THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHAT IS it going to take for proponents of legalising marijuana to understand that the abuse of this substance is dangerous? Notice the word 'abuse'. Every drug has its use. It is the abuse/misuse that constitutes a problem.
There is no doubt that there are medicinal qualities to marijuana, but the majority of users are not using it for this purpose.
We live in a society where just about any substance that can produce a euphoric effect and allow its users to escape reality can be abused.
DIFFERENT EFFECTS
Drugs produce different effects in different people. Alcohol might cause a sedating effect in some, while inducing aggressive behaviours in others.
Unless one has actively worked with substance abusers for an extended period, one would not understand how significant the use of marijuana has become in the life of those who engage in anti-social behaviour.
My work in the past 10 years has been with both juveniles and adult substance users. Marijuana still remains the number one substance that was first used.
Whether or not one becomes aggressive is dependent on one's body chemistry (whether there is a predisposition to mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder). The debate will go on forever, but let's face the fact.
Why am I smoking it? If it is for medicinal purposes, why am I not using the derivative pill form? Whoops, lest I forget, these can be abused as well.
There is no such thing as recreational use of drugs. We all know what happens when alcohol is used recreationally - some who cannot 'hold their liquor' get out of control and cause danger to self and others.
The Bible verse "All things are permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial" means I can do what I want, but I must first ask myself what is it going to benefit me.
If all drug users (alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin and prescription drugs) could conceptualise this principle, we would not be having this debate.
The problem is not the drugs - it is the user. It was created/made for a purpose and abuse of it is not one.
I am, etc.,
YVONNE ROSE-GREEN
Licensed Mental Health/Substance Counsellor
RosegreenLMHC@aol.com
Via Go-Jamaica
