Saturday, January 4, 2014

Reefer Madness in the Mile High City

Yup folks, it really happened. Marijuana is now legal in the great state of Colorado. Let the madness begin!!!


And let me tell you, things are really starting to come apart at the seams.  Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes... The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!



Ummm... actually, other than the non-stop media coverage of a bunch of happy stoners standing in line waiting to buy dope, pretty much nothing has changed.


Well, nothing has changed, and everything has changed. It's sort of amazing to tell the truth. It's like a societal truth had come out from the darkness and people are suddenly able to talk about marijuana without whispering or giggling, and there just seems to be a sense of relief throughout the city.

My personal opinion on this is that it's a massive step in the right direction, and gives me hope that our government will some day come to its senses and stop this ridiculous "war on drugs."


I know that this topic makes some people uncomfortable, and that my views might be controversial, but I truly believe that the prohibition of intoxicating substances does infinitely more harm than it does good, and I guess I have some pretty personal reasons for believing it.

I may have mentioned my cousin here and there in conversation. The thing is... she isn't really my cousin - that's just the most convenient word I have to describe our relationship. In reality she is my dad and step-mom's goddaughter.

Now why on earth, you might ask, do two vehemently atheist ex-Catholics have a goddaughter?


Well, here's the story.

My step mother is an immigrant from Germany, and as such, she tends to gravitate to other immigrants. In the 1970's her best friend was a woman from Czechoslovakia who had escaped from the communist country with her husband. My step-mom and her friend were both physicians working at a clinic in a rather rough part of town.

One night her friend was working late, and as she was locking up the building she was approached by a man who wanted drugs. What happened next is a bit unclear, but suffice it to say her friend was shot. She was also 8 months pregnant. They were able to save the baby, but not her friend.

Fearing that the baby could be sent back to communist Czechoslovakia should something ever happen to him, her friend's husband asked my dad and step-mom if they would agree to take custody of her if he were to die.

They, of course, agreed and had all of the legal papers drawn up. They also became her god parents and my "cousin" and her father became a part of our family, joining us for family vacations, weekend get-togethers and holiday celebrations.


The way I see it, making drugs illegal only makes them more scarce and more valuable than they otherwise would be. It creates currency for organized crime, and turns a social problem into a criminal one.

It also forces users into contact with criminals which leads many of them down a road that they would otherwise not have taken. It pushes addicts underground and makes them much more reluctant to seek help for their problems than they otherwise might be.

I know there will be many people who disagree with me on this one, and I'm certainly not saying that legalizing drugs would be without problems or incidents. I'm sure legalization would increase use, and probable mean that some folks would become addicts who otherwise wouldn't.


But the way I see it, people ought to have the freedom to mess up their own lives if they want to, and it's not like people with addictive tendencies don't already have access to alcohol - one of the most addictive substances around.

But at least if drugs were legal, innocent people would stop getting caught in the crossfire of this crazy war. And my "cousin's" mother, and thousands and thousands of other people like her would still be alive. That's the way I see it anyhow.


What do you think about the legalization of recreational drugs?




24 comments :

  1. I agree with you...I think that, as you say, legalising drugs would cause issues, but it would be better overall.

    This man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Nutt) has some interesting ideas about drugs- his table of physical harm/dependency is interesting, mostly for where alcohol and tobacco are!

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    1. Well, it's pretty obvious that what is and isn't legal has very little to do with what is and isn't addictive or dangerous. CatMan used to be a therapist working in a public clinic and he said that addicts regularly told him that quitting heroine was a piece of cake compared to quitting smoking!

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  2. On the one hand, I don't like mind-altering drugs and I wish nobody did them. We don't need them as kids and why do we suddenly need them as adults? My brain is mediocre enough as it is--why would I want to make things even more difficult for myself?

    On the other hand, people of every culture have mind-altering drugs, and other species like them too, so clearly I am the weirdo. Given that reality, I'm for legalizing drugs (at least for adults) but enforcing laws against directly-harmful behavior (such as causing car crashes) and probably even behavior that is highly asking for trouble (like driving under the influence).

    And I would like there to be some non-smoking areas (since smoking does affect others)--I did think they hadn't been fair with the rules against tobacco smoking everywhere when so many people are addicted (you can no longer smoke in restaurants or many, many workplaces in my city), but it seems to be working. Laws like that even got my mom to quit smoking just because it was getting to be such a hassle.

    Also, I've heard that marijuana is a good treatment for glaucoma and perhaps other things, and I know that hemp is a very durable, sustainable material, so I've always been annoyed that people have a problem with these uses.

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    1. Well... first of all I'm not so sure that kids aren't interested in "mind-altering" things. Have you ever watched a kid spin around in circles until they were so dizzy that they fell down? It always strikes me that they're enjoying a little buzz there.

