Marijuana is seen as a tool toward enlightenment, but what does Buddhism actually say about it? Medical marijuana has converts from all walks of like and Buddhism is one of its fans. RELATED: How Does Marijuana Affect The Brain In Buddhism, the Fifth Precept is frequently interpreted to mean “refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to heedlessness”, although in some direct translations, the Fifth Precept refers specifically to alcohol. Buddhism is not the most popular religion in North American with less 1 percent self identifying, but its ideas permeates our culture. They are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.