More and more countries have been legalizing the consumption of recreational Marijuana. As a result, Marijuana has been increasing in popularity. Muslims ought to know and understand when the consumption of weed is halal and when it is considered Haram.
Smoking or consuming THC infused weed for recreational use is considered haram because it is an Intoxicant. Intoxicants are forbidden for Muslims to consume. However, consuming CBD Marijuana for medicinal reasons is considered halal because it does not intoxicate you.
Table of Contents:
1. What is Weed (THC vs CBD)?
2. Is Smoking Weed Haram In Islam?
3. How Did Intoxicants (Including Weed) Become Haram?
4. Why Is Weed Haram?
5. Legal Recreation Weed Does Not Make it Halal
6. Is Medical Marijuana (Weed) Permissible For Muslims?
7. Is Weed Haram or Makruh?
8. Is Investing in Weed Stocks Haram?
9. Is Smoking Weed Haram During Ramadan?
10. Is THC Oil Haram?
11. Is CBD Oil Halal?
12. Are CBD Drinks Halal?
What is Weed (THC vs CBD)?
Marijuana which is also known as weed, herb, ganja, and Mary Jane is a green dried flower of the cannabis sativa (source). It can be ingested in many different ways:
- Smoking (joints, pipes,, water pipes)
- Food (gummies, brownies etc)
- Drinks
- Oil
There are two main active ingredients in Cannabis, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) & Cannabidiol (CBD). It’s important to understand the difference between the two because different Islamic scholars have different opinions about whether weed is halal or not and the tie breaker is usually in regards to consuming THC or CBD infused weed.
THC
This is the substance that most people are familiar with since it is the chemical responsible for the psychological effects associated with consuming Marijuana (source).
THC stimulates cells in the brain to which results in the release of dopamine, creating euphoria. THC can lead to hallucinations, change of thinking, and cause delusions. In a nutshell, THC found in weed is intoxicating and changes the way you act and think (source).
CBD
CBD is the second active ingredient in Marijuana (weed). It is derived directly from the hemp plant. Consuming pure CBD is still considered to be consuming weed, however by itself it is does not cause you to be ‘high’ as you’d typically see in the movies (source).
According to the World Health organization, CBD is proven to exhibit no psychoactive effects
In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential.
World Health Organization (source)
Is Smoking Weed Haram In Islam?
Smoking weed for recreational use is considered haram by almost all Islamic scholars. When analyzing multiple sources and Islamic scholars’ response to the question, they constantly referred back to this hadith:
Ibn ‘Umar reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Every intoxicant is Khamr and every intoxicant is forbidden. He who drinks wine in this world and dies while he is addicted to it, not having repented, will not be given a drink in the Hereafter.
Book 23, Number 4693 Sahih Muslim (source)
As previously discussed, THC found in Marijuana is an intoxicant. How is it an intoxicant you may ask?
Well it causes hallucinations, it inhibits your mind from thinking properly and changes the way you think. While it is not the exact same substance as wine, one can safely say that both wine and weed lead to similar intoxication effects.
Summary: Consuming weed that contains THC for recreational use is considered haram. However, using weed that contains CBD for medicinal reasons is considered halal.
How Did Intoxicants (Including Weed) Become Haram?
Prohibition of intoxicants (including weed) was not enforced at once, it was gradual. Before it was prohibited, it was known among Muslims that no one ought to come to prayers while they were drunk, dizzy, or during a dazed state of mind.
This is further proven by this hadith, Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said:
Every intoxicant that detains you from prayer is forbidden.
Book 23, Number 4960 Sahih Muslim (source)
Eventually, Alcohol (and intoxicants including weed) was flat out forbidden and that is included in the Quran.
Why Is Weed Haram?
Weed is considered haram because it is a form of Intoxication. From our interpretation of multiple sources of hadith as well as the Quran, here are the main reasons as to why weed is considered haram:
- Distracts Muslims from prayers and fulfilling their obligations
- Harmful (Can cause hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia and more)
- Prayer is not accepted if you’re Intoxicated, and praying is one of the 5 pillars of Islam.
There are several hadiths that clearly state that intoxicants (including weed) is haram but heres one that clarify it without any doubt.
Of that which intoxicates in a large amount, a small amount is Haram.
Ahmad,Abu Dawood and al-Tirmithi (source)
Clearly if you consume a large amount of THC infused Marijuana you will be intoxicated. Therefore by that logic, a small amount of weed is not permissible for Muslims.
Mentions In The Quran About Intoxicants (Including Weed) Being Haram
The Quran makes it clear that intoxicants are Haram.
(5:90) Believers! Intoxicants, games of chance, idolatrous sacrifices at altars, and divining arrows108 are all abominations, the handiwork of Satan. So turn wholly away from it that you may attain to true success.109 (5:91) By intoxicants and games of chance Satan only desires to create enmity and hatred between you, and to turn you away from the remembrance of Allah and from Prayer. Will you, then, desist?
