland County clergymen representing seventy congregations successfully prevented the harvesting and dispensing of Marijuana. In 2022, lead clergymen representing one-hundred-ten congregations from nine different counties publicly opposed the state legalization of Recreational Marijuana.

Listed clergy co-signers have congregations located in 20 counties throughout Ohio. Counties with the most congregations represented included: Richland (82), Ashland (9), Crawford (9), Trumbull (9), Wayne (7), Huron (4), Stark (4), Knox (3), Morrow (3).

"In 2015, Ohioans overwhelmingly opposed the legalization of Recreational Marijuana," says Elder Hill. "Now this Fall on Tuesday, November 7th, we encourage Ohioans to do the same and "VOTE NO" on Issue 2. Do not let the Buckeye State get lost in the weeds." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

The Bottom Line:

"The Bible says in Luke Chapter Six, "Every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil."

Click Here and scroll down to view the slideshow from Frontlines Ohio of the clergy press conference from Wednesday, October 4th opposing Issue 2 Recreational Marijuana.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

TobyMac and Mandisa's Music Wake Up Artemis Astronauts on Day 6 of Their Journey

Chick-Fil-A Employee Reluctantly Accepts Reward after Finding Nearly $10,000 in Cash And Turning It in: 'True Integrity Is Doing the Right Thing When No One Is Watching'

Pastor Combats 'Incredibly Dark' NYC Chaos With BOLD Plan; and Sees Miracles

Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Legislation to Combat Terrorist Groups and Ban Sharia Law in Florida

ICE Arrests 13 Illegals after Firefighter's Tip on 'Unusual Amount' of People—Including Truck Drivers—at Pennsylvania DMV; Some in Line from China, Pakistan

CNN Fell for Fake Iran 'Victory' Claim, and Trump Destroyed Them for It

American Journalist Shelly Kittleson Released from Captivity

Fragile Ceasefire Violated by Iran: Reopened Strait of Hormuz, Now 'Closed' Once Again

Artemis II Mission Around the Moon Reminds All of Us to Look Up

Chick-fil-A Urges Families to Put Down Phones at the Dinner Table; You'll Get Free Ice Cream

Don't Be Fooled: Deadly Fentanyl-Laced Pills Look Just Like the Real Ones

Anti-ICE Activists Target Minnesota Church Again on Easter Sunday

Finnish Study Links Transgender Procedures to Decline in Youth Mental Health

Trump's Education Dept Tosses Title IX Agreements That Pushed 'Transgender Agenda' in Multiple Schools

Trump Confirms US Sent Guns to Iranian People, But the Kurdish Intermediary Kept Many of Them

'Disgusting Animals': Iran's Islamic Terrorist Regime Calls for People, Including Children, to Gather as Human Shields around Power Plants

Why the Resurrection of Jesus Is the Most Important Event in History

President Trump Cited the Gospel of John in an Easter Message to Christians Worldwide

Artemis Astronaut Offers Easter Thoughts About the Bible and God's Provision for Humans

School Suspends Student For Supporting ICE Agents, after Allowing a Protest Against ICE