Legalizing Marijuana is not as Bad as it Looks ©

Ben Bustillo – Prohibited its reproduction.

 

Patrick Kennedy says in the article published by USA Today on July 28, 2014, that “legalizing pot endangers children;” but, isn’t it worst what is happening now that drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol are sold illegally to children in any jurisdiction as well as in any part of the world? Why legalizing marijuana couldn’t be just a step towards decriminalizing its use for those children who tend to smoke it at an early age and be raised without the stigmatization of acting criminally?

He begins his article claiming a nexus between smoking pot and mental illness. However, there are many scientific and medical studies conflicting with each other: those who say that it does, and their counterpart who flat out say it does not. Based on my personal experience and knowledge both are right, wrong and inconclusive; more important to me is the criminalization of the activity because raises a generation thinking they are criminals and their thoughts are degenerated from thereon.

 

Yes, if smoking pot at an early age leads to mental illness is a significant issue to consider. But more importantly is the stigmatization of its use as a crime when is compared to the ramifications of alcohol and tobacco usage. They are as equal if not worst to the side effects of smoking pot, especially when the thinking process of younger minds find themselves in front of conflicting conjunctures by confronting the dilemma of using alcohol, tobacco or cannabis.

 

I imagine that once they find how paradoxical life is by legalizing two powerful drugs, alcohol and tobacco that kill millions of people around the world, they quickly come to terms to see acceptable to smoke marijuana. But legally, is a crime; the other two are not. “Tobacco use is a risk factor for six of the eight leading causes of death” states the World Health Organization.

The social behavior for instance and peer pressure are another issues to consider when young minds go through when regarding the use of recreational drugs. Once they confront the situation in their thinking process, the definition of criminal enters into play. “Moreover, most conceptualizations of peer influence require social comparisons as an integral part of the influence process. In order for others to have an indirect impact on us (as opposed to direct requests to engage in a particular behavior), we must consider their expectations.

The war against illegal drugs has been lost since it’s beginning. Countries like Colombia that contributed to so many deaths and Mexico who is still struggling with a corruption beyond comprehensive reasoning are marked examples as to why legalization should be the next step to this generation.

Illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are available to anyone who wants to use them. It is a personal choice. I used pot when I was young from the ages of 21 to 33; I smoked cigarettes since I was nine until I turned 37; I also drank very little socially until about two years ago when I decided that I will not have a drop of alcohol again in my life. Out of the three, the one that cost me the most prominent effort to quit was tobacco. Starting and finishing was my personal choice; the beginning when I was young and the finishing at a mature age. I never hid these facts from my children.

Furthermore, I have three children between the ages of 40 and 32; my oldest son never touched pot or tobacco and drank socially like me, my middle son smokes pot, drinks socially and do not smoke cigarettes, and my youngest daughter only drinks socially. But I feel the need to narrate an episode of when she was growing up.

When I sensed that she was falling under the marijuana and alcohol peer pressure, I told her that she could drink in my house (her mother and I have divorced already) and if she wanted to try pot, to let me know and I would bring it to her. One day it happened, and I did. She smoked it a small count of few times and now does not smoke it at all, is married to her sweetheart (they have been together for more than 16 years) have two children and are both successful realtors. My two sons are also successful in the Real Estate Industry, an activity that they inherited or assimilated from me; the oldest one is married and has two sons, and the youngest is single.

The right education is the key to succeed in raising children in a society who offers illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco; they are issues that need to be adequately brought to their attention with the correct information at the right age. Instead of spending tax money in a lost battle, it should be paid for education, legalizing marijuana and decriminalizing its use.

                                                                   References

Lewis, Melissa A. Social Influences On Adolescent And Young Adult Alcohol Use. New York: Novinka/Nova Science Publishers, 2010. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 6 Feb. 2015.

World Health, Organization. World Health Statistics 2008. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2008. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 6 Feb. 2015.