By snoadmin
Proposition 19 has sparked a lively debate over the merits of such a move.
In a free country, adults should have the right to use and even abuse any drug they choose without fear of prison. From the Reagan and Bush Sr. use of cocaine profits to support an illegal terrorist war against the government of Nicaragua, to the incarceration of large numbers of nonviolent offenders, the drug policy of the United States has been both ineffective and inconsistent in its application.
Whether the drug of choice is alcohol, marijuana or cocaine, however, the detrimental effects of drug use are limited to the user. Nevertheless, despite numerous claims to the contrary, marijuana is not an entirely benign substance.
To those who are predisposed to addiction, marijuana can be both a blessing and a curse. Its effects are milder when compared to those of alcohol and other drugs, but habitual users delude themselves into the belief that daily use of the drug has little or no adverse affect on their lives. I’m speaking from the perspective of someone who used to smoke pot every day and was surrounded with people who were also regular marijuana smokers. The fact of the matter is that regardless of its legal status, habitual marijuana usage can impair judgment, brain function and cause a general feeling of apathy and lethargy. While it may be true that marijuana is not physically addictive, the desirable (to some) psychotropic effects that it produces can be habit forming.
Getting high is often used as a way to escape from the stresses and rigors of everyday life, but when the high wears off, the user is left with the same set of problems as before. And with regular use, the user is also left with less of a brain to deal with the aforementioned problems. The truth about marijuana use is that it promotes a feeling of apathy in users, a lack of ambition and its prolonged use and abuse can lead to experimentation with more dangerous and addictive drugs.
When I see a regular pot user, more often than not I see someone who is not willing to deal with life as it actually is and someone who needs to constantly get out of themselves and escape from the present moment. It is immature and selfish behavior, and prevents pot users from getting the most out of what life has to offer.
All of that said, I support the legalization of marijuana. In a free country, we should be able to make idiotic decisions and, then, hopefully learn from them.
Sterling Harris is a graduate student in electrical engineering and a columnist for the Daily 49er.
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