Let's All Have a Smoke and Learn

Marijuana - often referred to as weed, grass, ganja, reefer, pot, Mary Jane, and herb - is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of Cannabis Sativa, the hemp plant. Marijuana has been used for thousands of years for the "high" that it brings, for use in cooking or brewing tea, or even as medicine. Teenage marijuana use has been a hot topic for many years. It is not a concern for the rich or the poor, nor is it in a concentrated area, but everywhere. I chose to partake in this epidemic myself. Both sides have argued the benefits and the threats of marijuana use. The numbers of teenage drug users has fluctuated during this time and activists are trying to get a handle on the situation.

According to Paul Armentano (1998), there is no youth marijuana crisis. He states that politicians, prohibitionists, and news media often confuse the facts when talking about drug usage. The number of teenage drug users has changed since the early 80's. Statistics show that there are over 10 million users of marijuana in the United States and teens account for about 10 % of this number (Stephens, 2002). Contrary to popular belief, most teenagers don't use marijuana. However, the news media has portrayed marijuana use as a "soaring epidemic" amongst teens. This is not necessarily true and advocates are responding to these accusations with a fiery.

Marijuana possesses many benefits to its users. Some enjoy it for the euphoric pleasure that it brings. It has been known to aid those who use it for medicinal purposes. In the state of California, doctors "recommended" the drug. Canada has even legalized the use of marijuana for the terminally ill. These patients include teens that are suffering from leukemia, cancer, and Hodgkin's disease. In 2003, Dr. Hadorn, stated that available evidence from culture in which children are provided with cannabis [marijuana] for therapeutic purposes (e.g., Jamaica) has failed to detect any specific adverse effects from such use. He adds that when used in small doses, marijuana can be more effective than Ritalin.

Studies have also shown that marijuana does not lead to death. Nor those using the drug have any harmful side effects. Many seek to take the stigmatism of marijuana away. Advocates seek to decriminalize marijuana, making it a legally obtainable substance. If this was to happen, it could reduce petty crime for possession or crimes of cultivation. In Holland, marijuana is legal and crime has decreased rather than increased.

I believe that marijuana is no more addictive than nicotine. In fact, I believe that nicotine to be more addictive of substances. Case in point, I used nicotine before my indulgence in marijuana, throughout my endeavor with marijuana, and preceding my facet with marijuana. In comparison, I also find that alcohol is more addictive than marijuana. In my personal experiences alcohol has caused more death, more family turmoil, more birth defects, and more breakdown of society than marijuana has ever caused. Though I would not consider myself to be a marijuana activist, I would say that if marijuana were to be legalized, we would definitely see an increase in employment for United States citizens. I state this because on many job applications, it is asked if the applicant uses marijuana or any other drugs. If marijuana were eliminated from being a controlled substance, many more Americans would have an opportunity for growth. In comparison to addictions, we have some legal substances that have proven to be more addictive than marijuana has ever been. However, because the American government can manufacture these substances - they are legal. I believe Chris Rock said it best "if America could grow some good weed, it would be legal." For instance, nicotine has more chemical additives than any marijuana available. Alcohol comes in weak strength (i.e. wine, beer, etc), mild strength (i.e. cheap liquors), super strength (alcohol that has been aged for many years), that has a more subduing affect on the consumer.

Now that I have given you the facts about the drug I chose, I want to tell you why I chose it and what I was going through that allowed me to make that choice. At the time I began to use marijuana heavily, I thought I was going into "Job Corps" and I would be in some type of boot camp. I decided that if I had to go somewhere where I wasn't going to see any females, cars, friends, family etc. I might as well have a big party before I get there, you know, sew my wild oats. Well after smoking as much marijuana as possible, I finally departed, on my way t job corp. I arrived at job corps and I was shocked. There were cars and girls there; it was truly sort of like a college campus. Another shock was that there was also a drug counselor with a little cup. I thought I would just come down off my high and live life. I was wrong, I was subjected to a urine screen and because I had a tainted sample to give, I was immediately placed on restriction. Normally when a person arrives they are eligible for a home visit after their first thirty days on "campus," but if your urine is dirty you have to wait ninety days. I learned a valuable lesson in assumption on this occasion. "They are not to be made!" During this time I was not using critical thinking skills, I was young and I decided to go off what everyone else said. I believe now; I don't listen to anyone, I find out for myself, thanks to this lesson of life.

References

Barr, Bob. In his debate with radio talk show host Neil Boortz on May 14, 2002.

Hadorn, D. Dr. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved from

www.drugabuse.gov on January 13, 2005.

Stephens, Robert S. OPED, Did Homer go to Pot? Marijuana Policy Project. Seattle

Times. May 17, 2002.