There has been an ongoing debate in our country about marijuana. It has medicinal purposes, but many use it for personal enjoyment.
I imagine my readers may assume that I am pro marijuana. This is a question that plagues me daily. I know that marijuana does have medical benefits. Currently, though recreational use is illegal throughout the country. How do you separate the two though?
I do support the use of plants to aid us in health and healing. My experiences so far though have been limited to people using it for fun.
Is Marijuana Addictive
Over the last several years reports have been made that marijuana is addictive. In a recent article on CNN it was reported that marijuana use leads to dependence about 9-10% of the time. Tobacco is the highest at 30% and that is legal.
Both of my parents are smokers and have tried for years to quit with no success. Years of watching them try I have witnessed firsthand the addictiveness of tobacco. Since marijuana is not legal it is hard to know since people can’t talk openly if they have tried to stop using.
Unfortunately, I have seen people get arrested for possession of marijuana or paraphernalia. They face fines and jail time, yet they still use. If this drug is not addictive, then what affect does it have that becomes more appealing then freedom? Why do people risk both personal and financial freedom to keep using marijuana?
Is marijuana a gateway drug
Over the years federal agencies have also used the claim that it is a gateway drug. According to claims uses will move on to more potent drugs. There are no studies to show that this is case.
Shifting Mindset
I tend to stay on the right side of the law in the choices I make. I will admit that I drank while underage once. The experience was so unpleasant that I didn’t drink again until I was 25. I did have a summer in my mid-30’s of binge drinking. The black outs and hangovers I experienced made me do some soul searching and I was able to curb my drinking. This is how I feel about recreational marijuana use. If we legalize it for recreational use, are we giving people another substance to use to hide from problems?
For medical use though I do think it is worth exploring. We have so many prescription drugs that are being used to treat countless numbers of physical and psychological problems. These synthetic drugs have so many side effects maybe marijuana can be an answer.
In conclusion I will say that for medicinal purposes I would support the use of marijuana. For states like Colorado and Washington that are allowing it for recreational use I am scared. I think that people really need to just slow down. Enjoy nature and each other and they may find that they don’t need drugs, alcohol or nicotine to enjoy themselves. The debate is a complex one that I believe will continue for years.
What are your thoughts?