      But anyhow, I totally agree about no smoking (of anything) in places where it can impact others. And in terms of DUI I'd support a zero tolerance policy. When I lived in Norway people drank like fish, but I never, EVER saw anybody get behind the wheel after drinking... not even a sip! I credit this to the fact that under their laws if you get caught drinking and driving, even on a first offense, you lose your license for LIFE. To me this makes sense - punish the things that harm others, not the things people do to themselves.

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    2. The spinning-kid thing is kids choosing ways to stimulate their vestibular system--which is actually healthy for their brain development. That's why kids like merry-go-rounds/swings/slides, etc. More info than you wanted, probably! :)

      I have mixed feelings on this topic--I'm all for the legal medicinal use of marijuana but am uncomfortable with the easy access of completely legalizing it--although, as noted several times in these comments, people can access what they want to get and it can be laced with more harmful substances. I think part of my discomfort is that the human brain isn't fully developed till 25 and so many teens/college-aged kids are making decisions on drug/alcohol use which can alter their brain function before their brains are fully functioning. Interesting post.

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    3. Interesting idea about brain development. Of course, what it makes me think about is how the most drug and alcohol use I ever witnessed was in college, so clearly the culture of prohibition isn't doing much to curb that behavior. I can't help but think that what we need is more/better education and some sort of a cultural shift, because prohibiting the stuff just makes it all the more attractive, especially to kids. I'm remembering parties in college where people would chug entire pitchers of beer and then play "barf tag" where they'd run around puking on each other.

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    4. It's hard for me to understand the appeal of mind-altering substances--I don't like the brain fog, never have, so I've never participated in the drug/alcohol culture. Puking in the toilet or on other people is not my idea of fun. Which is probably why I was never popular in high school or college. :) There are so many other things out there to do that are so much more satisfying and fun to do.

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    5. Well, I do enjoy the relaxed feeling I get from a glass of wine - but I think you ask a really interesting question - why is it that people want so badly go get away from themselves and their lives? Perhaps if we, as a society put some of the money and energy that we're currently wasting on this "war on drugs" into addressing that question, we'd all be better off.

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    6. Yup, you've hit on what I think is at the heart of drug and alcohol use. (And I also occasionally enjoy a glass of wine but I prefer to eat my calories rather than drink them--ha!--I'm not talking about people who manage their intake, my concern is with the crazy consumption folks ). In the medical world we call it "self-medicating". So you have to ask, what are they medicating themselves against??? Poses some interesting questions, doesn't it?

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    7. Yup... and my cynical side is saying "they're medicating themselves against this whole crazy messed up society!" I realize that's not terribly helpful, but it sorta seems like the case sometimes. :-)

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  3. I have no problem with people using drugs...in the confines of their own homes. I DO have an issue if other people have to deal with the second hand smoke or increase in dangerous behavior/driving. I feel the same way for cigarettes and actually feel they should be outlawed in public places. I just went to a concert for the first time in years. There were smokers (both pot + cigs) all over this place. I did a little experiment--if someone was smoking right next to me, I fake coughed all over them, and when they looked at me, I just yelled, "Sorry, I have the FLU!" They quickly moved away. I think it's funny they are disgusted that *I* would dare get them sick, yet could care less that THEY are the ones getting a lot more people sick. It was so effective, I plan to use this fake cough tactic in the future. Horrible, I know, but hey, it works & may send a message. Also, since The Husband deals with druggies/addicts on a daily basis, I see the toll they take on our healthcare system and first responders. I often wonder if drugs were legal if he'd be getting more calls or less...

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    1. Totally agree. You can do whatever you like to your own lungs, just please leave mine alone! I love your coughing strategy... it's a stroke of pure genius!

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    2. Smoking is banned in public places in the UK and it is great...the only downside was realising that the cigarette smoke had been masking how terrible some places smell...

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    3. I once had the chance to work as a clinical medical librarian out at a hospital in New Mexico. I spent a day working on questions with the docs, and I swear every single problem had the phrase "illegal narcotics" somewhere in the middle of it. This hospital was so busy dealing with the police they didn't seem to have much time to practice real medicine. People gravitate towards forbidden fruit. Make it fine and suddenly there's *gasp* less interest! Humans are strange. Like Megyn, I really don't care what people do, so long as their actions aren't going to hurt me.

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    4. Wow. I hadn't even thought about doctors having to waste time on legal issues. That's an eye opener. I agree about the forbidden fruit thing, but I also think that if drugs were legal and regulated you wouldn't have things like pushers out there on the street giving out free samples just to get people hooked.

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  4. While I'm uncomfortable with the idea of legalized drugs, the logical part of me totally agrees that legalization would do wonders to cut down on crime, both small and big.

