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Summary of Question:	Intoxicants Used For Medical Purposes
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Saturday, 4/05/2008 3:18 AM MDT

We are not allowed to use intoxicants. This has been made clear and the reasoning behind it doesn't need to be explained, especially in today's time when the effects of drugs (both legal and illegal) are well researched and known. However, studies have shown that a very small amount of certain alcoholic beverages have health benefits. Likewise, small amounts of alcohol has been used before as a cure for insomnia, pain relief, among other things. It still is in some households.

Likewise, cannabis too has medical usage. While the United States government continues to fund it's outrageous drug war to raid and shut down medical facilities and doctor's offices, they also provide marijuana cigarettes to a few patients left from a program abolished in the 1980's due to the outbreak of AIDS. The FDA itself approves of Marinol which uses THC as an active ingredient. While the negative effects of smoking cannabis is well documented, my doctor informed me that cannabis can be cooked, manufactured as pills, or "vaped." I personally did not take the cannabis route simply because even though my state legalized it's medical usage, the federal government has arrested doctors and patients. Marinol itself had little effect on me. Thus, I suffer from glaucoma and basically grin-and-bear-it.

I fully believe that the usage of what are normally considered to be intoxicants for medical purposes isn't against the Sikhi way. Why I'm asking a "question" is basically to hear your opinions about it (perhaps more than one person may reply with their opinion?). Think about it; Oxycodone is a pharmaceutical drug that I'm sure many Sikhs use for medical purposes without feeling guilty (and they shouldn't be). However, Oxycodone is an opiate, and I'm sure those same Sikhs would never touch heroin.
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reply
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Dear one,

You are referring to substances being used for medicinal purposes rather than recreational purposes. The answer is with the individual's intention that makes the difference. The Rehit Maryada states that taking drugs, intoxicants, and stimulants for recreation is altering the mental state and thus breaking your Amrit vow of having surrendered youself (head) to the Guru. Medical treatment is not recreation.

Blessings,
SK

SK