Now, none of you will see me, or think of me and have your first thoughts go to things like "what a stoner", and you'd be right. I don't smoke marijuana, however unlike many others who abstain from the use of the drug, I consider myself extremely open to educational material related to marijuana, and the topic of its potential legalization. The problem here is although I leave my mind open to a changing view on marijuana as new evidence comes to light, I receive flak from people around be because I'm open to both sides of that legalization coin.
In my political science class today, I mentioned a 20-year study into the long-term effects of chronic marijuana use, which of course, earned me a great deal of backlash. Friendly tip, don't bring up the proven negative consequences of long-term chronic marijuana use in a college setting if you're not looking for a fight… College stoners seem to only be relaxed and mellow when they're high, and quite the opposite when someone indicates that they may be doing harm to themselves. In any case, I noted a 20-year study featured in the medical journal Addiction that listed the effects of long-term chronic marijuana use as:
- Increased likelihood of psychosis and psychotic symptoms.
- Earlier development of psychotic conditions.
- A doubling in the likelihood of developing a psychotic condition if the user begins smoking marijuana while in their adolescence.
- Increased likelihood of developing an intellectual impairment, showing that studies of marijuana-using students indicated consistently lower test scores and poorer chances of completing secondary schooling.
- Diminished IQ, especially when the smoking begins in adolescence.
The real issue here, in my mind, is not the list of effects that chronic marijuana use comes with, but the lack of willingness to listen to, and accept the scientifically proven consequences. One of the worst things we can do as people is to willingly stop thinking critically, and force through ideas based solely upon public opinion and group or leadership consensus.
The debate began after our professor mentioned the recent ads by government groups, listing the negative consequences of chronic, long-term marijuana use. The vast majority of the class disagreed with the spending of government funds on the ad campaigns, with arguments like "they could be spending the money on something else". It's an easy statement to make, but one that it rarely backed up (by your average college student) with a plan for said alternative spending, or indications as to why it would be better spent on the proposed alternative. Another student tried to counter by confronting me and asking "we know alcohol and tobacco are bad for you, but do you see the government taking out ads to denounce the effects of those drugs?" This was by far the most ignorant piece of pushback that I faced, as we are all, or should all be familiar by now with the "don't drink and drive" commercials, the Alcoholics Anonymous campaigns that note the negative effects of chronic or excessive drinking, and the health warnings and ads depicting the effects of cigarette smoking and second-hand smoke.
Folks, we know that chronic drug use is ultimately bad for us. Cirrhosis of the liver, throat mouth and lung cancer, cardiovascular conditions, all of these can be caused by the use of tobacco and alcohol just as truly as the previously bullet-listed effects are caused by the chronic, long-term use of marijuana. Does this mean that I feel we shouldn't decriminalize marijuana? No. I feel that it has the potential to be as much of a tax revenue cash cow as alcohol or tobacco, possibly even moreso. However, just because I support its decriminalization does NOT mean that I am willing to ignore, or that I will encourage others to ignore the possible consequences of their actions in choosing to partake in the use of any drug. Do I drink? Sure do, when the occasion warrants it. Do I smoke? Hell no, and you'll never catch me smoking unless it's a single, celebratory cigar on a VERY special occasion. Do I use marijuana? No, it's simply not something I'm interested in. These are my choices, based on a weighing of the risks and rewards associated with each, just as everyone else around the world makes their decisions. The problem right now is that, although the studies exist, and the effects are known, people are more willing to ignore the consequences of smoking marijuana, and decisions that risks your well-being should NOT be made while in a state of self-imposed ignorance. It's one thing to act without the ability to know the consequences with the mindset "you'll never known until you're tried", but it's something else entirely to say "I don't care if there's proof, I'm doing what I want, because I can".
Anyway, with my second non-paintball-related blogpost of the day, I'll leave you with this final question and an apology:
Question: Why do you think people are so willing to remain ignorant about the consequences of chronic marijuana use?
Apology: I'm sorry for publishing non-paintball items to the blog. I've linked my Microsoft Word to this blog specifically so anything I write from the Word "Blog Post" template will automatically be published here… Thinking about making this my only blog going forward to save on time and effort.
Regardless folks, as per the usual sign-off, keep calm and throw paint!
Joshua J. Taylor – The Noob Baller