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    1. Well, I've gotta admit that the idea of legal heroine does make me shudder, but in general I think that we, as a society, need to get beyond the idea that just because something is legal it is a condoned behavior. I tend to believe that we'd have much more control over the situation if drugs were legal and regulated.

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  5. As long as alcohol is legal, drugs should be also. I think booze causes more problems to society, and the problems associated with drugs are because of their illegal status. We need to stop the war on drugs and spend the money helping addicts get of drugs.
    Marie

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    1. Agreed. I've long thought that the most dangerous thing about marijuana is that it's illegal. I saw a study recently saying that since "medicinal" marijuana became legal in Colorado more teens report trying it, but there has also been an enormous drop in use of more dangerous drugs. I think this is a trend that will continue in general. I mean if people can go to a store and buy their dope, they won't be buying off of the street, so they won't be "in the network" of drug dealers who are trying to get them hooked on harder stuff.

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  6. I'm all for legalization, especially of marijuana which has so many health benefits. Making it legal those who use it wouldn't have to worry about tainted product ( i know someone who bought a joint to find it was laced with PCP, she's lucky to have survived the situations she ended up in). It would also bail out a lot of states who spend so much to incarcerate those for drug possession.

    We have a woman's prison nearby which employs a lot of people, I have several friends who work there and my son who did until a few months ago. The stories of why some are in are so sad. A good friend told me about a woman, who in her mid 60s allowed her daughter who lost her job to move back in with her. She was widowed, house was paid for and she had enough in the bank to support herself. Well, long story short, she didn't know her daughter was selling drugs until the police raided her home. The drugs were confined to the bedroom her daughter was using, the daughter said her mother had no idea about the drugs, but they convicted the mother, confiscated her bank account, and the house. This woman is now in her 70s. What will she do when she does get out? Her husband was the bread winner, so there won't be a huge monthly social security check. Who will give her a job at her age and with a felony conviction? She won't be able to rent in a subsidized senior apartment complex because of the felony. She's screwed and she never did anything.

    So basically the state can control the selling of marijuana making money, and save money by not paying to incarcerate users. The prison population would fall by a huge percentage.

    The subject of legalization has been coming up for decades in PA. When my boys were little the only concern I had centered on how they would prevent bus drivers from being high while transporting school kids, but then figured they could be doing it already.

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    1. Wow, that story is both tragic and infuriating. My cynical side is sitting here wondering how much money the prison lobby dumps into the other side of this argument... it's sort of horrifying that we have an entire private industry built up around incarcerating people.

      In terms of school bus drivers... well, I don't think that situation would be much different that what we've already got with alcohol.

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  7. Tricky subject. While marijuana is fairly harmless and not addictive, I am not in favor of the broad legalization of all drugs. The societal damage caused by drug addiction clearly justifies their status as illegal substances.

    I can agree with the high-level notion that adults should be able to do what they would like with their own bodies. If they want to hurt themselves, so be it, right? Drugs present a tough wrinkle to that philosophy though: an intoxicated person can cause so much more damage to society (e.g. - drive a car onto a sidewalk and take out 4 people, rack up so many bills for treatment that the individual cannot possibly repay them, etc.) that proper punishment/payment is no longer possible. When an addict decides to use heroin, meth, etc. - he is not just hurting himself. We collectively (and disproportionately) pay a price for the individual's actions.

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    1. Agreed, drugs do cause some societal damage - I'm just not convinced that the criminalization of drugs does much to curb this, and it causes soooo many other problems to truly innocent people.

      I do have to agree that the idea of legal and widely available heroine or meth does make me queasy - but the thing is, if someone is an addict, they're gonna do ANYTHING to get the drug, and therein lies the problem. I'm not necessarily suggesting that we have shops on every corner selling hard drugs, but what if there were community clinics where addicts could go where they could legally get the drug but also get counseling and other help? I tend to believe that addicts would seek help much sooner if they were not thrust into the world of the criminal underground, and not hiding out from the police, doctors, social workers and other people who could help them.

      And in terms of accidents caused by people who are under the influence - well if we really want to take a bit out of that problem we should start with alcohol. It's always struck me as totally crazy that people can to out to a bar and drink as much as they want... away from home... and the bar has no liability for what accidents they may cause on their way home. I'm not sure exactly how to regulate that... limits on the number of drinks that can be served? You must show proof that you're not driving in order to buy a drink? Stiffer penalties for drinking and driving - in Norway you lose your license for life after one violation.

      I'm not claiming that drugs are good, or that legalizing them wouldn't cause problems - I'm just saying that the current approach is NOT WORKING, and I think society would be much better served by analyzing what the real problems are and looking for creative ways to solve them rather than taking the punitive "Rambo" approach that we always seem to gravitate toward.

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Thanks, and have a fabulous day!