While I don't have any statistical information to back up what I'm about to say, I'd like to think it's still rational:
I firmly believe that the majority of people who are against the legalization of marijuana have never actually tried marijuana. And that right there is the critical problem.
Now, I know what you're thinking:
"But Cmill. You shouldn't have to try something to have an opinion on it."
In this case, I'd like to make an exception. With an issue like marijuana, I feel that much of the argument against it is based solely on secondhand information rather than relevant firsthand research. So analyze it. Understand it. Discover why people do it, what it does for them, and why they support it.
You don't legalize heroin, cocaine, or other illicit drugs because it's been PROVEN in clinical studies that they are harmful and destructive to the human body. So immediately, you separate marijuana from the discussion.
The problem with people who oppose the legalization of marijuana is actually quite simple. They completely fail to see the benefits of marijuana, focusing solely on perceived negatives that, in many ways, don't even exist.
So at its most basic, what does marijuana do? It creates a unified feeling of euphoria in the human body. The reason it's a popular drug in the medical community is because it can be used to alleviate so many common medical ailments, more specifically conditions that cause mental, emotional, and physical discomfort.
In this case, marijuana is no different than a pain reliever. A kidney patient dealing with the side effects of prescription medication? A psychologically unstable person dealing with depression? The elderly, coping with joint pain? Marijuana has been proven to help relieve these conditions by soothing the body, giving the user a high to combat their physical and mental lows.
But what about recreational usage? What benefits does marijuana provide? I like to refer to marijuana as a natural mental stimulant. It frees up the mind in a way that is hard to describe to those who have not tried it. Yet, it's not a hallucinogen. Marijuana allows the user to think more freely, without the restrictions of your own rigid logic and form.
Essentially, it's like taking the training wheels off of your sober mind and allowing you to branch out to explore what's right in front of you. Things you take for granted, ideas you take for granted, are now clear as day. You see them. You acknowledge them. And you make them more tangible.
Philosophy. Art. Religion. Marijuana fosters a much deeper and more focused understanding and appreciation of each. This is why marijuana is so prevalent amongst artists, writers, and creators. Watching films and television while under the influence of marijuana allows you to notice things that aren't always so obvious otherwise. Creating while high allows you to remove your normal inhibitions and restraints and simply create.
Now tell me how any of this sounds like a detriment to society. Does marijuana and the culture it creates inspire violence? Does marijuana create hostility? Has marijuana been clinically proven to be destructive to the human body?
I'm not trying to generalize all anti-marijuana lobbyists. In fact, I'm quite open to hear why exactly they feel the way they do. A healthy conversation on the topic is the only way to really come to a proper resolution. It's hard to say that about any other issue in this country.
What I am arguing is that denouncing marijuana without fully understanding it is the real problem. And if we're to ever come to a solution to this conflict, those who are against it have to understand why it's an issue worth fighting for.
