Cannabis New Perspective

Hypocrisy, doesn’t that annoy and upset a lot of people? The world is always filled with people that will tell someone that what they are doing is wrong, harmful, not morally right. But guess what, you're just doing a different version of what they are doing. People say that “cannabis changes your ambitions”, “it causes you to not work”, “it harms your brain”, “you can’t function”, “it's a gateway drug”, “it's not a form of medication”. How would they know what works for you? People get medication(s), go to therapy where you have to have a conversation dragged out of you. Cannabis isn’t any different than medication(s), both medication(s) and cannabis can affect your brain, yet medication(s) are more socially acceptable while cannabis isn’t although it can be a natural way to help. Yet, cigarettes and alcohol are open in communities and they cause people to try other stimulants and antidepressants more than cannabis does. Everyone has their own opinions and I recognize that, but Cannabis and the people that use it shouldn’t be grouped into a category and be told they are going nowhere in life, have no ambition, arelazy, and are hurting themselves when in reality people are using it to try and help themselves. There is always a balance for everything in someone's life. It's not a one sided way of it and have it be all or nothing, there is a middle ground. The more that cannabis is kept as a “hush hush” topic or scold people and give them a bad reputation , is what is going to make people not be able to use it as much in a healthy way. Keeping something in a negative light is only going to keep it there. If people aren't taught about it in all aspects of life, then how can we not think about it in a negative way. Learn about it, before you do anything about it. The texts I will be using to show how the subject of cannabis should be talked about with an open mind in a truly open conversation, and to try to teach balance will be the article The New Cannabis?, by Luis Millan and the novel Marijuana and Mental Health, by Micheal T. Compton.

Teaching about cannabis in all forms can make it safer for if and when people experiment with it. In the article The New Cannabis?, by Luis Millan he talks about how the government and drug administration are starting to turn over a new leaf about their views and rules on cannabis and psychedelic substances. In paragraph two of this article it states, “It's more likely that the government will follow in the footsteps of the U.S Food and the Drug Administration, which granted in 2019 certain psychedelic substances like MDMA and psilocybin a ‘breakthrough therapy’ designation.” (Par. 2). This is showing that psilocybin cannabis and things like it can be a helpful tool, once it is learned about to a full extent. For people who have mental issues and don’t get help from medication(s) this might be a good option for them to be able to turn to. Now there are people that would say ‘how could this help, it’s changing them’. Well in response to that medication(s) can change a person, life events can change a person and all things I just listed might not be helpful to them. If it is helpful to some, why does the taint of those who have misused it and not been taught about it in every way have to be pushed on those who are trying to use it in a modern, safer, healing way. If the government does a deep enough research on all substances under the psychedelic umbrella, and then they support the use of it then why on earth shouldn’t we educate ourselves to the same extent.

Another piece of text that I have found from the novel, Marijuana and Mental Health, by Micheal T. Compton talks about all the different categories and topics on how cannabis can be viewed and used. Now, I know this author has done a good amount of research, but in the writing it still tries to narrow the reader's mind to the negative thoughts of cannabis. It states in the second chapter, “It is very difficult to disentangle the effects of marijuana use from the effects of preexisting temperaments more often seen in marijuana users.” (Pag. 13). Now, some people use cannabis just to have fun while others use cannabis as a way to cope with their issues, like anger issues, PTSD, anxiety, etc. If people don't have cannabis to cope with, they will have those issues come up and then all those issues they have been helping will come out all at once, 1000 times harder. They might lash out if they have anger issues, might have a panic attack due to their anxiety coming at full speed, or they might have a combination of effects due to their ptsd, this can cause people to be mistaken for common addicts. If people have mental health issues the cannabis won't make it go away, it will just make it so they are able to manage it comfortably. Just because there is a handful of people who use cannabis for fun and end up missuising it or cause problems doesn’t mean all people should be put in that same category, just because other people have made bad decisions, doesn't mean the people who have taken the time to educate themselves and find a balance, will suddenly become a cannabis emotionless monster? If you don’t educate people in all aspects how do you expect them to not misuse something in a harmful or problematic way. At another point in the same novel, Marijuana and Mental Health chapter nine talks about “School-Based Prevention Strategies,” this section is primarily about trying to distract kids from the subject of cannabis rather than thoroughly educating them. “...encouraging their involvement in prosocial activities, such as after-school sports, or increasing supervision…” (Pag. 206). The program tries to keep kids as busy as possible so that they hope the kids never find out about cannabis. These school based programs are so worried about kids finding out about substances that they do everything in their power to push them away from it. What good is that going to do? If schools believe that cannabis is a monstrous issue and a problem for students then why are they not doing anything proactive to actually help the students? If the school is going to be punitive by taking away privileges, giving students detention or suspension, telling their parents or sending them to a drug awareness group, that doesn’t do anything but tell them that it is bad and to not do it. What good does that do? If schools and people really wanted to watch out for the well-being of students, adolescence(s), then they should be thoroughly educating them about the substance. If they are only going to educate about the negatives of the substance and say that ‘you won't go anywhere in life’, ‘you will be lazy’, then what makes them think that teens/students will be open to them about the topic. They have been taught that it is shameful. Now I don’t know about you, but typically people like to keep things to themselves that others find shameful. Not talking about it thoroughly is just lining them up for addiction and misuse. Kids don't listen to punishment or fake conversations. Real and honest open conversations is the only way to truly prevent addiction.

