Legalize Pot or Not?
At the risk of being classified by my kids as totally uncool and not with the times…yet again…
I decided to come out of the closet and admit…that I did not vote to legalize pot in California in the last election. Surprised? Me TOO, actually! I’m pretty liberal and I also am a firm believer that people should take responsibility for their own actions and health.
But with my kids still under 21, my little “momism warning antennae” went up, I guess…the idea of sending the message that “pot is ok” to young teens just seemed wrong…what do you think?
If you do some research, you’ll see all kinds of experts who will say that pot is bad for teenagers due to their developing brain, that it can impact memory and other cognitive behavior. It also is loosely linked to psychosis as a young adult (not that it causes it so much as it may be another risk factor to someone already prone to having issues). Some will say today’s pot is much stronger pot than “back in the day” so that it is dangerous. Some say it is a bridge to more dangerous drugs. And the list goes on.
On the flip side, you will hear many versions of why it would actually be a good thing to legalize it. The Mexican drug cartels will not be in the “selling pot to teenagers” business anymore. Some will say that if it was legal, it would be regulated and “street versions of the drug – perhaps tainted with other drugs” would likely not be as available…and that “strengths” and purity would be more constant, etc. Other things you will hear are the benefit of tax revenue for cities, as well as the benefit of not making “criminals” out of law-abiding adults who just want to light up, just like many of us have a glass (or two) of wine at night.
Who is right? 
My sons and their friends can argue for hours on the topic of pot legalization. Apparently everyone in college uses it…some more than others, but I am told EVERYONE uses it…isn’t that funny that EVERY college student in the US is using pot and I wasn’t aware? .
In any case, the sons do bring up a lot of good points…that pot use should be an individual’s responsibility just like alcohol…that alcohol is worse for people’s health and is a bigger societal issue/cost, that heavy alcohol use can kill a person, etc. But I keep coming back to that “momism”…that making pot legal sends the wrong message to young teens. Young teens with developing brains, research has shown, should not be using pot on a regular basis…but young teens do... So the question is, would making it legal INCREASE young teens’ usage? Will they laugh off the potential dangers, given the “legal” endorsement? Or does it really not matter…that is the question I struggle with.
As a writer and researcher, I try to look for scientific explanations…and there are many studies and “experts” on pot. But I can tell you that just as many studies and experts SUPPORT legalizing pot as there are of those AGAINST it. I was finding myself on the fence…and then I came across Marijuana Anonymous. Did you even know there was a Marijuana Anonymous? I didn’t.
So I went to a Marijuana Anonymous meeting… (and will protect the attendee’s privacy)…I will just share my overall impressions as I felt it was a great learning opportunity.
First of all, I was a little surprised by the people who were there, they all looked “normal” and “professional” to me. I am not sure what I expected, a bunch of old, stoned hippies??? In any case, a couple of dozen, well-dressed and articulate people, ages 20-50. And they all were trying to break their addiction to pot. So, note to my sons…people do get addicted to pot!
Most had been pot users for years, starting young, and had smoked for over a dozen years by the time they finally “hit bottom” and realized they needing to get help. They all expressed how they never thought they had a problem and had used all of the common rationalizations like, it is a natural herb! They could be doing a worse drug, like cocaine! Or…since people want to legalize it, certainly pot couldn’t be a bad thing. Oh, and if alcohol is legal, pot is not as dangerous as alcohol, so it should be legal, too. (it is all the same stuff people likely hear from those millions of college students out there who smoke it!)
Most “hit bottom” when they lost an important relationship. There was a general theme that people hit bottom as they became isolated from friends and family, or went no-where in a job…and finally just couldn’t look to a future that was any different.
The stories went on and on. And what struck me was that these people were just everyday people. They were not street people or people suffering from mental issues. These were seemingly bright people (with loving families) who had had many opportunities, but who had anxiety over possible failures or doubts…or perhaps just immaturities from their experiences in their lives that led them to rely more and more on pot, not just for the infrequent social moment, but as an escape or coping mechanisms. And that their need to constantly focus on and figure out how to incorporate pot into their lives became a morning to night obsession, created isolation and numbed them to what was happening in their everyday life…creating a real self-centeredness of amazing proportions. (and the reason that part is in RED, is that this is my area of concern…this RED part could refer to 99% of pre-teens and teens out there…especially in the days of online bullying and social media…
Oh, I wish it was easier to be a mom…my “momism warning antennae” makes it hard to sacrifice the few (those who might be more ripe for developing a dependency or health issue) for the rights of many. I worry that making it legal will send the wrong signal, but realize that maybe it doesn’t matter. I wish I knew for sure.
I will just continue to stew on the issue, I guess. Like with much of my parenting life, I’m often trying to figure something out way after it becomes too late to influence my own kids on it…but if you have a teen at home who you think is smoking pot, you could at least leave the Marijuana Anonymous info on their pillow…along with the 12 questions they should ask themselves to see if they may be developing a dependency…yes, I know you’re right (they probably won’t), but you can always try…
- Has smoking pot stopped being fun?
- Do you ever get high alone?
- Is it hard for you to imagine a life without marijuana?
- Do you find that your friends are determined by your marijuana use?
- Do you smoke marijuana to avoid dealing with your problems?
- Do you smoke pot to cope with your feelings?
- Does your marijuana use let you live in a privately defined world?
- Have you ever failed to keep promises you made about cutting down or controlling your dope smoking?
- Has your use of marijuana caused problems with memory, concentration, or motivation?
- When your stash is nearly empty, do you feel anxious or worried about how to get more?
- Do you plan your life around your marijuana use?
- Have friends or relatives ever complained that your pot smoking is damaging your relationship with them?
So, let me know what you think on the topic…and thanks for reading…
Obsoleted Soccer Mom 