I am one of those rare individuals who made it through the stress and peer pressure of high school, college, and two George W. Bush elections without out ever smoking a joint. 
My abstinence is not a sign of moral superiority or effective anti-drug education. I’m just a risk averse person by nature and smoking, snorting, or shooting any substance without FDA approval carries consequences I prefer to avoid.
As with most things, my opinions about drugs are formed around the most concrete information available. After digesting decades of public debate about the effects of illegal drugs and more Google searches than I can count, one thing is clear. Most people are ignorant of the effects of Marijuana use. Here are some things to consider.
5 Facts You Should Know About Marijuana
- Marijuana is less addictive than tobacco, heroin, cocaine or alcohol and the majority of people who experiment with marijuana never become addicted.
- Marijuana does not cause lung cancer and pot smokers are roughly 62 % less likely to develop head and neck cancers.
- Marijuana is not linked to violent behavior. (unlike alcohol)
- There are no recorded fatalities attributed to Marijuana overdose.
- Sentencing for possession of Marijuana is on par with sentencing for third degree assault (varies based on jurisdiction).
Despite these facts, the conservative mindfuck cult believes the path to hardcore drug abuse, declining health and societal anarchy winds through a field of pot plants. In reality, the only place that pot smokers wreak havoc is the snack food isle in the local supermarket.
Each year, an estimated 443,000 people die prematurely from cigarette smoking and another 75,000 die as a result of alcohol abuse. Yet the use, and abuse, of alcohol and tobacco continues because we have deemed their consumption a matter of individual choice and personal responsibility. That same choice should be extended to the 16 million American Marijuana users who have opted for a safer choice. Well, not the 12 -18 year old smokers, but all the adults should have that right.
