Oh Goodness,
I really don't have the time to voice all of my concerns.
I live in the UK where the situation is similar in terms of legality.
ON A WEEKLY BASIS I deal with the casualities. Casulties who started off smoking the odd spliff and end up on my hypnotherapy list having found that they are no longer in control.
If I visit my local city centre ward at the local city mental health hospital there is a huge proportion of patients who have a marijuana problem. There are, I'm convinced, long-term mind altering qualities about this so called soft drug.
It can be argued that many of those who end up in need of mental health support by drug misuse would have ended up there in the first case, and this MIGHT be true, but it's no excuse.
No, I'm sorry. legalisation is not the route. Education is.
WHY MUST SO MANY FEEL that to enjoy OR endure life requires the use of substances.Lets teach people that they are only using a fraction of their power and skill anyway so why do we need to dumb down.
The UK is suffering a huge binge drinking problem, particularly at weekends, and this is frequently supplemented with soft drug use as a socially acceptable (within their circle) thing . I get constant requests to help them cut down on their drink and grass use towhich I have to say is "I can help you to stop, but cut down? No. Once a person has passed their self imposed lower level of consumption their ability to reason flies out of the windw and they are back to their old ways.
There are many things which are understandable and natural and should be accepted. In so many areas of minority interests we risk promoting instead of accepting and allowing, and this is where the danger is.
If I ask parents who are users at what age they would offer it to their children they can rarely answer as they are clearly uncomfortable with the question.
Lets just get real. When we USE any substance to gain an effect then we have to accept that WE might be the one who can't control it. If that's the case then I will always suport without saying "I told you so" but I have to help convince that person that they are not bad but that they have a problem that they instigated and that they need to set their own agenda and not follow one set by their peers.
I could go on. I AM LIBERAL but also realistic and know enough to say that if you put your hand in the fire you'll get burned. Lets just start to teach by example.
We are magnificent and don't often realise it.
Let's teach our kids that they can have and achieve what they want if they want it.
PLEASE BE THE YOU THAT GOD INTENDED.
Roger