Al-Qur’an 5:90-91 (source)
Clearly, Allah has forbidden Muslims from drinking as it is believed that Intoxicants (including alcohol and weed) are tools used by Satan to deter and distract Muslims from praying and fulfilling all their religious obligations.
Legal Recreation Weed Does Not Make it Halal
Countries around the world such as Canada, Argentina, Netherlands do allow the consumption of recreational Marijuana and it’s completely legal in those countries.
However, Muslims should not confuse legal with halal. Alcohol is also considered legal in many western countries, but that does not make it permissible for Muslims to consume.
Just because Marijuana may be legal in a country does not make it is permissible for Muslims to consume.
Is Medical Marijuana (Weed) Permissible For Muslims?
If Marijuana is used to treat a Muslim patient, then it is not considered Haram. While Muslims immediately dismiss Marijuana in general, it does have numerous medical benefits that can help treat different diseases.
Typically, CBD infused Marijuana, which is typically consumed in pills or oils, would be prescribed to patients to treat numerous conditions such as (source):
- Seizures
- Inflammation
- Psychosis or Mental Disorders
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Nausea
- Depression
- Anxiety
Remember that CBD weed (with no infusion of THC) is permissible for Muslims to consume since it’s primarily used for medical reasons and does not result in any psychoactive effects.
On the other hand, there are rare occasions in which THC infused weed can be used to treat these medical conditions.
Mufti Menk summarizes this perfectly. He explains when weed is permissible and when it is forbidden.
Learn more about whether vaping weed or nicotine is considered halal or haram.
Is Weed Haram or Makruh?
Consuming weed (that contains THC) for recreational purposes is considered haram, not makruh. This is because weed is an intoxicant and intoxicants are considered haram.
To clear any confusion, Sheikh Muhammed Saalih al-Munajjid clearly explains the difference between Makruh and Haram when asked about the difference between the two:
Makrooh in Arabic means the opposite of liked or loved.
In the terminology of sharee’ah it means that which the Lawgiver asks us not to do, but not in a definitive manner. It may be said that it means that for which the person who does not do it out of obedience will be rewarded, but the one who does it will not be punished.
Haraam in Arabic means forbidden.
Sheikh Muhammed Saalih al-Munajjid (source)
By that logic, since an intoxicant like weed (that is THC infused) is forbidden, it is therefore considered haram and not makruh.
Is Investing in Weed Stocks Haram?
Investing in weed companies that produce THC infused Marijuana used for recreational use and that contains THC (the psychoactive ingredient in Marijuana) is considered Haram.
This is because when you invest in a company, you’re essentially a stakeholder in that company. Meaning that if the stock you buy is involved in the selling of haram weed, you’re promoting the selling of it which could be considered as you helping someone sell an intoxicant to another person which is also haram.
This is our opinion though!
According to Ustadh Salman Younas who studies Islamic law, he makes the case that it is permissible for Muslims to invest in medical marijuana companies. Purchasing stocks in Medical Marijuana is permissible for Muslims as long as the Marijuana sold is only used for medicinal purposes (source).
He also makes a great point in saying that most companies that make medicinal marijuana typically use CBD which is the non-psychoactive ingredient found in Marijuana.
Example of A Halal Weed Stock to Invest In
FSD Pharma is a specialty pharmaceutical research and development company focused on developing FDA approved prescription medications that are used to deliver better treatment outcomes (source).
They recently signed a deal with a supplier for CBD based Organic Hemp Extract to manufacture their medications (source). Clearly they use hemp and “CBD weed” for their medication.
Currently listed on the stock market under the token name HUGE, this is an example of a halal weed stock. They use extracts of CBD weed to manufacture their medication.
Since their intention is to sell medicine and not get people high, this is an example of a halal weed stock that Muslims would be able to invest in.
Note: Always do your due diligence when looking for a stock to invest in. We are not giving you financial advice here, we’re simply giving you an example of a halal weed stock.
Check out our recent post if you’re looking for a list of halal stocks to invest in. Also, check out our recent post to know whether investing in a Roth IRA or 401K is halal or not.
Is Smoking Weed Haram During Ramadan?
Yes, smoking THC infused weed for recreational use on any day is Haram. Ramadan is a month dedicated to worship and fasting, so it’s always best to avoid it in the first place.
Is THC Oil Haram?
THC oil is haram for Muslims to consume. THC is responsible for the psychological effects associated with consuming Marijuana (source).
Therefore, THC Oil is an intoxicant and therefore considered haram for Muslims.
Is CBD Oil Halal?
CBD is proven to exhibit no psychoactive effects. Since CBD is not capable of intoxicating a person, CBD oil is considered halal.
However, Muslims ought to watch out for Cannabis based oils that are infused with both CBD and THC. If the CBD oil you are consuming has a substantial percentage or concentration of THC that is enough to intoxicate you, then it is considered haram.
Are CBD Drinks Halal?
CBD drinks are considered halal only if they contain no THC. CBD doe not cause psychological effects or intoxication. Therefore, drinks that ONLY contain CBD (with no THC infusion) are considered halal
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