"Anything like cannabis that claims to ease life's stresses only weakens the necessary resistance to what is dangerous," says Pastor Doyle Peyton, one of the cosigners of an open letter by clergy. "One of the things I have observed is, children often take what their parents do to the next level. Making cannabis as accessible as a Big Mac is guaranteed to destroy a generation. It is ironic that the same experts who warned a generation about staying away from cigarettes have opened the door to something much worse. We need to stop this madness."

In their letter the clergy wrote, "This past August 2025, many lives were shattered after the devastating tragedy involving a troubled person influenced by marijuana. Two innocent children were shot and killed by the transgressor as they were praying inside their church school; 21 others were also injured. The perpetrator previously worked at a cannabis dispensary and was fired just 2 weeks earlier over chronic tardiness and absenteeism. His final manifesto stated "weed had (explicative) my head up."

Unfortunately, this scenario involving marijuana has played out many other times. According to a US Secret Service report on school shootings, an analysis of targeted school violence on K-12 schools found between 2008-2017, half of the thirty-five attackers had a history of substance use and/or abuse, and the most frequently-used substance was marijuana.

Pastor Christopher Spencer, another cosigner of the correspondence, believes the Bible says there is a better way. "In Ephesians 5, the Word of GOD tells us, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."

The letter went on to say, "It is GOD's desire for us to have self-control and to live in freedom; freedom from addiction and freedom from sin. For this reason, the local faith community has had a long history providing moral clarity in its opposition to mind-altering marijuana," the letter said.

In 2013, the "Shepherds of the Valley" clergy group publicly advocated for random drug-testing for students in extra-curricular activities, which Clear Fork Schools are currently implementing. In 2022 and 2023, a sweeping majority of area clergy provided guidance publicly to state voters to oppose mind-altering marijuana. And in 2024, as local stakeholders, lead faith leaders publicly encouraged Bellville Village Council to prohibit commercial cannabis.

The clergy noted that "The destruction this psychotic drug has caused to local families has been detected. According to Nikki Harless, the Children Services Executive Director and Clear Fork graduate, "In 2023 alone, the Richland County Children Services Agency conducted 279 drug tests of minors with 137 teenagers testing positive for marijuana along with children as young as four days' old testing positive." Director Harless also stated parental drug use is the number one reason children are temporarily removed from their parents." (Screengrab image: via Frontlines Ohio)

Pastor Spencer went on to say, "The Marijuana Industry trumpets marijuana's benefits, promising a high with no low, and a reward without any risks, as area clergy, we are sounding the alarm. As 12 diverse faith leaders, we are encouraging voters to STOP cannabis dispensaries in Bellville & 'VOTE NO' on Tuesday, November 4th .

A recent Ohio study found THC was detected in over 40% of those who died in motor vehicle collisions. Researchers analyzed coroner records from Montgomery County in Ohio from January 2019 to September 2024, involving 246 deceased drivers who tested positive for THC in their systems following a fatal crash. A Wright State University Professor commented that high THC levels detected in the deceased motorists' blood indicated recent consumption.

Reverend Mike Stine, Spokesperson for "Residents for a Safe Bellville" commented, after 'medical' marijuana was approved by Ohio lawmakers and dispensaries were opened in 2019, we have sadly seen many Ohioans tragically die on the roadways. Montgomery County alone has five marijuana dispensaries. This is why we cannot let the Village of Bellville go haywire." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

The Bottom Line:

The Bible says in Ephesians 5, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."

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