9781422270554

SOCIETY’S COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP WITH MARIJUANA

Margaret grew up in a single-parent home as the only child of a hard-working mother. Her mom, Jenny, worked two jobs to provide for Margaret. Her primary job was as a nurse, and she worked four 10-hour days every week to get a three-day weekend. However, she also worked at a medical marijuana dispensary on the weekends and typically smoked pot every day to “calm her nerves,” as she told Margaret. “Margie,” she had said to Margaret at a young age, “there’s nothing wrong with marijuana. Did you know that it’s not even physically addictive? For that reason, it’s way better than drinking alcohol. It also has many health benefits. If you ever want to try pot, just let me know. Not until you’re at least 17, though, because I want you to be old enough to choose for yourself.” Of course, one had to be older than 17 to use marijuana recreationally, but that didn’t seem to bother Margaret’s mom. At that time, Margaret was just 10. The idea of smoking marijuana appalled her. Margaret’s mom acted “sleepy” or even “dumb” when she smoked pot, and she felt scared that her mom might do something crazy. However, people change, and their ideas mature along with their bodies and minds. As Margaret neared 17, her opinion about marijuana started to change a little. Many of her friends had already tried marijuana and had attempted to talk her into doing it. These were kids she knew and trusted. Many of them were honor roll students who never drank or partied.

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The Young Adult Drug Library: Marijuana