Okay, so now it's personal. Isn't it past time we take the stigma of Cannabis use away? Isn't it time we legalize the recreational use of Marijuana for adults?
A friend of mine, who is a responsible working adult, got random drug tested yesterday. He never has gone to work high, but he does use Cannabis to relieve some of the stress that his job entails. Now the question is, will he keep his job?
One thing that bugs me is that if he were dying of liver disease because he drank a bottle of whiskey each night, that would be totally fine.
The fact that some of the folks above him in the corporate structure most likely use other drugs that don't stay in the bloodstream as long as THC will never be discovered. How many of them abuse pain killers or maybe do a line of cocaine, just for fun.
The fact that substances that are MUCH more harmful (as if Marijuana has many harmful effects) are either legal or less detectable seems to slide right by most people. Why is there no outcry about the terrible toll alcohol brings? Why is there little concern about those who calm their nerves with tobacco?
This young man is in a very high stress position. If he keeps his job, I am sure they will test him more often. That means he can no longer use Marijuana as a stress reducer. In the past, he used alcohol. He is not a nice drunk and that's what led him back to using Marijuana now that he is an adult. He can smoke and relieve stress and then go to work the next day. He isn't hung over and he didn't make an ass of himself or piss anyone off. He just got high, mellowed, ate some ice cream, and forgot about his day.
If he returns to using alcohol is will not be good.
Now some might say that he needs to buck up and not let things get to him. Many that might say that will say it after their third drink, or after finishing their cigarette. We all have some stress and not all of us are the Dali Lama and can just chant OM an few hundreds times and come away floating on a cloud.
It is time to legalize. It is time to take away the stigma. Now it's personal!
Stoney