Teaching people about a balance and how not to abuse something is key if we don't want people to abuse or get addicted. Most things aren’t all or nothing, for example sugar. To have a little is good, but to have a full day filled with sugar is harmful, and having no sugar at all can also cause problems. It is all about learning a balance. In the same article The New Cannabis?, I had brought up before in the fourth paragraph it talks about how businesses are evolving around cannabis. “Despite the legal uncertainty, business is hopeful. Some stock market speculators believe that psychedelics will follow in the footsteps of the cannabis industry and become the next billion-dollar business.” (Par. 4). The fact is people want to make money and if they see a business opportunity they will take it. Now with that being said, if people see a bunch of businesses and or a face that they can go to then they are more likely to go there. The more something becomes familiarized and normalized the more people will become comfortable with the subject. People will say having businesses for it is just asking for people to get addicted while we already have alcohol stores, candy stores, fast food stores, cigarette shops, etc. Any of those things can be addictive and are not healthy, but we teach about a balance to prevent such addiction and issues. Now having cannabis business growing means that the prices will become higher in stores than it used to be so the people that don't have the option to go to these big businesses will get it a different way and be left with a lot of negative stigma of it leading to addiction. Even if they are using it in a good way, just because they don't meet social standards they get a bad reputation. The thing about businesses is that they make sure to thoroughly educate their staff and customers and set an amount of what you can't purchase cannabis past. This is educating everyone as well as helping teach them about finding a healthy balance.

The novel Marijuana and Mental Health has a series of chapters all addressing different aspects of it. In chapter one it talks about the brain, and physical changes. “Regardless of the developmental stage marijuana can disrupt some of our most valued human faculties- the ability to test reality, reason, control our impulses, set priorities, relate to others, and reach our goals.” (Pag. 11). This is saying that using cannabis makes people not have any motivation, and not being able to think with reason or set goals, when in reality this is not alway the case. Let's say that a mother has a kid that plays video games. Now if that kid plays video games all the time they won't have any motivation to do anything besides play video games. But if she were to put a time restriction or an incentive to play the game, like doing all their homework or getting good grades then they will be productive and have a goal. That is simply just the mother helping the kid learn about a balance between fun, and getting the things done that they have to do. Cannabis balance isn’t any different. People will say ‘well one thing can harm the brain the other is fun for kids’. If kids play too many video games it can harm their brain, or make them prone to violence if the game is violent. Everything has an impact on a person if they are not taught how to use it in a safer and healthier way. Also in that same novel in chapter five it talks about the use of cannabis in more of a mental health aspect. One subsection is directed towards it with anxiety disorders. It says, “... small positive associations were found between anxiety and marijuana use…” (Pag. 108) This is showing that with the right balance and understanding of the substance itself and how it works with you personally can help and work in your favor. If all we do is teach people that it is ‘bad’ or ‘not good for you for anything’ or ‘makes you lazy’ or ‘makes problems worse’, then it's either going to turn into them figuring it out themselves and risking their lives, or getting addicted to it or things worse. Or it could cause them to try it in a negative way/mindset and cause it to negatively affect them due to their mindset. More things are related to people's mindset and understanding of a subject more than anyone really realizes. The mind is a powerful tool, and having the full understanding of a subject and not just judgment is not just helpful but also safer for the person and better before they give any judgment about something. Before buying a house or a car you find out everything about it including facts and opinions. Why shouldn't cannabis be the same? If someone's only worry about it is it can be addictive, anything can. The medication(s) you take, the food you eat, shows you watch, games you play, that one Advil you take for a headache can be addictive. But we learned a balance. So we should learn that balance for everything.

