by Kadie Hamilton

Created on: January 24, 2009

Marijuana use in teens across America is detrimental. However, look at the majority of teens who use it. Their families are generally unstable, their childhood oppressive and sometimes violent, their school life is hanging on to passing by barely a thread. I have observed this in numerous marijuana users that attend my own school and that I personally know. We all know, even the users, what marijuana does to the body. I'm told that you feel paralyzed, but in a good way. You can't move and then you get the munchies afterwards. We know that marijuana affects short-term memory, which I have taken notice of greatly. But what many people don't understand is why these troubled teens use marijuana. Many responses I have been given run along the lines of "Because it feels good" and "It makes me happy." I asked even further.

"Why does it make you happy?"

Apparently the numbing effect the drug has on the mind makes it very easy to forget the problems that these teens have. It also makes it very easy to be a more happy-go-lucky person. But not naturally. I've seen these kids when they haven't had their dose and they are more depressed than anyone I've ever seen. Thoughts of suicide and death run rampant among their minds. Now my question is "Why do they turn to marijuana and not something else?" As it seems, they believe they can't find anything else. However, I have found that teenage love has close to the same "happiness factor" as a marijuana. Some of the students that used marijuana I observed soon found love as many young teenagers do. When I talked to them after about 1-3 months, for an average, the majority of them had quit using the paralyzing drug. Love, it seems, truly is a drug.

Now, I'm sure that there are scientific studies that show love does have the same high effect as a drug and I'm just wasting my breath. However, what I'm asking now is, "Can we manufacture this hormone or whatever to replace marijuana?" Some scientists and psychologists may believe that I'm already restating question that have been asked, but I seriously think that if troubled teens can find a foot-hold in society, if they can find a positive influence in their otherwise negative lives, if they can find love or something like it, they may be able to break their habit of marijuana use.

Granted, I'd rather these kids use marijuana than cigarettes or alcohol or any other drug because it is not seriously addicting and even if they do get high, at least they won't be tempted to get into a car and drive. They wouldn't be able to move! Plus they'd think every little thing is so hilarious, the teens would be rolling around laughing their heads off!

This is my honest opinion. Let's get rid of all those other drugs out there before we start worrying too much more about marijuana. Let's get rid of cigarettes first. Let's get rid of meth, coke, heroine, everything else we can and then get rid of marijuana. At least marijuana won't get the kids hooked on the first smoke or kill them in a month.

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