People are always going to want to try the things that are not acceptable for them, keeping things hush hush and putting restrictions and limits are just going to make it seem cooler for them to use. In the article, it talks about psychedelics and their status in our government and society. It says in the seventh paragraph, “Then there's the ‘big unknown’ hanging over the head of biotechs, the legal status of psychedelics. The sector is at the mercy of the federal government, which may or may not make hallucinogens legal.” ( Par. 7) The legal status of cannabis seems to be growing more and more every day, and expanding it to a larger grouping of things is an ongrowing question. There are always going to be people who try to debunk, or oppose change as it comes but when it is coming in these big waves, why try to oppose it instead of educating ourselves about it. The more people try to fight it the worse the negative effects will be. Let's say you have a kid, and you made it clear you don’t like them to use any kind of substance. Then they go to a party, hang out with friends, even just go to a park. Do you think they are going to think of all the negative things you've been scaring them with and lecturing them about? No, they are going to want to figure it out for themselves. Wouldn't you rather have helped educate your kid than just shame them into secretly trying it. Cause now you don't know what could happen and neither do they. And that's just not safe for anyone. Change happens regardless of if you are onboard or not, and this change especially is coming quickly. So why risk you, or anyone, not having the full information before they make up there mind about it in any way.

In the novel, the same quote that I mentioned earlier I would like to circle back to. “It is very difficult to disentangle the effects if marijuana use from the effects of preexisting temperaments more often seen in marijuana users.” (Pag. 13). The thing is if we don’t try to educate or learn about how exactly the effects are between using cannabis and not how do you expect to know what the effects are from. Most people end up working with cannabis in a way where it is second nature. It could make them function better, make them more calm, pay attention better, be more creative, etc. Everything has a different effect on each individual person. The best thing that you could do is fully try to understand it best to your extent. People who say ‘oh i don't need to learn about it, i don't like it and won't use it’. Well what about people who are close to you, what if they are using it. Then what would you do? Would you shame them? Leave them? Learn about it? Help them if they need it? Try to make sure they are safe? Not restrict them? How would you know what to do if you don’t try to learn about it? Now, finally for my last piece of evidence. That same novel I was just talking about has some small chartes. In chapter 2, there are four charts all comparing cannabis, cigarettes, and alcohol. The first chart is about ‘how risky it is to use’, Cannabis is at a 0.77, Alcohol is at a 0.94, and Cigarettes is at a 1.02. The second chart is about if it is ‘not immoral to use’. Cannabis is at 2.98, Alcohol is at 3.48, and Cigarettes is at 2.48. The third chart is about ‘lack of parental disapproval’, Cannabis is at 1.19, Alcohol is at 1.73, and Cigarettes is at 1.31. And the final chart is about ‘easy access’, Cannabis is at 2.04, Alcohol is at 1.48, and Cigarettes is at 1.55. (Pag 24). The carts are showing all different aspects of something with the three most common substances. Look at the risky use chart, and easy access chart, see how Cannabis is the lowest risk to use, yet easiest to get. Now if that is the case, why is Alcohol the highest moral to use. I mean statistically most driving accidents are due to a drunk driver. So if that is the case why would that be more moral to use than Cigarettes and Cannabis? Now look at the parental disapproval numbers, Alcohol and Cigarettes are what parents are most ok with kids not using Cannabis. Why is that? I mean over use of Alcohol can lead to deaths or injuries whether it be by car accidents, trying to do something funny, or alcohol poisoning. And Cigarettes are nicotine and tobacco, two of the most addictive substances in America. So if Cannabis is at less of a risk or death, injuries and less likely for someone to get addicted to it, then why does it get most of the negative stigma? People will say ‘well it's the gateway drug’. Well now, since Cigarettes and Alcohol are the most ok in society, teens are more likely to try those first, then Cannabis, then harder drugs. So Cannabis isn’t really the gateway drug if you think about it. The things that we accept in society the most are actually what can lead to the misuse of other substances, due to lack of knowledge and not teaching fully about the topic. If you talk about it openly then most likely if someone has a problem with it they will talk to you openly about it, instead of hiding it till it’s too late.

In conclusion, if people want to prevent addictions, have a trusted bond, help their mental health, etc. Then we need to talk about, learn and completely understand Cannabis and not just shove it to the side and say that it is bad and hide it and think that that's gonna solve all our problems. Problems come from a lack of understanding, the only way to prevent a lack of understanding is teaching about it in all aspects. Cannabis can be helpful for people, but only if they take the time to learn about it in all ways and learn how to balance it in a healthy way for themselves.